Women as Umpires for all Baseball and Softball games
64Women as Umpires
Hi, I'm Patti and I am proud to say that I am an Umpire. Not only for girls softball, but for boys baseball as well.
I receive a lot of negative comments from coaches when I am an umpire behind the plate for boys baseball. I do not receive them when I am an umpire for the bases, as much, anyways. When I umpire girls softball games I get more respect. Now Why is that? Does the other gender feel threatened by me? Does the male umpires who do umpiring for girls softball get the same treatment, as I get when I do boys baseball? I feel that it doesn't matter what sex you are, if you are fair, and are a good umpire. What does it matter if you are male or female? I will say, I do get recommendations to umpire games that coaches have given me no respect in. Must be because I do my job right, and am fair in my calls. It could be that, I do not allow them to intimidate me. I stand up to them when I make a call that they know is right, but try to change my mind about it.
Don't get me wrong. I do not receive, at times, the respect of coaches for girls softball, but it is very few and far between. I do my job to the fullest. I am just as good, if not better, than my male counter parts.
What do you think? Take my poll at the bottom, or simply comment on my article. Do you think women should be both girls softball umpires and baseball? Or do you think woman should stick to their own sex?
Post your comments. Everyone is welcomed.
Thanks, and have a wonderful day............Patti
Umpire Attire
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So honestly, what is the difference in the game rules? Not much of changes. It is just about the gender. Explain your answer. There has to bea reason.
Hi Patti-
Another woman hearing your cry!! I don't umpire yet, thought about it a million times tho. But I am the only female coach in a Girls Minor Division Fast Pitch league. Some male coaches don't like it that I'm there. I think they are intimidated, I just don't know why either. Why is it that men coach the girls, but you NEVER see a woman coach the boys?
Chris in Ohio; That's great that you are a coach. It is true about woman coaches. You don't see us coaching boys baseball. You should be an umpire, regardless of what negativity comes your way. Men are(most), still sexist. I think they are afraid of us woman being better than them. If you decide to become an umpire, be strong, let them know who is in control of the game, and never let them see your fear. Men don't like it when woman are in control of anything. They don't like it when they have to take orders from a woman.
We will stick together. Thank you for your feedback, and have a great day....Patti
I have seen a lot of male umpires at women's softball games and they never get negative treatment unless they make bad calls. It is completely accepted for men to umpire for female players, so I think women should be allowed to umpire men's games. Whatever hardships a women may encounter when she umpires men's games should not cause her to give up. Qualified women should demand their right to umpire men's games.
Thank you Mark Rappaport. I really do not see anything wrong either way. Thank you for your feedback. I really appreciate it.
I dont think it matters. I played boys baseball until i was in 8 grade, I switched cause I knew that the boys in highschool were much bigger than me but I still umpire boys baseball games and I like umping boys more than girls for some reason. When I played baseball I was the only girl in my league and when I got into like 6 grade the boys started respecting me because they knew what I was capable of doing. i was a pitcher and struck many out I think they were intimitated. This is my first year doing boys games and the coaches are very respective. Some say they like girls better than boys because the men dont have the attention span.
I umpire girls fastpitch as well and some coaches and fans will try to give me a hard time until I put them in their place. Its like they try to test you and see what they can get away with, they think you are weak, well not me. It is also true that as a female it is harder to move up and call higher level ball, like college, etc. In your case if you enjoy calling baseball you should continue doing it, if you stop, it should be because you want to no because they made you. Perhaps if you dedicate yourselft to 1 sport you could get even better and start preparing yourself to call college ball. Good Luck
Its Unfortunate but A large portion of male umpires and coaches do feel uncomfortable around women. I believe they resent feeling that they have to change their behavior and cant be themselves around a female official. As far as the work goes coaches will latch on to anything outside the norm about an umpire in order to justify their actions(male or female). It goes with the territory. women tread a tough road of bias in Baseball but have a huge advantage in Fastpitch Softball in terms of 'moving up the ladder.' High School & College Softball are desperate to find more women to officiate the sport. However, most women are still gravitating to the Coaching ranks. My advice in Baseball is to prioritize your people and Game Management skills to overcome their bias. Most coaches and players are not qualified to judge your rules knowledge or mechanics. You could be the best but will never get a shot if you can't manage the Game and its participants.
