Societal rantings from an old man

[Irishman]

On 6/4/2026 at 10:26 AM, Shoot_The_Hands said:

So I have to follow the rules of the game but the umpire doesn't have to...

Pretty much how life is though. Do people drive 40 in a 35 mph zone? Do people stick to the 55 mph speed limits? Do police pull people over going 38 in a 35 zone? Plenty of other examples than just speed limits. There is give and take everywhere. To expect a level of consistency is reasonable though.

[gonzoron]

You can't hit a ball you didn't swing at.

[CoachK5]

44 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

You can't hit a ball you didn't swing at.

100% true statement.  

[Frozen Tundra]

1 hour ago, gonzoron said:

You can't hit a ball you didn't swing at.

Unless you’re Chuck Norrris

[Daniel_Bragg]

Two things can be true.

1) Travel ball is awful.

2) Umpires continue to have too much influence on the outcome of baseball/softball games.  

Now, hear me out on #2.  In all sports, officials are there to make sure the game is played fairly and inside the rulebook.  In baseball/softball, an umpires strike zone can change in mere seconds.  Their eyesight dictates the difference between a baserunner and a strike out, safe or out, fair or foul.  I'm a HUGE fan of ABS, NOT because I don't appreciate the job that umpires do, but because you can't have a fair sport based on the whim of a human.  I know umpires are doing their best, and 99% of the time, they are calling the game right down the middle.  However, we all know that makeup calls exist.  I've witnessed and spoken with an umpire that admitted to opening up "the zone" because some coach said something.  That's asinine.

Kids overcoming adversity is meant to be about the competition.  The adversity shouldn't be because of the officials, in ANY sport.

[Muda69]

It's just a game, played by children.  Why are we continuing to try and take the human element out of a game?  What are the current betting lines for Travel ball?

 

[Titan32]

22 hours ago, Daniel_Bragg said:

Two things can be true.

1) Travel ball is awful.

2) Umpires continue to have too much influence on the outcome of baseball/softball games.  

Now, hear me out on #2.  In all sports, officials are there to make sure the game is played fairly and inside the rulebook.  In baseball/softball, an umpires strike zone can change in mere seconds.  Their eyesight dictates the difference between a baserunner and a strike out, safe or out, fair or foul.  I'm a HUGE fan of ABS, NOT because I don't appreciate the job that umpires do, but because you can't have a fair sport based on the whim of a human.  I know umpires are doing their best, and 99% of the time, they are calling the game right down the middle.  However, we all know that makeup calls exist.  I've witnessed and spoken with an umpire that admitted to opening up "the zone" because some coach said something.  That's asinine.

Kids overcoming adversity is meant to be about the competition.  The adversity shouldn't be because of the officials, in ANY sport.

I guess your take on 2) is fair....until someone who has that same position believes that makes it ok to constantly disparage officals.  Everyone is so entitled now days....actually I think there is a lot to learn about life from bad calls.  The most valueable skill a young man can learn (and most don't any more) is self restraint/control.  Letting bad calls cause one to lose self restraint is weakness.  It's a sickness that is permiating our socieity.  

[Frozen Tundra]

2 hours ago, Titan32 said:

I guess your take on 2) is fair....until someone who has that same position believes that makes it ok to constantly disparage officals.  Everyone is so entitled now days....actually I think there is a lot to learn about life from bad calls.  The most valueable skill a young man can learn (and most don't any more) is self restraint/control.  Letting bad calls cause one to lose self restraint is weakness.  It's a sickness that is permiating our socieity.  

Yep. Everyone is too emotional these days. It’s ok to be mad or frustrated but there’s great value in composure and restraint. Stop and think first before wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s not always worth it.

[Impartial_Observer]

When I was I think a junior I think I did my first radio interview. My coach told me before I went “don’t tell them what you know”. Best piece of advice coach ever gave me. 

[Fkfootball]

On 6/1/2026 at 9:22 PM, Impartial_Observer said:

 

I will preface all I’m about to say by stating I have been involved in yute sports from every angle, player, coach, official, and administrator, I always felt like I had a pretty good handle on what we, at least I was trying to accomplish with yute sports. And call me a romantic, but I truly believe athletics are an extension of the classroom. 

 

With all that being said everyone is aware of the current state of officiating at all levels. Shortages, bad officials, inexperienced officials working to high of levels, rinse, repeat. 

