Hold on…. I’m not attempting to tear anyone down. I could have (probably should have) omitted that I had just come off a challenging game experience.

But, I truly want to know: how is quality managed amongst IHSA umpires? Is it in any way?

I understand there is a shortage. I understand there are a lot of parents who make life miserable for umpires. I understand we are fortunate to get anyone to our games… I understand all of it.

What I still really want to know is whether there is any quality control.

Can someone educate me without merely firing a torpedo? More than one thing can be true… umpires can have an often thankless job, and some umpires can be not great at their job (or, in my case, at an age and physical condition that perhaps should preclude them from umpiring).