There is something sacred about youth sports. It is the learning ground. It is where futures are shaped, not just in athletics but in character, discipline, and integrity. This is why it matters so deeply when those who are entrusted to protect that sanctity fall short.
Let’s talk about umpires. Specifically, umpires in youth baseball. We need to stop tiptoeing around the issue. Too many are terrible. Not all of them. But far too many to ignore. And when they are bad, they are not just annoying. They are destructive. They hinder development. They erode trust. They create chaos. And the worst part? Most of it is preventable. This is not an anti-umpire rant. This is a call to arms. Because good umpires are gold. They elevate the game. They keep it fair. They educate through their consistency. They let the game be played the right way. But when umpires show up without pride, without preparation, and without a shred of accountability, they do real damage. And that cannot stand.
Lock In
Let’s start with something very simple. Lock in. You are on the field. That means something. Even at the youth level, these games are not throwaway scrimmages. These are reps for kids learning to compete. These are reps for kids figuring out who they are as athletes and as people. And guess what? Those kids deserve an adult behind the plate or on the bases who gives a damn. When you put on the gear, it is not just about you. It is not about your pride, your ego, your comfort, or your convenience. It is about the players. Always. And that means being present. Focused. Committed to getting every single call right, to the best of your ability. You are being entrusted with responsibility. Act like it.
Be Consistent in Your Strike Zone
Let’s get into the meat of it. The strike zone. Be consistent. Just be consistent. This is not the big leagues. We are not asking for perfection. But we are asking for clarity. For repeatability. For fairness. Players need a chance to have an approach. You cannot build an approach if the zone moves every pitch. One inning it is knees to chest and two balls off the plate. Next inning it is top of the shins and black only. You cannot teach discipline at the plate when every called third strike feels like a roll of the dice. Kids are trying to learn what they can do well and what they cannot. That means understanding their personal strike zone. That means taking pitches just off the edge without getting rung up. That means being able to sit on certain locations because the umpire has made it clear where the zone begins and ends. Inconsistent zones punish hitters and reward randomness. And when randomness rules the day, nobody gets better. That includes the pitchers. A pitcher who lives off the edge learns nothing when they get a free six inches off the plate. They stop learning how to attack hitters. They stop learning how to win in the zone. They become reliant on gifts. And when those gifts disappear at the next level, they fold. Consistency is not a luxury. It is your job.
See Your Role as Part of the Development Process
If you are behind the plate, you are not just calling balls and strikes. You are helping kids develop their understanding of the strike zone. Whether you like it or not, they are learning from you. So be proud of that. See it as part of your responsibility. You are not just officiating a game. You are helping shape future hitters and pitchers. This does not mean making the zone smaller. It does not mean turning the game into a clinic. It means being sharp. It means taking pride in getting it right. It means understanding the role you play in a young athlete’s development. And if that does not interest you, you should not be out there.
Know the Rules
Next point. Know the rules. All of them. The actual rules. Not your version. Not something you heard from another umpire in 1993. The real, up-to-date rulebook. Nothing is more infuriating than an umpire making up rules on the spot. Calling kids out for something that is not illegal. Ignoring things that are. Getting confused in the middle of a live ball situation and defaulting to something made up just to move the game along. If you are not going to take the time to learn the rules of the game, then what are you doing out there? You are not a game manager. You are an official. You are the final authority on the field. That comes with the responsibility to know the sport. Because when you butcher a rule, you do not just hurt one kid. You teach a whole team the wrong lesson. And those errors compound over time.
Do It for the Players, Not Your Ego
Some umpires act like their primary job is to show everyone how important they are. The moment a coach asks a question, they puff their chest. The moment a player looks confused, they bark. The moment something does not go their way, they get defensive. This is not about you. You are not out there to win arguments. You are not out there to dominate the game. You are not a gladiator in the arena. You are a facilitator. Your job is to make sure the kids get to play the game the right way, fairly, cleanly, and with as little interference as possible. So drop the ego. Drop the power trip. Let go of the idea that you need to show everyone who is boss. Nobody cares who you are or how long you have been calling games. What they care about is whether the calls are right, whether the game is fair, and whether their kids are getting a shot to compete without nonsense.
Admit When You Missed It
You are going to miss calls. It happens. That is fine. But do not lie. Do not double down. Do not act like anyone who questions you is out of line. If you missed it, own it. Say you were blocked. Say you did not see it. Say you were unsure. That honesty builds trust. That humility earns respect. That integrity creates a better environment for everyone. And if a coach politely asks for help on a tough call, go get help. Ask your partner. That is what they are there for. This is not the time to prove how self-sufficient you are. This is about getting it right. Always. When you refuse to ask for help out of pride, what you are really saying is that your ego is more important than the game.
Base Umpires: Watch for Balks
Now let’s talk about base umpires. If you are in the field and there is a runner on base, you have one job: watch the pitcher. You are six feet away. You have no excuses. Your job is not to daydream. Your job is not to track fly balls that are not your call. Your job is not to watch the crowd. Your job is to watch the pitcher’s every move and call it clean. Balks matter. They teach discipline. They teach proper footwork. They protect runners from deceptive and illegal motions. And they are not hard to call if you are doing your job. If a pitcher is clearly balking and you look the other way, you are sending the message that the rules are optional. You are creating confusion. You are making it impossible for baserunners and coaches to trust anything happening on the field. Lock in. Know what a balk is. And have the courage to call it.
This Is a Youth Game, Not a Side Hustle
There is this idea floating around that youth sports officiating is just a side gig. Just a way to make a few bucks. Something you do for some weekend cash. That mindset is the problem. If you are out there just for the paycheck, stay home. Because youth sports need more than that. They need adults who care. Who prepare. Who show up with pride. Who treat each game like it matters because it does matter. These kids are out there working. Competing. Trying. They do not need perfection from the adults in charge. But they deserve effort. They deserve attention. They deserve consistency. Being an umpire at the youth level is not glamorous. It is not easy. But it is important. It is one of the most important roles on the field. And if you treat it with the seriousness it deserves, you will not just improve the game. You will help shape lives.
The Bottom Line
If you are an umpire in youth sports, hear this clearly: you matter. What you do impacts every single player on the field. It shapes their understanding of the game. It influences their trust in adults. It determines whether they walk off the field confused and angry, or clear and empowered. So take it seriously. Show up ready. Lock in. Learn the rules. Be consistent. Own your mistakes. Ask for help. And never forget who this is all for. It is not about you. It is about the players. So do right by them. Every pitch. Every play. Every game.
Behind The Diamond 