By: Ken Enderley
When I became a high school umpire back in 2021, it was already drilled in my head that high school was a better game to officiate.
Well, I gonna tell you, it’s not. And here’s why!
NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL YOU’RE ON, IT’S STILL A KID’S GAME These are still kids playing a baseball game, whether it is Freshman or JV. Some of the coaches get that, some definitely do not. At this level, much to my chagrin in the HS league I umpire in, you are solo (one umpire) for these games. So, you are officiating a seven (7) inning game with no time limit on a 60/90 Diamond.
You, of course, are the plate umpire. And besides calling balls and strikes, fair or foul, safe or out on all the bases as well as at home plate, you have to call balks, and anything else that may occur during your high school game. That is a lot to do for just one umpire. Good thing the game fee is acceptable. But then again, no game fee is worth the arguments that you may encounter with a coach or coaches.
HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE
The coaches’ respective schools in this league only pay for one umpire at the Frosh and JV levels. They know this from the get-go, but if you hustle, they will see that and hopefully they will not question your calls. HOPEFULLY!
I pride myself on the fact that I can get into the right position 99% of the time to make a call on the field. I still have 20/20 vision at my age. Lol!
Some coaches will “chirp” at a called pitch, fair or foul, or a safe or out. These are judgement calls, right? That’s what it says in the NFHS rulebook. Rule 10 Article 4. They will argue for the sake of arguing, even if you were hustling to make a call. Some of the coaches in high school get the fact that an umpire’s call that involves his or her judgement is not disputable. They know the rules and expect you to know them too.
CASE PLAY
Here is an example of a high school coach not knowing the Obstruction/Interference rule. R2, two (2) outs. Ground ball to the F6, who is in position to field the batted ball. R2 runs into the F6, which prevents the fielder from making a play on the ball. Now remember, I’m solo in this JV game. I clear the catcher and move into the field to watch the play develop. I immediately call the runner out for the interference. The 1B and 3B (Head Coach) coaches come running onto the Diamond with their hair on fire and start screaming at me from both sides while I am standing near the pitcher’s mound (Great Hustle there on my part). Both coaches argued that the shortstop “interfered” with the runner as he was running to 3B.
I looked at both coaches and said, “Man, what are you doing here”? No, I didn’t.
Actually I said, “What are you doing out here? You didn’t call Time! The ball is still live! ”
The head coach argued what was the runner supposed to do to avoid the fielder? As he is saying this to me the coach starts to juke and jive and says, “Is he supposed to do this!”
I said, “Yes!” I then walked back to the plate area.
STAY IN THE RULEBOOK
Knowing the rules as an umpire, referee, official etc. regardless of the sport, will help you deescalate certain situations that may come up during your game. Explaining a rule to a coach that they may not be aware of, is good officiating. We can only hope that the next time a call is made the coaches will remember.
Reference: Interference is committed by the offense and Obstruction is committed by the defense. The shortstop on this play was not obstructing the runner because he was in the act of fielding the batted ball. The onus is on the runner, who is advancing to the next base, to avoid making contact with a fielder, who is making a play on the batted ball.
So, gentlemen, remember this because you know it’s only a matter of time before you hear, “WHERE WAS IT BLUE?”
Ken works as an umpire in the Lower Hudson Valley Region and is Co-Director of the Lower Hudson Valley Umpire Association. Ken has been umpiring since he was in 7th grade and is one of the Clinicians for the LHVUA. Follow LHVUA on Instagram and to read more from Ken or find out more about Lower Hudson Valley Umpire Association, including joining, click here http://lhvua.com