 

Over the weekend while supervising a club softball tournament I read numerous posts on FB complaining about umps… from C level to a HS Varsity HC complaining umpires cost his team a sectional championship in a 7-6 that featured his opponent hitting a grand slam.  Most of the posts, complete with pics and vids did show a generous strike zone. But the recurring theme I heard was yes it was like that the every game of the sectional. Everything I saw as an uninterested third party looked consistent to me. WTF else can you ask for? I will assure you when I’m on fire behind the dish I’ll still miss a couple. 

 

Which leads me to the point of this paperback. I’m 61 years old and I realize I’m from another time, but in my thinking, we need to adjust to Blue’s zone. That would seem a LOT more logical than bitching about balls and strikes on FB wouldn’t it? Today I got involved in this gem on FB. 11 YO gets punched out on a pitch in the other batters box, it’s a bad call, but it IS the call. My point is my thought process in ALL of this I’m trying to teach my kids A) shit just went wrong, how are you going to react and B) to control what they can control. And don’t waste energy on stuff you can’t. Instead of whining on FB and looking like a TOTAL BEOTCH, what if we taught our kids to make adjustments. If Blue’s got a wide zone, let’s throw our hands at it, foul it off and maybe the next pitch will be something we can do something with. On the other side of it, when you’re sitting over there on that bucket, don’t you keep calling farther and farther out until you figure out Blue’s limit is? What are we trying to accomplish with youth sports today? As an official and administrator, what are we doing? Are we here for the NIL money, college scholarships, have fun, child development, social status ( yes I’m looking at you in particular Westfield), I’m down with whatever just let me know what we’re trying to accomplish

I am someone who used to complain about officials. Whether as an athlete, or as a spectator. One day I woke up and realized, that these guys sacrifice a lot to do this. Time and travel. It doesn’t pay all that well. Without officials, no HS sports spectating for me. I will take a few bad or more likely, “missed” calls against my team, if that keeps HS sports running on the tracks. 

Edited June 9 by Fkfootball

[JustRules]

1 hour ago, Fkfootball said:

I am someone who used to complain about officials. Whether as an athlete, or as a spectator. One day I woke up and realized, that these guys sacrifice a lot to do this. Time and travel. It doesn’t pay all that well. Without officials, no HS sports spectating for me. I will take a few bad or more likely, “missed” calls against my team, if that keeps HS sports running on the tracks. 

That's a great approach to take! Getting upset about a bad call or perceived bad call isn't going to change anything. At the high school level, you are going to see wide variety of officiating quality. But everyone on the field is trying to do the best they can. Many perceived bad calls are the result of fans not understanding the rules. And the actual bad calls rarely are the reason for an outcome of a game. It may seem that way especially if they are poorly timed. But every play contributes to the outcome and coaches and players never have perfect games. Many sports including football are imperfect and that includes officials despite their desire to be perfect. Embrace the imperfection.

[Fkfootball]

1 minute ago, JustRules said:

That's a great approach to take! Getting upset about a bad call or perceived bad call isn't going to change anything. At the high school level, you are going to see wide variety of officiating quality. But everyone on the field is trying to do the best they can. Many perceived bad calls are the result of fans not understanding the rules. And the actual bad calls rarely are the reason for an outcome of a game. It may seem that way especially if they are poorly timed. But every play contributes to the outcome and coaches and players never have perfect games. Many sports including football are imperfect and that includes officials despite their desire to be perfect. Embrace the imperfection.

Honestly, If I think I can do better, I should apply for it. 

[JustRules]

1 hour ago, Fkfootball said:

Honestly, If I think I can do better, I should apply for it. 

I love working with new officials, especially those who played and/or coached for many years. They are ALWAYS surprised by how little they knew about the rules. It's also helped me realize how little I know the rules about other sports as well. That's why I love listening to the rules analysts on baseball and basketball games or watching games with my officiating friends. I remember when I learned there is no such thing as an over the back foul or reaching in for basketball. Just another example of how fans get rules knowledge from announcers (so do players and coaches). I always appreciate the coaches who truly know the rules and players who love to ask rules questions.

[Impartial_Observer]

3 hours ago, Fkfootball said:

I am someone who used to complain about officials. Whether as an athlete, or as a spectator. One day I woke up and realized, that these guys sacrifice a lot to do this. Time and travel. It doesn’t pay all that well. Without officials, no HS sports spectating for me. I will take a few bad or more likely, “missed” calls against my team, if that keeps HS sports running on the tracks. 

You bitch about the officials every week in the HHC thread. You just wake up recently?

[Fkfootball]

8 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

You bitch about the officials every week in the HHC thread. You just wake up recently?

