A New Jersey Little League Will Force Parents That Confront An Umpire To Suit Up And Ump 3 Games Before They Are Allowed To Return As Spectators

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USA TODAY- A new rule this season in the Deptford Township Little League requires spectators who seem to think they could do a better job than the volunteer umpires on the field to come out and prove it.  Anyone in the stands who confronts an ump during a game must themselves umpire three games before they're allowed back as a spectator. 

"They think that the call was bad, which always amazes me that they can see a strike better over there than the umpire can one foot in back of them," league president Don Bozzuffi told the TV station. The abuse has been so bad, Bozzuffi said, two volunteer umpires quit last week.

No offense to Toms River or the legend of Todd Frazier, but this story may be the greatest contribution New Jersey, or any state in this great nation, has ever given to Little League baseball. For far too long, we have watched videos of parents losing their shit on umpires who are making scraps or nothing to make calls during the most unwatchable baseball known to man. I get that these parents think little Johnny is going to be the next Mike Trout because he turned on a tee ball once. But it has reached the absurd stages, especially when you consider that even the umpires in the best baseball league on the planet suck.

Which is why I love this little league having their parents put their money (or in this case free time) where their mouth is. If you think you can do a better job than these volunteer umps, go out and do it yourself. If not, shut the fuck up like us normal parents who are just trying to run out the clock on the weekend during a Saturday morning.

In fact, I think this type of punishment should be expanded to more walks of life. If you want to constantly pester teachers for the way they teach your kid, tap yourself in as a guest teacher for a few days and learn what its like dealing with 20+ kids that aren't your own. Okay that's probably against some sort of laws, but I stand by it. Even if you want to stay in baseball realm, if you want to constantly bother the person making $0 to coach your shitty kid because you don't like where he's batting or fielding, take his whistle, put on his Aviators, and coach the dozen or so kids that still aren't sure if they should run to first or third when they actually make contact with the ball.

Following this New Jersey little league's lead should alleviate some of the stress on volunteers or at the very least prevent moments like this happening, which lowkey kinda sucks because this was one of my favorite viral videos from the last few years.