DEPTFORD, N.J. – A Little League Baseball organization is asking fans critical of umpires to try their hand at the job.
As reported by The Associated Press, in April, Don Bozzuffi, president of Deptford Little League in New Jersey, created a new code of conduct.
The code of conduct specified any spectator deemed in violation of the code would be banned from attending games until three umpiring assignments were completed. If this does not happen, the person would be barred from any local youth sports facilities.
In the article, Bozzuffi says the code has been “working like I’d hoped.”
The AP spoke with Jim McDevitt, who has worked as a volunteer umpire in Deptford for more than 20 years. He wonders where the next generation of officials will come from, considering the job description contains what he calls “little pay and lots of crap.”
According to a 2017 survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, nearly 17,500 referees surveyed said parents were the largest cause of problems at youth sports events at 39 percent.
Barry Mano, who founded the National Association of Sports Officials, says fan conduct has become worse than he’s ever imagined.
“I don’t think we are as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues,” Mano told the Associated Press.
Bozzuffi noted that after his new code of conduct made national headlines, three umpires joined and some others were asking about volunteering.
However, he explains that it is not as simple as an offender being put on the field to umpire. They must complete a three-hour certification course before receiving an umpire assignment.
