"how much did they pay you?"

[PonyUmpire]

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo).  I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team.  He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that".  His kid was standing right there.  Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.     

[Thunderheads]

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo).  I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team.  He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that".  His kid was standing right there.  Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.     

I hope you said .......... " not half as stupid as you are, because I'd never speak to someone else in front of my kid, ...nice parenting!"

[Majordave]

Nice advice Jeff.  But that will probably result in a fistfight or more explicit unkind words. Just sayin'.   If the guy is stupid enough to say crap like that in front of his kid, if challenged or provoked, he will probably go even farther with his actions.

 

Remember, If you can't say anything nice..........

 

Just consider the source and work harder to move up and get away from that level and that type of bull.  I work maybe one youth (60' diamond) game or tourney a season just to remind me how good I have it working 90' baseball with players who shave or need to.

 

My .02, YMMV

[Mike Prince]

I have not had this happen to me, but if it did I would bite my tongue and (try) not respond to him as Majordave suggests.  If I were to respond, I'd introduce myself (in a respectful manner) and encourage him to do the same.  Then I would report him to the association so that they can take care of this.  Don't try to take matters into your own hands, you never know how that will turn out.

 

Either way, the league association needs to hear about this jackwagon even if it is "a parent from team xx approached me in the parking lot and said blah blah blah with his kid standing right there".  Some leagues have a code of conduct, many will take action against the offending adult without penalizing his child (any more than they already are by having this guy as a parent) and allowing him to continue participating.

[Rich Ives]

Tell him your group is always looking for capable umpire candidates and invite him to the next meeting.

[maven]

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo).  I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team.  He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that".  His kid was standing right there.  Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.     

 

Why would you respond with such hostility and suspicion? Who knows if he came armed with his insult, you might have provoked it.

 

I wasn't there, so I don't presume to know the context of the parent's question. But I do know that good seldom results from our escalating the situation.

 

I have a canned response for this question: "I'd officiate the game for free, but they have to pay me to listen to the parents!"

[Mike Prince]

 

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo).  I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team.  He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that".  His kid was standing right there.  Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.     

 

Why would you respond with such hostility and suspicion? Who knows if he came armed with his insult, you might have provoked it.

 

I wasn't there, so I don't presume to know the context of the parent's question. But I do know that good seldom results from our escalating the situation.

 

I have a canned response for this question: "I'd officiate the game for free, but they have to pay me to listen to the parents!"

 

 

That's no better than his response...

[Replacematt]

<point to the kid> "How much did his father pay your wife?"

[maven]

 

 

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo).  I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team.  He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that".  His kid was standing right there.  Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.     

 

Why would you respond with such hostility and suspicion? Who knows if he came armed with his insult, you might have provoked it.

 

I wasn't there, so I don't presume to know the context of the parent's question. But I do know that good seldom results from our escalating the situation.

 

I have a canned response for this question: "I'd officiate the game for free, but they have to pay me to listen to the parents!"

 

 

That's no better than his response...

 

 

Well, I smile when I say it.

[Umpire in Chief]

The parents & coaches are what's wrong with the youth games. I have gotten to the point where I avoid youth rec games if at all possible. The ignorant comments by parents and coaches, their equally ignorant boards only taking the parents words, being followed to the parking lot by parents, threats and many other forms of garbage. 

 

It's not worth it for me. Only once in a blue moon do I get any sort of enjoyment from youth games. 

[PonyUmpire]

I heard this from a lovely gentleman in the parking lot following a MUSTANG GAME (9-10yo). I asked him if he was insinuating that I took a bribe from the other team. He said, "no, I guess you're too stupid for that". His kid was standing right there. Sometimes I don't know why I even do youth ball.

Why would you respond with such hostility and suspicion? Who knows if he came armed with his insult, you might have provoked it.

I wasn't there, so I don't presume to know the context of the parent's question. But I do know that good seldom results from our escalating the situation.

I have a canned response for this question: "I'd officiate the game for free, but they have to pay me to listen to the parents!"

With the way he said it to me, and his use of the past tense, there was no doubt as to what he meant. It was the same gentleman who, on the THIRD PITCH of the game (in the dirt), after I had called two no-doubters for strikes, snidely asked me if I was sure that pitch wasn't a strike as well. I'm no stranger to chirping, but it was just bizarre.

In this same game, the chief umpire of the league (acting as an assistant coach), after I called obstruction IN FAVOR of his team, felt the need to inform me that my obstruction mechanic was WRONG.

My "incorrect mechanic":

When the obstruction occurred - "that's obstruction!" (while pointing)

After the play was over -

"Time! Time! I had obstruction right here! He scores!"

You guys might not know this, and thank god the chief umpire brought it to my attention, but the mechanic for type B obstruction is actually an extended left fist and no verbal. I guess we've all been doing it wrong this whole time.

[Mike Prince]

You should have tossed the AC

 

And I would find another UIC to work for.

[blue23ll]

Couple of things, first, the ONLY response to altercations in the parking lot is NO response. There is no win here for us, we can only look foolish. What do to? Shake your head and continue dressing or, stop dressing, get in your car and move.

 

Second, the closed fist extended WAS the mechanic, it has since been eliminated in NFHS games. But it DID include a verbal call, and still does. 

 

Wonder what would happen to your games in that league if you tossed your UIC..just a thought.

[PonyUmpire]

It wasn't my UIC.  It was the UIC of a league that my youth ball association assigns for.  