I don’t remember doing that anytime recently. And If I have then yes, I’ve woke up recently.

[Muda69]

What happens in these travel leagues if an official is approached by a parent/fan/booster/coach and offered "compensation" to see that their team gets favorable calls?  This has had to have happened in the past and was wondering what kind of reporting process is in place and what are the repercussions for those offering the bribe. 

 

[coachkj]

On 6/2/2026 at 3:19 PM, Coach Nowlin said:

Good Luck with that.... now that ABS..... is on all the algorithms.....   

I mean if the the 9U teams and their $150 worth of Gloves, Sleeves, Eye Black, Shades, pads, all while clipping their favorite Song for 12 sec of walk up so they can go 1-4 in the local Summer league, I am SURE the new ABS won't filter into their demeanor when things do not go their way for lil JR in the box or on the bump.  

How bout that coach who told his player to throw a heater in the opposing dugout from the bump.......  

You forgot the $500 bat.

[Frozen Tundra]

2 hours ago, coachkj said:

You forgot the $500 bat.

Heck, gloves are about worth that much these days. I just wanted to get a glove so I could throw a ball with my young kid and the cost of some of the gloves at Dick’s Sporting Goods blew me away.

[Muda69]

1 hour ago, Frozen Tundra said:

Heck, gloves are about worth that much these days. I just wanted to get a glove so I could throw a ball with my young kid and the cost of some of the gloves at Dick’s Sporting Goods blew me away.

You can probably find a good one at Goodwill, a thrift store, or even area garage sales. 

 

[Frozen Tundra]

31 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

You can probably find a good one at Goodwill, a thrift store, or even area garage sales. 

 

I did end up finding one there under $100 so I just went with that

[Impartial_Observer]

17 hours ago, Frozen Tundra said:

I did end up finding one there under $100 so I just went with that

My daughter played with the same glove from 9YO until her freshman year in college. It was a shitty pleather Easton that I bought at Hibbetts in Seymour for 25 bucks. Hey she was 9 at the time. The glove was shot, no stays in the fingers, I begged her to let me buy her a new glove. Finally early in the fall of her frosh year in college and said “dad I need a new glove, I had two line drives go thru mine today at practice. 
Settled on a Wilson Pro Model, they retailed at $380 I believe back in 2013, 12 1/2” IF Baseball glove. My BSN rep hooked a brother up for like 250 ish. She always wore baseball gloves, but used a SB catchers mitt. 

[Impartial_Observer]

On 6/8/2026 at 1:13 PM, Daniel_Bragg said:

Two things can be true.

1) Travel ball is awful.

2) Umpires continue to have too much influence on the outcome of baseball/softball games.  

Now, hear me out on #2.  In all sports, officials are there to make sure the game is played fairly and inside the rulebook.  In baseball/softball, an umpires strike zone can change in mere seconds.  Their eyesight dictates the difference between a baserunner and a strike out, safe or out, fair or foul.  I'm a HUGE fan of ABS, NOT because I don't appreciate the job that umpires do, but because you can't have a fair sport based on the whim of a human.  I know umpires are doing their best, and 99% of the time, they are calling the game right down the middle.  However, we all know that makeup calls exist.  I've witnessed and spoken with an umpire that admitted to opening up "the zone" because some coach said something.  That's asinine.

Kids overcoming adversity is meant to be about the competition.  The adversity shouldn't be because of the officials, in ANY sport.

What you are describing are the unwritten rules of Baseball that have existed since long before your darling child got punched out on a horrible called third K. 

[Shoot_The_Hands]

13 hours ago, Impartial_Observer said:

What you are describing are the unwritten rules of Baseball that have existed since long before your darling child got punched out on a horrible called third K. 

Unwritten rules are not rules of the game...which is why they are called unwritten...

[Irishman]

The adults are the problem far too often in youth sports. 

At an 8U game FFS

 

 

[MacAttack53]

I’ve been a licensed IHSAA Basketball Official for eight years. I think I do a pretty decent job being a solid arbiter of the rules of the game.

My daughter plays on a 10u softball team based in our town. I’ve coached baseball and softball for a few years—but I’ve never umpired. I’ve got a good handle on the rules, especially at the 14u level and below. We needed a plate ump for a scrimmage last week for our 12u team. I volunteered to do it. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in an officiating capacity. Idk how patched umpires are as consistent as they are. I’ve never been one to argue balls/strikes, but I definitely won’t now. I’d encourage anyone who wants to argue those calls with umpires to go work one game behind the plate. It will literally and figuratively change your perspective.