The Volunteer Umpire At Hoover Tyler By Jeff Frese      Hoover Tyler Little League has had difficulty over the past decade in getting good volunteer umpires and starting a good volunteer umpire program.  The league has flip-flopped between requiring the managers/coaches of each team to umpire other division games (Minor A managers/coaches responsible for supplying Major Division umpires and visa-versa) and getting outside help.      The problem with having the managers/coaches doing the umpiring is that they are already volunteering several days a week to run their own team. The other problem is that some of the managers/coaches would typically bring in someone from the outside to perform their umpire assignment and those people have not always been trained or just don't know the Little League rules.      For the past two years, the league has tried to use local high school and college kids.  A couple of those umpires are graduates of Hoover Tyler.  While some have performed admirably, there have been constant complaints of inconsistency and mis-application of the rules.  One of the truly bright spots of the umpiring program has been Dennis Duncan, who has no kids in our league, but has umpired games once to twice a week for the past several years.  I would normally cover four games a week (two Minor A & two Major games), but this past year I also had to cover the our new Junior team.       With a normal 6 - 7 teams at each umpired division (Minor A & Majors), we have to cover a minimum of 12 umpire slots per week just for the plate umpire and a minimum of 24 umpire slots per week if we want to have a base and plate umpire for each game.  That's a lot of umpiring.      Somehow we've always managed.  Sometimes we have to pull parents out of the stands to umpire, but certainly that's not desirable.      So what's next?  At the most recent board meeting (August 2004), the informal initial discussion centers around having a combination of outside volunteers and having the managers/coaches also responsible.  While doing this obligates the manager/coaches to do a little more, it also helps when they have to experience what the umpires experience and hopefully forces them to know the rules a little better.      So what can you do to help?  Think about becoming an umpire.  I started out as an umpire seven years ago because I was told I had to.  I got hooked and am now the umpire-in-chief of the District.  It's addicting and can be lots of fun.  I know the kids enjoy having a professional looking & acting umpire out there.  If you are interested in becoming an umpire, you don't have to do it all the time.  Its your choice.  But if you want training, I offer several clinics during the beginning of the year.  Typically the training will be one day of rules and one day of umpire mechanics.  At least that is what will be offered at the District 8 umpire clinic in 2005.  I also conduct several individual league clinics before the season starts, and you are welcome to attend any of those.  These individual league clinics are usually no more than one eight hour session.  I can also set you up to get some on field tutoring with an experienced umpire, if you desire.  Please contact me, if you are interested.