P.S. If I was you, I would never give up doing both sports. There is often a rivalry or attitude of distrust between Baseball and Fastpitch Officiating Units regardless of gender. By doing both sports you will gain more overall experience. I would especially recommend cutting your teeth on any Local Adult Baseball Leagues. If You Can succeed and thrive in those Adult leagues, High School and College will seem like a vacation. Just about every game mgt scenario imaginable will arise. A great place to practice new techniques in communication, a great place to work out all the kinks and great place to be tested by High Testosterone levels @ their worst. Again, if you can manage this bunch of 'use to bees,'coulda beens,' wannabees' and 'never wases' amongst some actual talent you will have gained most of the tools necessary to work any level. Good Luck. Remember, as much as being different can be a hinderance, it is even more of an opportunity to stand out, be noticed for a job well done. In officiating that can be tough to come by; as it is said often that, if we are doing a good job we should not be noticed.
Hi Patti,
You're not alone! I've never umpired softball, but I've umpired baseball from Little League to independent professional baseball, and many male counterparts assure me that, all else being equal (comparing me to a male umpire of comparable ability), I've received more than my share of grief. I personally feel that, even at the professional level, I earned the respect of some who initially were suspicious of a woman umpiring, while others never could see past my two X chromosomes. So what? Do what you love. Follow your passions. Keep standing up for yourself and honing your work.
As for whether women should or should not umpire boys and mens baseball...pfft! What a silly question!
One more thing: in haste I typed the wrong URL for our website. The wiki site Women Umpiring Baseball can be found at www.grassceiling.wetpaint.com and I hope you check us out, and join!
Hey, fergie9, if you ever catch any real junk for being an umpire, please come to our town. We have one of the finest, region-experienced, women umpires I know here and we'd love to attract many more. Baseball OR softball. The rules are almost indistinguishable and women probably bring something that men need more of -- compassion and patience. Don't take any junk off anyone and I wish you all the best in the coming season!
Best regards,
Jim Butt
UIC, Cheltenham Little League
PS, send me more pix in uniform or on the field. I need recruiting photos for young ladies to join up!
Thank you Jim, I really appreciate the kind words. I will send more pics soon....Thanks again...
I love your hubpage, and am glad you are doing both sports. Definitely keep it up. I'm a mom of 3 girls, and wish we had more female umpires and officials in all sports. It's important for girls AND boys to see that women are capable and involved at all levels of all sports!
I'm a girl(junior in hs) and umpire baseball. I love doing it. I umpire everything. 8u rec to 15u travel. Coaches don't say a word to me. They'll be a couple"where was the blue" but nothing I haven't heard coaches say to men when they ump. I think the coaches are afraid of if they say something,,, what I'll say back. They're afraid of me showing them up. Some don't think I won't throw a coach out if he's being an ahole, but I'll do it and I think they're afraid of a girl throwing them out. A lot of coaches have telled the assocation that I have the best strike zone they've seen and that they love when I umpire. Don't be afraid to put a coach in their place.
Hi Patti,
I feel your pain! I'm josephine from East Africa. I played softball for six years then I had to attend the University. Now I am looking to get umpire training at the Harry Wendestedt school for umpires but I found out they don't have female students! All these articles I read about the discrimination of female umpires is quite discouraging, especially for me because I am both female and African.
Nevertheless, this is what I would love to do-umpiring.
i am a senior at temple university and i am doing my paper on female umpires - i would like to interview you very much - if you wouldn't mind can you contact me by sunday nov. 13, 2011 (909) 225-5226- thank you,kristen mccarthy
Should woman be umpires for both genders?
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jeff grof 3 years ago
Well i think woman should just do softball, and baseball to be for men,