Just Try Out There...

A trend I have noticed over the years is that there are more and more players who just really don't care what happens on the ball field. This tends to be the case more-so in older teen games for recreational leagues. The kids come in with attitudes, many of them not even wanting to be there in the first place. Maybe this is because their parents are forcing them to continue playing - maybe they just have attitude issues. All I know is that the attitude really affects how the game will turn out.

As an umpire, all I ask is that the players hustle on and off the field and try to make plays. Obviously not all kids are the best, since a lot of them are the leftovers who are not playing high school baseball. But when I have to deal with 16 year olds who cry and moan when they don't like a specific rule, then it gets irritating. The only reason this seems to persist is because the coaches do not enforce team rules or good sportsmanship. What ends up happening is that when I tell the pitcher to take off his batting glove, and he insists on complaining that he can't pitch without it for several innings, I get tired of hearing it. So now I'm just looking for him to do something that I can eject him for, and you know what, when you slam your glove down in frustration, that will get you the boot.

The attitude seems to be a growing problem, especially in rec leagues where rules and sportsmanship are not taught by coaches and parents. Then it becomes our problem and we have to deal with it and make sure that it doesn't get out of hand. Some of these kids either need to chill out or just quit. All they are doing is ruining the experience and game for the other players and killing the integrity of the game. If they can't handle their emotions or refuse to try, then their coaches should just sit them out. At least let the rest of us enjoy the game.