[ALStripes17]

Couple of things, first, the ONLY response to altercations in the parking lot is NO response. There is no win here for us, we can only look foolish. What do to? Shake your head and continue dressing or, stop dressing, get in your car and move.

Second, the closed fist extended WAS the mechanic, it has since been eliminated in NFHS games. But it DID include a verbal call, and still does.

Wonder what would happen to your games in that league if you tossed your UIC..just a thought.

The extended fist mechanic is still used in some FED states (by state adoption).

Does 9-10 Mustang use NFHS mechanics? If not, why do we criticize that part of the statement. The main topic is in regards to the post-game confrontation and in-game management.

[maven]

The extended fist mechanic is still used in some FED states (by state adoption).

What makes you think so? It is not listed among the items states may adopt (12-4-1). And in general, mechanics are not up for state adoption.

 

1-4-4 - To allow for special occasions, commemorative or memorial patches, that will be uniformly placed, not to exceed 4 square inches, to be worn on jerseys in an appropriate and dignified manner without compromising the integrity of the uniform.

1-2-9 - A double first base is permitted.

2-33-1 - Suggested speed-up rules.

4-2-2 - By state association adoption, the game shall end when the visiting team is behind 10 or more runs after 4½ innings, or after the fifth inning, if either team is 10 runs behind and both teams have had an equal number of times at bat.

4-2-4 - Game-ending procedures may be determined.

4-3-1 - A regulation called game where a winner cannot be determined shall be counted as ½ game won and ½ game lost for each team.

4-4-1a - State associations are authorized to specify the time frame and/or circumstances before a forfeit shall be declared for a late arrival by one of the teams.

4-5-1 - It is optional on the part of the state association as to whether protests are permitted.

10-1-9 - Umpires shall wear the navy blue pullover shirt or state association-adopted shirt.

[blue23ll]

 

Couple of things, first, the ONLY response to altercations in the parking lot is NO response. There is no win here for us, we can only look foolish. What do to? Shake your head and continue dressing or, stop dressing, get in your car and move.

Second, the closed fist extended WAS the mechanic, it has since been eliminated in NFHS games. But it DID include a verbal call, and still does.

Wonder what would happen to your games in that league if you tossed your UIC..just a thought.

The extended fist mechanic is still used in some FED states (by state adoption).

Does 9-10 Mustang use NFHS mechanics? If not, why do we criticize that part of the statement. The main topic is in regards to the post-game confrontation and in-game management.

 

I think I did respond to the main topic, no?

[ALStripes17]

@maven, bc I have the AHSAA mechanics manual (Alabama), so that's at least one. I never said I agreed with it... when in Rome.

@blue23ll , I did agree with what you said in your 1st part, I apologize for not mentioning that. My previous response was in spite of a few people on here that criticize the minute details of situations w/o all info. If we know the OP was using FED then by all means make mention of the extended closed fist.

[johnnyg08]

the closed fist

Just stay away from the open fist

[johnnyg08]

The fist w/ extended arm is still the "proper" FED mechanic in Minnesota.

It's goofy, but was one thing that MN kept around last year even though the NFED got away w/ it.

[BalkHawk]

Park somewhere else.

ANY coach who tries to critique my positioning or mechanics gets only one, very stern warning.

[grayhawk]

The fist w/ extended arm is still the "proper" FED mechanic in Minnesota.

It's goofy, but was one thing that MN kept around last year even though the NFED got away w/ it.

 

Begs the question, if it's not in the NFHS Umpires Manual, is it a "Fed" mechanic?  I think not.  I would call it a "state association" mechanic, but not Fed.

[LMSANS]

 

The extended fist mechanic is still used in some FED states (by state adoption).

What makes you think so? It is not listed among the items states may adopt (12-4-1). And in general, mechanics are not up for state adoption.

 

1-4-4 - To allow for special occasions, commemorative or memorial patches, that will be uniformly placed, not to exceed 4 square inches, to be worn on jerseys in an appropriate and dignified manner without compromising the integrity of the uniform.

1-2-9 - A double first base is permitted.

2-33-1 - Suggested speed-up rules.

4-2-2 - By state association adoption, the game shall end when the visiting team is behind 10 or more runs after 4½ innings, or after the fifth inning, if either team is 10 runs behind and both teams have had an equal number of times at bat.

4-2-4 - Game-ending procedures may be determined.

4-3-1 - A regulation called game where a winner cannot be determined shall be counted as ½ game won and ½ game lost for each team.

4-4-1a - State associations are authorized to specify the time frame and/or circumstances before a forfeit shall be declared for a late arrival by one of the teams.

4-5-1 - It is optional on the part of the state association as to whether protests are permitted.

10-1-9 - Umpires shall wear the navy blue pullover shirt or state association-adopted shirt.

 

Are you mixing your mechanics with your rules again?

[jjb]

We use the closed fist at lower (10U) games, because pointing at a type B OBS and yelling "that's obstruction" generally causes the runner to stop in his tracks, and it's tough to get him going again.

 

And the proper response is "Thanks for the input, I'll give it the attention it is due".

[Replacematt]

We use the closed fist at lower (10U) games, because pointing at a type B OBS and yelling "that's obstruction" generally causes the runner to stop in his tracks, and it's tough to get him going again.

10U is supposed to be developmental. If that happens, they learn not to do that. Officiating these plays differently at lower levels only means that the players are confused at higher levels than they should be.