1ST game 1ST ejection, was I too anxious?

[Guest gills]

Preseason tournaments over and time for regular season today, first game in the AM a 9-10 yr olds.

Situation: bottom 3rd, runner on 1st, I'm BU in position B. Batter/runner hits a hard grounder up the middle to left center. Runner 1 is rounding 2nd going to third, I check batter/runner at first, F3 (1b) is standing on inside of the bag with glove hand up as if a throw was coming, and batter/runner has to come to a complete stoptrying to round first to keep from hitting the fielder. B/R runs a few more feet and retreats back to first. CF throws to SS cutoff, and I am holding my left arm straight out and pointing with my right hand back at 1B to signal my PU that I have an obstruction call. Runner 1 held at 3B. I trot in to my PU and let him know I have obstruction on F3 because there wa no play at 1B and he completely stopped the B/R, he says go ahead make your call. I call out obstruction on !B and send R1 home and B/R to second.

 

Defensive coach comes racing on the fieldsaying "are you crazy?" What do I mean obstruction?" I reply coach, your player was blocking the running lane and the B/R was stopped because of it, and per the rules, if there is not a play, which means a throw and attempt to get him out at that base, then it is obstruction. He continues to scream at me that he has never had this called on his team ever! HE continues to blast me for a good minute and I say coach its in the dixie youth rule book chapter 2, "obstruction is the act of a fielder, while not possessing the ball, or in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of the runner." I'm not listening to any more, please return to your dugout  so we can continue. "His reply was no this is jacked up!" I said "coach return to your dugout now or go to the parking lot now." His reply was " your crazy"  as he was walking off, and I said " and you're gone!" 

 

I must admit I was letting him get under my skin some what, but should I have let him go?

[Richvee]

wow. Why did you let R1 score? The OBS had no bearing on him running 1st to 3rd. 

[basejester]

Why did you send R1 home?

 

How loud was his statement?

[JaxRolo]

First why did you send Runner at third home? Second, no need to to talk so much. Don't quote rules. Don't threaten to throw anyone out.

[bam]

Yeah - you crazy sending R3 home.

Toss the coach anyway. Sounds like he wasn't even arguing about the misapplied base award.

[Guest gills]

Why did you send R1 home?

 

How loud was his statement?

His statements were loud and mine stayed monotone, he did'nt want to believe that the runner was obstructed and just wanted to argue. I checked the rules, and I did  error in the penalty, which should have been if the  B/R was obstructed before he touched first, all advance one base, but just the runner advances if obstructed after touching the base. I made that assumption because as he was touching the base he made contact with F3.My error.

[bam]

Why did you send R1 home?

 

How loud was his statement?

His statements were loud and mine stayed monotone, he did'nt want to believe that the runner was obstructed and just wanted to argue. I checked the rules, and I did  error in the penalty, which should have been if the  B/R was obstructed before he touched first, all advance one base, but just the runner advances if obstructed after touching the base. I made that assumption because as he was touching the base he made contact with F3.My error.

You STILL crazy about that base award.

[constable]

Yep. Coaches sometimes come out fired up looking to get you fired up. When you stand there and don't say a word it pisses them off even more.

Don't even discuss the play with him until he stops yelling.

 

This may lead to an ejection without even talking about the play.

[mstaylor]

Good toss but WAY too much conversation. When he comes out tell him his F3 was in the way without the ball, that's obstruction. If he wants to discuss everything except the actual call, tell to get in the dugout. 

[mstaylor]

A good way to refocus him is to ask him if he wants to know what you have. 

[umpstu]

Why did you send R1 home?

 

How loud was his statement?

His statements were loud and mine stayed monotone, he did'nt want to believe that the runner was obstructed and just wanted to argue. I checked the rules, and I did  error in the penalty, which should have been if the  B/R was obstructed before he touched first, all advance one base, but just the runner advances if obstructed after touching the base. I made that assumption because as he was touching the base he made contact with F3.My error.

I'm not familiar with Dixie rules, but are you even sure that the BR should have been awarded second? Usually you protect the runner to where you feel he would have gotten to if he had not been obstructed. 

[mstaylor]

Dixie uses OBR, don't use the arm out mechanic. When the obstruction happens, point and yell,"That's obstruction!" Then once play is done make your award. No need to go to the PU, you have the call. As already noted, do not quote rules. Your situation is a good example, you quoted 2.00, you missed the actual rule which was 7.06b. 

[grayhawk]

Why did you send R1 home?

 

How loud was his statement?

His statements were loud and mine stayed monotone, he did'nt want to believe that the runner was obstructed and just wanted to argue. I checked the rules, and I did  error in the penalty, which should have been if the  B/R was obstructed before he touched first, all advance one base, but just the runner advances if obstructed after touching the base. I made that assumption because as he was touching the base he made contact with F3.My error.

