New Jersey parents will want to think twice before getting into it with the umpires at their kids’ baseball games. Umps, who are usually volunteers, have been walking off the job in droves due to unruly and abusive parents. This has left the Little League short-staffed when it comes to calling games.
But Deptford Township, NJ has come up with a brilliant solution to keep parents calm and make sure there are umps aplenty. They’ve decreed that if a parent fights with an umpire, they must volunteer to officiate at least three upcoming games. If the rule goes into effect, Deptford Little League officials say a certified umpire will also be present to make sure things go smoothly. As an added bonus, parents will get a taste of how difficult calling balls and strikes can be.
Source: ABC