Category: General
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Rolling into July….
I haven’t written anything in a long time, and I have time today. Bought a bike this past week and was planning on taking my first ride today, but I’m not feeling particularly well, so I’ll wait till after the Phillies game to see if I feel better. It’s been quite a ride this past…
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When is a spring off really not?
I’m coaching this spring. My HS senior daughter, who is going to college to play softball (but doesn’t play HS softball, long story) and I are coaching a middle school softball team together. On paper, I am the head coach and she’s the volunteer assistant, but to be honest, she runs an amazing practice for…
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Gone fishing.
I still have plenty to say, but for the first time in years, we’re going on vacation. If I get bored having fun, I’ll write some. If not, I’ll have plenty to say when I get back. The next few entries are on spectator sportsmanship issues which, sadly, there are a lot of examples to…
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We’re paying $30 a game.
No. As Ref Union so eloquently said recently, “You’re offering $30 a game.” And I’m passing. Frankly, I don’t quite understand the economics of youth sports, other than someone’s getting a lot of money in many venues, and it isn’t the officials. This isn’t the case everywhere. I am involved with Little League, where officials…
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Tough times
I was going to make a detour and talk about youth sports today and why these organizations need to pay their officials a respectable rate, but I’ve spent all morning chasing officials for high school games. The shortage of officials, combined with the weather this spring and subsequent makeup dates has put us in a…
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Casey’s Debut
So I mentioned yesterday that my daughter Casey and I would be umpiring some low-stress scrimmages together. This was *the first time* that Casey ever umpired. The age group of these games was 14U, the same age group that Casey is coaching for her club. Some really high quality players on 3 teams yesterday and,…
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Detour – Umpiring Debut
This morning, weather permitting, my 17-year-old daughter will be making her umpiring debut with me, umpiring 3 low-stress 14U scrimmages with 3 teams just happy to get on the field after a terrible spring weather-wise. My guess is these are 14U players who are not of HS age, so likely younger 14Us, the same age…
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Day Zero
There’s nothing like a rainy day and waiting hours for a certain rainout to start a website. I’ve tried the whole blogging thing in the past, with little success, because I really felt I didn’t have anything to say. After 35 years as a high school (and sometimes small college) official and 10 years as…