Small Diamond Plate

[mt 73]

My soon to be 16 year old daughter began umpiring last year after taking our league's classes and came up with a (IMHO) wonderful suggestion.
Rather than have a different strike zone for the younger levels why not change the width of the plate for varying age groups?
Perhaps 22 inches for an 8 year old, 20 inches for 9-10 and 19 inches for 11-12?
What say you?

[jbonnot]

Then you will have issues on fields used by multiple levels.

[Rich_Ives]

My soon to be 16 year old daughter began umpiring last year after taking our league's classes and came up with a (IMHO) wonderful suggestion.
Rather than have a different strike zone for the younger levels why not change the width of the plate for varying age groups?
Perhaps 22 inches for an 8 year old, 20 inches for 9-10 and 19 inches for 11-12?
What say you?

You want a very small batter to have to reach an outside pitch on a very large plate?

[lustersilk]

My soon to be 16 year old daughter began umpiring last year after taking our league's classes and came up with a (IMHO) wonderful suggestion.
Rather than have a different strike zone for the younger levels why not change the width of the plate for varying age groups?
Perhaps 22 inches for an 8 year old, 20 inches for 9-10 and 19 inches for 11-12?
What say you?

Yeah, sorry, but this doesn't make much sense. I think I get where she's trying to go with this, but it's not going to work for the hitters and will not help pitchers develop consistant skills (hitting their spots, etc).

I admire your daughters thought process though, she's thinking out of the box and that's a good thing. Tell her to keep it up.

[Pete_Booth]

My soon to be 16 year old daughter began umpiring last year after taking our league's classes and came up with a (IMHO) wonderful suggestion.
Rather than have a different strike zone for the younger levels why not change the width of the plate for varying age groups?
Perhaps 22 inches for an 8 year old, 20 inches for 9-10 and 19 inches for 11-12?
What say you?

IMO, baseball for the young kids (until say major division) should be instructional meaning no score kept or standings.

You have a "handful" of kids who are skilled at the young age levels but not enough to "go around"

Also, by instructional I mean taught by indivduals who KNOW the game and how to teach it not simply some 'daddy" coach. The money that you pay instead of going towards uniforms , umpires (if you pay them) etc, could go to instructors ie: Frozen ropes for those of you who are familiar with them.

To have an 8/9 or even 10 yr. old pitch is absurd and that's why I say instructional.

Pete Booth

[pmylumpire13]

My soon to be 16 year old daughter began umpiring last year after taking our league's classes and came up with a (IMHO) wonderful suggestion.
Rather than have a different strike zone for the younger levels why not change the width of the plate for varying age groups?
Perhaps 22 inches for an 8 year old, 20 inches for 9-10 and 19 inches for 11-12?
What say you?

No. Don't change the plate size. Tell your daughter to be a pitcher's umpire - if anything, "expand" the SZ for the appropriate age group you are umpiring. If you DO NOT, you will be calling "Ball 4" all night, and only play 2 innings in 2 hours.