he boys and girls of Glebe Little League are out playing baseball and softball at diamonds all around the area, Lansdowne, Brewer, Windsor and Brantwood Parks. And at every game you see the GLL umpires in their distinctive blue shirts, grey pants and umpiring caps. Most came up through the ranks as players and around age 13 decided to try their hand at officiating.
This season there are 32 umpires; last year there were 36. They get paid a small amount per game, a nice way to earn some pocket money for teenagers. These young men and women all come under the watchful eye of the League's umpire-in-chief. Keith Willis held the job for four years and Doug Diak is now in his third year in the position.
Both began umpiring 10 years ago after a season of coaching their sons, Scott and Nick, in the minor division. Doug started because he was appalled by the quality of umpiring and decided he could contribute more by being a good umpire than by being a coach.
When Keith thinks about his first game as an umpire at the old Lansdowne Park diamonds, he recalls that his whole family threatened to come and heckle him...and they did! But, his son Scott, who hadn't watched baseball since he stopped playing, signed up to play again.
In 1994, Keith became umpire-in-chief when Greg Crossett stepped down. The job overlapped with his one of referee-in-chief for the Ottawa Centre Minor Hockey Association, a position he held for five years along with refereeing for 10 years. When office demands became too heavy, Keith turned the reins over to Doug in 1998. Both continue to ump.
What does the position of umpire-in-chief involve? Doug describes the position as having two parts. The first is to train and help the junior umpires develop and perfect technique, build confidence and become comfortable on the field.
The second involves scheduling 250-300 games per year, spring and summer, in minor, major, junior and senior divisions and three girls softball divisions.
Every year umpires are required to take a Level I clinic run by the umpire-in-chief. Doug says he looks for objectivity, the ability to see things as they are, a knowledge of the rules and a willingness to learn.
It is also important "not to be easily offended with criticism from the fans. Umpires must realize they cannot please both sides at the same time." He adds, "umpires don't deliberately make bad calls but they are human".
Keith explains the umpire-in-chief puts more experienced umpires with rookies but, "It is important to get rookies behind the plate as soon as possible." Keith encourages kids to try umpiring "because it gives them another aspect of the game. Most play baseball but seeing the game as an official is different. Umpires have to learn and study the rule book. They have to learn to deal with and tolerate a certain level of catcalling. And they have to learn not to abuse their authority."
The umpire-in-chief goes to the various diamonds to see how all the kids are doing and encourages them to call with problems or questions after a game, especially if it concerns abuse by a parent or coach.
Criticism is something both umpires and parents in the stands have heard. As Keith notes, "there has been the odd occasion when an adult in the stands has had to be informed that yelling at an umpire, especially a young kid, is inappropriate. Adults should keep in mind the umpire is still learning the game just like the players are. Nobody gets through without making mistakes so fans should be patient."
Doug has noticed Little League fans now are more understanding than they used to be. He attributes this to people being better educated about minor sports and to umpires willing to talk to spectators after a game.
Umpires require certain levels of training to officiate at different levels of games. With Level I, an umpire can do house league games; with Level II, District levels; Level III provincials and with Level IV a national championship game.
Keith has Level III and has umpired Big League and men's league games but finds umpiring for Glebe Little League is enough.
Doug has Level III and, in 1996, was selected by the District to go to Little League Headquarters in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for a one week umpiring session which gave him Level IV certification.
He has umpired Districts for eight years and also provincial and Canadian championships. In 1998 he did three provincial championships, one senior Canadian championship, one Big League Canadian championship and six junior Canadian championships. Doug is also a certified Ontario Baseball Association umpire and does men's league games for the National Capital Baseball League. He umpires an average of 100 games per year.
Keith and Doug enjoy working with kids. Umpiring is their contribution to Little League baseball and one of the ways they serve their community. All Glebe Little League players, umpires and parents benefit from the standards Keith and Doug set and the role models they have become to our children.