- The job is highly stressful.
- Work hours are often irregular; travel may be extensive.
NATURE OF THE WORK
- Work in groups.
- Detect infractions of rules.
- Required to make a decision in a matter of a split second.
- Anticipate play and position yourself to best see the action, assess the situation, and determine any violations.
- Decisions often lead to strong disagreements.
- Impose penalties.
My son thought this would make a fine part-time job as a full-time college student. I on the other hand had second thoughts, but as most parents offered my blessings. As with many past progeny decisions, I asked if he needed any monetary help for clothes, equipment to get him started. He assured me that his mom would help him out with anything that wasn’t provided. I should have known this already!
Last week I had time to attend a local high school baseball game. When the outcome was no longer in doubt, I left early to head to my son’s new jobsite. It has been a number of years since I had been to the little league fields, but not much had changed, only the faces. Not knowing where to find my son, I just wondered around the fences until I spotted a familiar stance close to first base. I made my way down the first base line, but managed to stay out of view.
I thought it funny to see him in those gray polyester pants and even noticed he had tucked in the new blue umpire shirt and he did have a waist after all. I looked around at the parent’s faces, most I didn’t know. They all seemed to be trying to find out what number belonged to what players name. The dugouts were manned by four to five coaches each and all seemed to be shouting instructions at the same time.
Players in the outfield still kick dirt in the same grass worn area where they stand in hope of a ball hit their way. My son clicked balls and strikes and in between plays gave advise to the skinny first baseman on how to dig all the arrant thrown balls his way. He finally turned my way and came to my place along the fence between innings and asked “Don’t you have anything better to do’? I just smiled and said the high school game ended early.
I didn’t want to overstay my welcome and eased on out with a nod to the new umpire as I left. The parents, coaches and players all seemed to be enjoying my favorite pastime and I felt at ease knowing the players would be getting a fair shake from the new umpire.
When my son made it home, I asked if he got behind the plate and he said yes. His next game was extended by 30 minutes even though one team was way past the run rule. It seems the other team couldn’t find a player to throw close enough to the plate to call any strikes and the catcher had to throw off his mask after each pitch and threaten to throw to third base. My son said he tried to convince the catcher he didn’t have to take his mask off each pitch, but the catcher said he couldn’t see unless he took it off. He finally started calling strikes three feet off the plate and said all parents and coaches were pleased with the expanded strike zone.
I’m not sure if the enticement of the big paychecks ($18 a game) attracted my son to this part time job or if it is just a way to stay in touch with a game that was such a big part of his life. I can say I enjoyed seeing him give advise to the young players. Some of it sounded so familiar, I guess he was listening after all.
