speaking of umpires | Girls Fastpitch Softball forum

I have received numerous calls from parents about the performance of home plate umpires and their strike zone, more than I have ever received before—–ever. Most that have called have girls pitching on CBC conference teams and the others are in an area north of Clark County. I had 1 parent tell me that during a HS game a home plate umpire had to be approached by both coaches, and a conference ensued discussing rules that apparently the umpire was not versed. This same umpire and numerous others have shrunk the strike zone to pie pan in size, belt high over the middle of the plate and refusing to call anything else. One umpire was heard to have told a couple of parents after a game that he had never seen a ball move around as much as one of the pitchers was throwing but she couldn’t get it over the middle of the plate. Chief Umpires have their work cut out for them.

We knew the umpire situation was eventually going to worsen in many ways for a variety of reasons. They appear to be making it unbearable, even to the teams that are winning. Thew only solution I can come up with is paying more money. The more it costs the more reluctant people will be willing to participate including schools. It’ll no longer be a sport for everyone but only for those that can afford it.

The passion for the game for umpires to be involved is gone. It’s a “Show me the money” world.