Youth Sports officials

I just wanted to rant at a few things I have seen over the years. We all have heard of the bad raps some parents get especially when they get into it with umpires and refs at youth sports games. Here are a few of the things that have happened to me. There are a couple times when I got into it a little too heavy, but we don't hear about some of the reasons why. On a couple occasions umpires at my sons games have said they were going to throw someone out before the game even started. Like they have to prove who is in charge.

A few years back I was coaching first base. My wife was doing Chemotherapy at the time. She called me on my cell. Umpire jumped on me for answering my cell saying "I am going to throw you out if you don't hang up right now." I told my wife got to go and called her between innings. When I walked back out the umpire said "Give me the phone, if its an important call I will take it." My reply was "my wife has cancer and is doing chemotherapy, every call is important." He told me if I answered my phone he would throw me out of the park. My wife didn't call back.

Today while at a game there was a rule in question. I verified with the opposing coach and the umpire on the field prior to the pitcher throwing another pitch. The agreed with my interpretation. The head umpire came down and I was on the phone with a friend who happens to do the rules for parks and rec. The umpire told me I was wrong. I said to talk to my friend who does the county rules cause "He knows the rules as well as anyone." Umpire said "I've been umpiring for 20 years, I take offense to that." He talked to him, but didn't change his mind. I walked off to get ready to relay pitching signals to the catcher. He told the home plate umpire to throw me out of the game. This was done in front of our teams parents. In the end after a few phone calls the umpires of the game we were playing said I was right (and so were they). Now I fear tomorrow in the championship game whatever I do could get me thrown out. Absolutely ridicules.

I have seen games called in favor of a specific team. These are 10 yr old kids. Let the kids decide the game. I do not like the way this goes. Umpires are wrong too. I am too. Problem is that when some people get a little power they carry it too far. We see it in Politics and in youth sports. The game we played tonight the umpires were going to call the game cause the third base coaches shirt wasn't tucked in. I don't want to win a game because of that. Power corrupts. Another reason Congress and the White House need to be controlled by different parties. We need that check and Balance.