Can an Umpire call in the same game at which his/her daughter is playing in? ( let alone pitching)?

Question

I saw this happen in my league and was amazed that this would happen. It seems like a conflict of intrest. One of the parents told me that they thought it was ok and that there wasn't any violation. I have tried to look up the rule but can't find it. Can anyone help me understand why this would and could happen? Thanks

Answer 1

I do not believe it is wrong according to rules or ethics. I in fact did umpire behind the plate when my son pitched once in a kid's league. He had to focus on the catcher and not on me; it took an inning or so for him to settle down. Both coaches knew the situation and both said it went well.

Son pitched four of the six innings and they lost on a couple errors in the last inning.

There is evidence that umpires have been involved with teams that had relatives. American League Umpire Bill Haller did officiate games that his brother played; catcher Tom Haller of the Detroit Tigers in 1972. A good umpire will be a good umpire no matter the family situation. I would be more concerned about the coach's kid playing only because it is the coach's kid.

Answer 2

Hm....As a person who has both umpired and scheduled umpiring for youth games for a whole lot of years for various leagues, I will give you my take on this:

First, though it may seem like a conflict of interest, I have seen small towns where there is truly no choice other than scheduling a situation like this. If the league is constructed for the youth in the spirit for which it should be constructed, this type of situation should not bother anyone - at least too badly. Kids are there to learn to play with sportsmanship, teamwork, friendship, and respect while learning to play the game. Winning and losing should take second seat to those ideals.

Let's face it: If the umpire/father cares about the integrity of the game, he will be impartial. This will keep people off his back AND set a good example for everyone attending, INCLUDING HIS DAUGHTER. He would have to be a complete Bozo to sway the game in his daughter's team's favor so much it would be obvious! As a matter of fact, if I were the coach of his daughter's team, I WOULD BE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THE UMPIRE/FATHER MAKING CALLS AGAINST HER TEAM IF THERE ARE ANY CLOSE PLAYS JUST TO PROVE HIS IMPARTIALITY!

Having coached my only son in high school baseball and all three of my daughters in youth basketball and soccer, I have to admit that it was difficult enough to be fair to everyone in that situation. I would never wish to umpire in their games, however, simply because of similar thoughts of which you seem concerned. The game, however, just like the postal service, must go on, and someone has to call the game. Pettiness is of course universal and your concern for this potentially uncomfortable situation is why you asked this question in the first place, but I believe the possible teaching aspects of this situation outweigh the potential negative connotations...I am probably a little more optimistic than many, but at least I see it that way...

I must ask this, however: If it makes people uncomfortable to see this man umpire his own daughter's game, are there upset people in the stands WHO DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE GAME willing to put on the equipment and umpire instead of this man? He can then sit up where he belongs, and cheer for his daughter's team just like he would most likely wish to be doing, anyway... Just a thought! :-)

Answer 3

I thoroughly consider Joe West's sentiments yet strongly disagree with how he expressed them. As a fan, i'm getting as annoyed watching it as West does umpiring it. The video games ARE too long. i've got been watching baseball for 40 years, and purely those days have those marathon video games began to happen in many cases. And that is fairly much consistently an analogous 2 communities. If it replaced into purely sometimes, nice. The gamers are without end calling time, vacationing the mound, stepping out of the field, stepping off the rubber and multiple of the pitchers on the two communities artwork at a snail's %.. as much as i like the contention, I under no circumstances watch Yankees - pink Sox video games stay, purely on PVR so i will speedy forward via each and every of the BS they have interaction in. it extremely is time MLB stepped up and in no uncertain words instructed them "sufficient" and passes some policies proscribing the quantity of crap that is going - no stepping out of the field, no stepping off the rubber (a strike or ball could be the penalty reckoning on who did it); a decrease on the style of mound visits, and batters and catchers can not call time as quickly as the pitcher is on the rubber and the hitter is in the batter's field. 4 hours for a 9 inning pastime is absurd. in the event that they save that up, people are going to start announcing X is sturdy.

Answer 4

Most league have rules against it. I doubt if it would happen at the High School level or higher.
In the lower levels, it is hard enough to find coaches/umpires to give of their time. You're not playing for millions of dollars, just go out and have fun.
I have seen this done before, and most of the time, the umpire/referee is harder on their child than on others.

Answer 5

I think it depends on the league whether they'll allow it or not. I used to umpire for Babe Ruth baseball in Kansas, and if you were an umpire with a kid playing in the league you couldn't ump any games in the same age group. Personally, I would think that whether they intend to or not, a person is going to favor their own flesh and blood; so the integrity of the game goes right out the window.

Answer 6

I'm an Umpire,I have yet to ump my sons games but its perfectly legal.As an umpire I can tell you that once the game starts you get into game mode and are mostly oblivious of who's pitching,playing first,second,or any position.I look foward to the day I can Umpire in my sons games,by the way I'm a College,High School,Legion Ump.

Answer 7

they can still call in the game. if the relative is pitching they are not allowed to call balls and strikes.

In the MLB, Randy Wolfe who pitches for the Phillies has a brother that is an umpire. This brother has been in many of Randy's games but is not allow behind the plate to call balls and strikes when Randy pitches. He can be any where else on the field of play though.

Answer 8

Nothing in the rule book to stop it. However, the umpire should take himself from behind the plate and call the bases.

Answer 9

its not illegal or unethical. if anything the umpire is under the most pressure. on close calls the umpire pretty much has to go against the team of his / her daughter is playing in. thats y many schools and leagues try to avoid these situations

Answer 10

It is not illeagal to umpire your kids game. Anyone who schedules umpires will try not to put a parent and a kid in the same game. However, umpires can be hard to find and volunteers can be harder.