As much grief as umpires take - some of it justified - it's important to remember that they are vital to the game of baseball.
About 90 percent of the plays are obvious and don't need an objective party to make the call. However, in the other 10 percent, umpires prevent constant argument and the outbreak of anarchy. Even when every call in a game is clear and easy, the mere presence of an umpire brings credibility to the contest.
Umpires, though, are human (most of them anyway). And this means they're going to make mistakes.
How can coaches and parents best work with an umpire, given that he or she is likely at some point to blow a call (or rule against us) in the game?
All I ask from umpires is to hustle, know the rules, communicate clearly, and maintain a focus on doing what's right for the kids. Nail those and I can live with a blown call from time to time.
Based on my own experience of "wearing the blue" (umpiring) for 10 years, as well as being a player and coach throughout my life, this is my advice for adults:
If adults make these guidelines part of their approach, they'll have few serious problems with umpires. "Blue" will still blow calls and cause occasional indigestion, but in the long run coaches, parents, and their teams will have a lot more fun.
Dan Clemens is the author of A Perfect Season: A Coach's Journey to Learning, Competing, and Having Fun in Youth Baseball. It is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. A leadership and communications consultant, he's been a youth baseball coach for 9 years and maintains a website for coaches at www.CoachClemens.com [2]. You can email him at Dan@CoachClemens.com.
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/teachable-moment/umpires-blown-call-provides-coach-teachable-moment
[2] http://www.CoachClemens.com
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-parents/coaching/sportsmanship/good-youth-sports-coaches-teach-model-and-demand-sportsmanship-fairness
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/keith-wilson-msw-d-div/performance-parenting/parents-and-youth-sport-officials-can-g
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/good-sideline-behavior-by-parents-sets-right-example-for-children
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/team-parents/coaching/general/survey-finds-spectator-abuse-major-cause-of-referee-shortage
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/successful-parenting/game-day/developing-a-positive-relationship-with-youth-sport-officials