Interaction with a Coach

[baseballfan]

PONY District Tournament game today in the Pony subdivision (13-14 year old). Close play at a steal on 2nd, and I call the guy safe. The coach comes out for a mound visit, and after the visit, as he is walking back to his dugout, he says, "Hey Blue, what happened on that play?! All my infielders are saying the guy was out." I got kind of annoyed by his statement, and I said, "Well of course they are going to say he was out! They are on your team!" Then he said, "Well, don't try to tell me that my players would intentinally lie to me!"

 

After the game, the coach says to me, "Hey you called a good game, but I have been umpiring for 35 years, and what you said to me about the steal at 2nd earlier was unprofessional. Next time, just let me know he got under the tag or something."

 

What do you all think about this? Was I out of line? Looking back, I can see how maybe I should have just said he got under and walked away. But at the same time, announcing for everybody to hear that all his infielders disagree with me seems like showing me up; and, in my opinion, he should know whether or not he wants to argue based upon what he saw. He shouldn't have to ask his infielders.

[KLAH316]

PONY District Tournament game today in the Pony subdivision (13-14 year old). Close play at a steal on 2nd, and I call the guy safe. The coach comes out for a mound visit, and after the visit, as he is walking back to his dugout, he says, "Hey Blue, what happened on that play?! All my infielders are saying the guy was out."

"Coach, he was safe".

 

Nothing more.

[BigUmp56]

What you said was argumentative to the point that you left the coach with little choice but to defend the integrity of his players. You're sort of fortunate that the situation didn't escalate. Just give the coach what you saw and leave it at that.

Tim.

[boyinr]

Where were you standing? If you were where you should have been this exchange would have been impossible to happen. On a mound conference go to short RF or short LF and eliminate the drive by freebie.

[HokieUmp]

the integrity of his players.

 

Perhaps it was unintentional, but that's one funny statement right there.

[blue23ll]

I'm not going to short RF during a mound conference if there are runners on base.  Runner on 2nd, I'm staying near C, probably deep C.

 

In this situation, the ending of the mound conference and the coach asked about a play, I would answer him, explain why you called him safe, very succinctly. Joe, he blew the tag, or Bill, the runner slid under the tag. Don't back the coach into a position of where he has to defend his team.

[mstaylor]

Just say what you had, beat the throw, under the tag, whatever. If the coach responds further about the infielders tell him that's their opinion

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[noumpere]

Where were you standing? If you were where you should have been this exchange would have been impossible to happen. On a mound conference go to short RF or short LF and eliminate the drive by freebie.

NCAA now says to stay in the infield.  Makes me wonder if pro now says that too.

[Mike Prince]

Just stick to facts/what you had in any answer you give as previously mentioned.  Too many words (or trying to give a snappy retort) only leads to more problems, and IMO excess discussion makes you look unsure of your call.

 

Short & sweet and the coach has little choice but to accept that the conversation is over & go back to his dugout unless he wants to go further, which should be his choice, not yours.

[Forest Ump]

The coach was right, even if he was wearing his rat hat. Answer back professionally. He missed the tag. Keep it simple. As far as positioning during a conference, I go and stand on the edge of the dirt if they don't have a pitcher in the bullpen warming up. If they do have a pitcher warming up, I position myself between the bullpen and the mound so that I can summon in the new pitcher if needed.

[Oldcrow]

The least amount of information is always the best policy....."He was safe coach"

[bam]

I'm not going to short RF during a mound conference if there are runners on base.  Runner on 2nd, I'm staying near C, probably deep C.

 

Why?  I'm getting out of range of any comments the coach might want to make to me.  I'm not looking at him and I'm certainly not engaging in any conversation about a play that did not just happen.  If he had any questions about that play, he had ample opportunity to discuss it.  Once play starts he forfeits any right to ask questions. 

[bam]

PONY District Tournament game today in the Pony subdivision (13-14 year old). Close play at a steal on 2nd, and I call the guy safe. The coach comes out for a mound visit, and after the visit, as he is walking back to his dugout, he says, "Hey Blue, what happened on that play?! All my infielders are saying the guy was out."

If you MUST reply - my go-to line is - "Skip, that's why we've got umpires"  End of story. 

[Stan W.]

The least amount of information is always the best policy....."He was safe coach"

 

agreed................shoot for 5 words or less gentlemen,...............