urout17

9-10 yr old? 1B Coach: "You're. Me:"Gone"

LittleBlue, we didn't know and was a last minute decision since the visiting team was 1/2 an hour late due to traffic.

"I would tell the manager of the pitcher to have his pitcher stop warming up during the Anthem simply out of respect. I'd imagine that he wouldn't have a problem with it." The thing is, I didn't even think that would have happened. The coach was at the end of the line closest to first base. I saw the kid jog down to the bullpen and then didn't think anything of it. I was looking elsewhere and the song started. As I pan over to the right field bullpen, there's the kid warming up. It's not like I could have done anything by then. I was really surprised a parent in the stands down that line didn't say anything since they were pretty close to them.

No, I'm not going for the anthem standoff with this story. I had a varsity game yesterday on a picturesque day. Before the game both teams lineup on the foul lines for the anthem. VTHC sends his starting pitcher down to the right-field bullpen to warm up. As the anthem starts playing everyone is at attention, hats off and quite. The moron continues to warm-up thru the entire song. That really pissed me off! Is it just the kids now-a-days? Rant over.

I'm not sure why you would even give this guy the time of day? He's on the other side of the fence. If he becomes a problem, which apparently he did, go to the home team coach and have him handle it. If he doesn't, put the burden on him and let him know he'll be the one taking a hike if he doesn't quite him down. Nothing good can come from talking to "fans" thru a fence regarding this type of behavior. Just my opinion.

I don't do it and have never had anybody do it to me either. To me it looks bad and even though we know what's going on perception is everything.

What age level is a bronco pony game and what rule set does this level use? Just wondering. Thanks.

MHO.....too much talking. A very loud "KNOCK IT OFF" says two things....we're done talking about the strike zone and there's your warning. The next option he chooses to take will determine his fate.

DC wasn't an umpire on this day so I wouldn't treat him as one. "He told me after the inning that he knew I was correct, but thought it was a crappy way to give up a run." Spoken like a true coach. You made the correct call.

During the off season in your area check out any local indoor training facility and ask the coaches if they would mind having your umpires track pitches while their players are practicing. Any way to see live pitching will help. Just a thought...

13-15 is an excitable age. I would stress timing, positioning and slowing down their calls. Never give kids too much to remember, they have enough on their mind already. I'm not sure if you're a parent but remember, no kid likes to be lectured. My two cents.

Right? I love hearing the people in the stands chirping about that. Everyone else (players/coaches) knew better.

R1, tie game late. BR squares to sacrifice. Inside curve ball gets away from the pitcher and BR ducks from getting hit. Pitch hits his bat behind his head and he lays down a perfect sacrifice. F1 fields the ball and throws BR out at first. Never seen that before.

Al, please give it a rest. I get it. Do you think anybody likes to have their sentences picked apart and deciphered to no end. I'll be back to just reading again. Have a nice day.

This is why I don't post often. I'm not trying to offend anyone nor was I offended. I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. When anyone writes anything on any social media, you don't know the tone of the response. Mine was not to offend, just looking for input. I appreciate your opinion. Have a nice day.

As a matter of fact we just got word yesterday from the sanctioning body of the IHSA Rules Committee. They said as long as they don't use them to warm their bats it's legal (we already knew that). The question posed to the IHSA was they were using PORTABLE heaters in their dugout which wasn't case, they were professionally installed radiant heaters located on the ceiling of their dugout. We totally understood you don't go looking for trouble since the game is hard enough. I'm not sure how to put this in the age of political correctness but nobody on this forum was there except my partner and the teams involved. We made a judgement call (good or bad) based on the SPORTSMANSHIP of the game at the HS LEVEL that we stress to both head coaches before each game. When we asked if he could turn them off he had no problem and did so right away. I'm not kidding when I say the wind was blowing 25-30mph with gusts up to 50mph and a game time temp of 41, you do the math on the windchill. When the snow/sleet/ice balls started blowing horizontal we stopped the game for safety reasons in the 3rd inning. I think we all beat this topic to death enough. I thank everyone for their posts and always look forward to reading everyone's situations. Have a great season everyone.

Well, I guess two questions then. 1. How does a shorter fence give the home team an advantage, for viewing? 2. I take it you let the teams with ac's use them? Just wondering. Thanks.

I did just for the hell of it.

Fair enough.

I think bringing warm weather gear to your game is not the issue. You know what the weather conditions are probably going to be before you leave. In our area water is always provided in both dugouts so that is not an issue. You really don't believe having heaters (or blowing ac's depending where you live) is not an advantage? Like I said in my OP, I'm talking about a HS game where sportsmanship is stressed. I have no problem with what you suggest for college and higher. I'm just interested in what everyone thinks so I really appreciate your input.

If a HS defensive player actually knew what he was doing on this he's a genius, just say'n.

Last Saturday morning we started a HS varsity game but did not complete it due to weather conditions. The wind and eventual snow were too brutal but we tried to get it in. The question I have is that we noticed the home team has professionally installed heaters in the ceiling of their dugout yet none in the visitors, nor were any space heaters provided for the visitors. I understand this can be considered home field advantage. My partner and I talked it over and thought this goes against the sportsmanship of the game at the HS level which we go over with each HC prior to the start of every game so we had them turn them off. The HC did so without incident but we were wondering what the ruling, if any, would there be regarding this and neither one of us could think of one other than sportsmanship. And they weren't using the heaters to warm their bats in case anyone was wondering. I don't believe we were over officiating just trying to maintain the integrity of the game at this level. I understand at the college and pro levels this would be a different story. I look forward to everyone's comments, Thanks.

If there are any Howard Stern fans out there (me being one of them), that Brony crap is real. F'n sick/weird people out there. But I digress....

Ah...got it.