This is still incorrect. As described in your OP, I probably have no awards at all on this play. Get back in the rule book.

[semper_fi_72]

Why you score R1 who was now R3 score is beyond me.

The Obstruction, if there was Obstruction, HTBT, had no impact on that runner.

If nothing else the coach should have protested that ruling as it was completely wrong.

You guys blew it.

[sdix00]

Gills - 

The coach's reaction was inexcusable but not unexpected. 

 

 

You made "Burnt Sienna" call.   That is you made an unusual call on a usual play.   Nobody expected you to do anything there, but you came out of the blue with it. 

 

 

On a routine base hit to CF, "everyone knows" that BR will get 1B and R1 might get 3B.     Even if BR was OBS at 1B, it is doubtful from my reading of your OP that he would have reached 2B under normal circumstances.   And, R1 definitely doesn't get HP here. 

 

 

The coaches only expect you to right the wrongs, not hold a clinic.   This is especially true in youth ball. 

 

 

I am not criticizing.  In fact, your OP was a little too familiar.   I wish future me could visit past me to say what I just said. 

[mstaylor]

He knows he smoked the award on R3 and to honest the PU should have fixed that. The award for the BR to second, you have to judge that as it happens. My concern is to fix the game management issues. 

1. The arm to the side....Don't use it, antiquated mechanic. 

2. No announcement of the obstruction when it happened...Point and loudly announce the obstruction. 

3. Enforcement....Do Not go to the PU unless you want input on placement. Re-announce the obstruction and award bases. 

4. Handling the coach....he was allowed too much time. Let him have an initial say then explain your call and enforcement. Do Not quote the rulebook, especially by number, paraphase the book instead. 

5. The ejection...Not a problem there, he was more concerned in yelling at the umpire than getting an explanation or defending his position. 

[Vegas]

The coach got too much rope - gone after your explanation. If he wants to yell, he can yell from the parking lot.

 

On the play - no clue why R3 gets the plate. The B/R was a HTBT situation.

[bam]

Gills -

The coach's reaction was inexcusable but not unexpected.

You made "Burnt Sienna" call. That is you made an unusual call on a usual play. Nobody expected you to do anything there, but you came out of the blue with it.

On a routine base hit to CF, "everyone knows" that BR will get 1B and R1 might get 3B. Even if BR was OBS at 1B, it is doubtful from my reading of your OP that he would have reached 2B under normal circumstances. And, R1 definitely doesn't get HP here.

The coaches only expect you to right the wrongs, not hold a clinic. This is especially true in youth ball.

I am not criticizing. In fact, your OP was a little too familiar. I wish future me could visit past me to say what I just said.

Ah. Papa C.

I don't think this fits, though. He enforced an "incorrect" call on an unusual play.

Edited to add: this play is still just brown.

[BRUMP]

Don't quote and then cite a rule it makes you sound like an arrogant asshole.

[bam]

Really, by rule, the umpire may enforce ANY base awards that negate the OBS, but there would be no expectation of R1 getting home absent obstruction. So I shall amend my contention the the "enforcement" or "call" was incorrect. This is a judgement call which, given the available evidence, is incorrect.

[Sayhey]

We have arrogant asshole and "you blew it". Lighten up. The man asked for help. You can help without all the judgement. Ms Taylor's wise advice is spot on. Great situation to learn from. You can not learn unless you put yourself out there. Keep working hard. None of us were there. Ejections are not all created equal. Some are absolute and no one questions your decision. Some ejections are questionable and may gnaw at you and cause you to question your own judgement. What did your partner think about the ejection? What did your mentor think about it? How about the head umpire of the league? If the coach is turning or has turned and is headed back to his dugout you can give him some leeway. Try to turn the coach so he is facing the grandstands and all can see that he is out of control. The umpire that said do not even talk to the coach until he calms down is right on. I ejected a 1st base coach for sprinting toward me after a call. That is automatic. Coaches are not allowed to charge at umpires. This call ended a half inning. I ran to short rt. field to my in between inning spot and the 1st base coach charged out toward me shouting and very upset. I never discussed the call with him. He was gone before he got to me. The only words I had for him were get off the diamond. You are done for the night. Another good technique is after the coach had calmed down, if he does, say,"coach, do you have a question for me." If he can not formulate a question and he does not want to hear what you saw then the conversation is over. This should all be less than 1 min. Another tool you can use is say," coach, we are done talking. I am going to go to my position. If you follow me you will be ejected." Use your tools. Good luck

[Jocko]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That right there is great advice

[HeadHunterLA]

I guess my philosophy over the past 20+ years is don't look for something when it really isn't there, especially when you are doing that age level.  If you have a very clear cut OBS then call it, if not, stay quiet and do your job.

[blue23ll]

Coach: "Are you crazy".....Me: Maybe, and you are gone!