Coach assisted DP

[SnareDrum]

Not really a situation or a rules thing, so I'll toss it into here...

Earlier this week, I'm working 8U Coach Pitch because my UIC asked me to. They've been having a few problems with a coach or two, so they call me in. I look at it as a little extra exercise and a chance to tweak my solo mechanics a little. My position (working solo) is behind the batter at an angle and roughly even with the catcher.

Earlier in the game, a batter had hit a foul ball grounder up the line. Not even close, but I noticed the coaches in the boxes had a habit of quickly yelling "foul ball!" before I did. This happened a couple of more times, including on one where the ball was still slowly dribbling up the line. While I wished they wouldn't do that, I said nothing.

Bases loaded, 1 out. Batter weak taps a ball straight down into the batter's box and it slowly rolls forward and stops just in front of the plate. Just as I point fair, I hear "foul ball!" from the coach at 3B. Batter freezes and F2 steps forward and picks up the ball... and he's standing on home plate. I call and signal the out. F2 then wisely reaches over and calmly tags batter-runner. "Out! 3 outs!"

I glanced over at the coach and he had his hands on his knees, looking at the ground and shaking his head. He didn't say anything to me. I didn't have to say a word to him, and the rest of the game, every coach was dead silent on every foul ball. The next game, two new teams and the coaches are calling fouls again. Question is, do you guys think I should have said something earlier, especially given the age level? While this didn't turn into a sh*tstorm, it probably could have. Part of me says to leave it and hope they figure it out, while another part says to ask the coaches to please not yell foul until I do.

[cyclonehokiece]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

[scrounge]

I would absolutely put a stop to that at the first opportunity. "FOUL" is a reserved word - no one yells it but you.

[SnareDrum]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

After rehashing it a little more in my head... and just being informed that I have the same league again next week... I agree.

[Welpe]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

Agreed. They need to know these calls are yours to make.

The other option is don't work coach pitch. :fuel:

[SanDiegoSteve]

These "coaches" in these kiddie ball leagues are really just daddies playing coach or reliving their childhoods through their kids. They need to learn field decorum, and you are by far the most knowledgeable participant on the field, so it is up to you to instruct the coaches to not holler out fair and foul, safe and out, and ball and strike calls.

Another pet peeve of mine is first base coaches who try to help by signaling "safe" on every play at first, even when the runner is out by two steps. I love looking them right in the eye when I call their runner out, and getting that sheepish look from them.

[SnareDrum]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

Agreed. They need to know these calls are yours to make.

The other option is don't work coach pitch.

HA! Indeed, I'd prefer not to. But when your chief asks, sometimes you gotta' say yes. It really can be a lot of fun... most of the time!

Yeah, "foul" is mine. In the same vein, I definitely would nip a coach yelling "balk!" Pre-game quick mention, or wait until it happens? It seems to to be a problem with pretty much all of the teams (except one!).

[Mike Prince]

These "coaches" in these kiddie ball leagues are really just daddies playing coach or reliving their childhoods through their kids. They need to learn field decorum, and you are by far the most knowledgeable participant on the field, so it is up to you to instruct the coaches to not holler out fair and foul, safe and out, and ball and strike calls.

Another pet peeve of mine is first base coaches who try to help by signaling "safe" on every play at first, even when the runner is out by two steps. I love looking them right in the eye when I call their runner out, and getting that sheepish look from them.

I get a lot of these, especially in machine pitch ball but also in 9U ball as for most of these dads it is their first time coaching. Last year (to one of these guys I know off the field as well) this happened and I told him I had a deal for him. I won't try to coach if you don't try to umpire. All said in jest, I never would have said this if we were not familiar with each other off the field and I knew we would be able to laugh about it later. But I made my point.

Normally I will say "Only one of us is making calls today coach"

[cyclonehokiece]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

Agreed. They need to know these calls are yours to make.

The other option is don't work coach pitch.

HA! Indeed, I'd prefer not to. But when your chief asks, sometimes you gotta' say yes. It really can be a lot of fun... most of the time!

Yeah, "foul" is mine. In the same vein, I definitely would nip a coach yelling "balk!" Pre-game quick mention, or wait until it happens? It seems to to be a problem with pretty much all of the teams (except one!).

Wait until it happens, but if you believe it is a league wide problem, let your chief know, he can decide to send out notice or not that it isn't acceptable behavior.

[Mike Prince]

Say, "Coach, I will call the ball fair or foul today" on the first instance. Nip it in the bud. Don't care about age, that shouldn't be happening.

Agreed. They need to know these calls are yours to make.

The other option is don't work coach pitch.

HA! Indeed, I'd prefer not to. But when your chief asks, sometimes you gotta' say yes. It really can be a lot of fun... most of the time!

Yeah, "foul" is mine. In the same vein, I definitely would nip a coach yelling "balk!" Pre-game quick mention, or wait until it happens? It seems to to be a problem with pretty much all of the teams (except one!).

Definitely wait for it to happen the first time. Pregame is not the time to address it, keep that meeting short and sweet and stick to the basics.

[Rich Ives]

Another pet peeve of mine is first base coaches who try to help by signaling "safe" on every play at first, even when the runner is out by two steps. I love looking them right in the eye when I call their runner out, and getting that sheepish look from them.

MLB Coaches do that on the close ones - it's not just the daddies.

[Fittske24]

Everyone has an opinion on a close call..... but only opinion that counts is the man in blue!

[Welpe]

Everyone has an opinion on a close call..... but only opinion that counts is the man in blue!

Unless he is the man in black or *retch* pink.

HA! Indeed, I'd prefer not to. But when your chief asks, sometimes you gotta' say yes. It really can be a lot of fun... most of the time!

I understand helping the boss out.

As the others said, I'd wait to address it until it happens.

[grayhawk]

Coach pitch is okay, but never do a tee ball game. The griping about the strike zone is unbearable!

[yawetag]

Everyone has an opinion on a close call..... but only opinion that counts is the man in blue!

This photo would be a lot better if the umpire's signaling out.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Another pet peeve of mine is first base coaches who try to help by signaling "safe" on every play at first, even when the runner is out by two steps. I love looking them right in the eye when I call their runner out, and getting that sheepish look from them.

MLB Coaches do that on the close ones - it's not just the daddies.

I wasn't talking about close plays. I said even when the runner is obviously out. It is just a little annoying, but amusing at the same time. I get a kick out of some of you coaches out there, bless your hearts.:)