I thought the Umpire was part of the field?

I can't remember the exact wording but this was correct.  When the ball hits the ump before a fielder (other than pitcher) has a chance to make a play then it's immediate dead ball, hitter gets first and runner(s) return to base at time of pitch unless forced to the next base.  Once it gets past a fielder to have a chance to make a play then the ump becomes part of the field and you play on.

Coach is correct.  I saw this happen a few years back (either HS or Legion - I think Legion).  Team had a similar situation.  Runner on 1st.  Batter hits a line drive toward the 2nd baseman (Ump was positioned between slightly behind the pitcher 1st base side) which hits the base ump's foot and bounces off.  Ruling is immediate dead ball.  Ump indicated runner to 2nd and batter to 1st.  Had it hit the ump and he was in the outfield - ball is still live, play on.

Well I was going to be an umpire until I realized I had to deal with people like me.  Not sure how that would go over too well haha

Thanks for the replies and clarification on my example above.  Very interesting and glad to see the umpires got it right.

 

Coach2709 - So, both my youngest and oldest son's decided they wanted to be rec umpires this year.  Youngest son needs a job and spending money for next Fall in college.  Oldest son doesn't need the money, but genuinely loves the game and wants to give something back.  

 

The rec season is about half over, and both sons have umpired 15-20 games each. Oldest son came home last night telling us he is retiring after this season.  He was complaining the parents and coaches have no clue what they are teaching or the rules.  The few coaches that know the rules are constantly testing him and trying to cheat, and the parents absolutely are ridiculous and out of their minds.  He's got better things to do.  I'm hoping he goes down the coaching path as you did.  He's got a lot of knowledge to share for those that would listen.

 

 

If he's got the personality, I'd encourage him to stick it out. Youth ball is the worst--that's where I started when I was his age. I was just thinking about this last night...I loved baseball as a player, but when I started umpiring, that's when I loved baseball. It gets easier as you progress, not only because of improvement as an umpire, but the ignoramuses go by the wayside the higher you go (funny how the dumb ones weed themselves and their kids out by the time baseball is coached by people who are paid to be there.) 

This is the hardest thing for those of us umpires to hear.......but its all to common.....we get calls every year looking for umpires for rec leagues.....they are looking for ex players, teens, college age umpires to work their games....then they do everything possible to drive them away not only from umpiring but from the game itself......

 

The cause of the chronic shortage of youth umpires falls heavily on the treatment of youth umpires from parents and youth coaches.....

 

But I.m with Matt on this one....if they can stick it out, it will get batter as you move up into higher baseball.....

Thanks Matt13 and piaa_ump.

 

I will talk to him and share that with him.  I can see your point.   My oldest son has actually got really good reviews and evaluations from those umpires that watched him or worked with him.  He's been asked to umpire some upcoming travel ball games, but he is afraid that it will be more of the same or even worse.  It wasn't long ago he was playing elite travel baseball.  As I said, he's not doing it for the money and he knows the game extremely well (former D1 pitcher).  I hope he has the patience for it.

I actually misread something in your post. Not that it matters much, but I thought he was HS-age. If he's already an adult, then he'll have an easier time getting out of youth ball if he's got the stuff. I had to do youth ball for three years until I was out of HS. If there's a reputable association in your area, there's no reason he couldn't be doing HS ball in a very short time if he's willing to do some off-time studying and work.

Look for a local association and get to working high school ball. I played from the time I was 3 until I graduated high school. I got into umpiring after my senior year. I did 2 years of youth ball With an USSSA National Championship assignment my 2nd year. My 3rd year I found a local association and started working low level high school games in the spring and legion baseball in the summer all while supervising and training the youth umpires. My first varsity game came while I was at my youth complex and the umpires didn't show up for a high school tournament championship game. I always had my gear with me so I caught a dish assignment for 2 of the top 10 large schools in the St. Louis area that year, Desmet vs Pattonville. There were about 1500 people in the stands. Desmet had a coach, who was the only coach that program had up to that point, try to test me and work me a bit. I shut it down quickly but professionally. Game was an 1 hour 25 minute 2-1 pitchers duel.

The Desmet coach then came and found me in the umpire room while I was getting changed. He asked me how long I had been working varsity games? I worked for an association that didn't do much high school ball, mostly college. When I told him that he just witnessed my first one, he looked at me in shock. He then offered his hand and said that he would love to have me work his games anytime.

Year 4, I ended up working a few varsity games but got more college games than high school. I ended up getting a legion All Star game assignment as well as JV Legion postseason. I ended my year with a fill in game for a Frontier League professional game. I had the chane to go to pro school but just couldn't swing it. That is my biggest regret in life.

I then got an offer to coach at the age of 23 and I took the offer. The moral of the story is... keep doing it. It can be good money and keeps you involved in the game.