Coach you're done!

[sgvump]

Hello everyone.I am a rookie ump, and I had an ejection this evening in a farm LL game. I ejected a visitng coach,after repeately warning him about having more than 2 offensive timeouts per inning. At that point he argued that he was allowed to bring his player over to the coaches third base box as many times as he pleased and have a conversation with him.He was warned and the game went on. Next inning bottom of the 4th, he comes out of the dugout shouting "What are you doing", arguing the pitch count. At that point I went over and said "Coach you're done for the day, you can leave". He said he would not go anywhere. I then warned and advised him that he must leave the game or the game would be suspended. He ended up leaving and play resumed. Shortly after that the parents of both teams start to get in each other's faces in the stands and were bickering back and forth. I went over and warned both sides that if the bickering didn't stop, the game would be suspended.Was there anything I could have done better or different? Thanks in advance.

[LA ump]

Hello everyone.I am a rookie ump, and I had an ejection this evening in a farm LL game. I ejected a visitng coach,after repeately warning him about having more than 2 offensive timeouts per inning. At that point he argued that he was allowed to bring his player over to the coaches third base box as many times as he pleased and have a conversation with him.He was warned and the game went on. Next inning bottom of the 4th, he comes out of the dugout shouting "What are you doing", arguing the pitch count. At that point I went over and said "Coach you're done for the day, you can leave". He said he would not go anywhere. I then warned and advised him that he must leave the game or the game would be suspended. He ended up leaving and play resumed. Shortly after that the parents of both teams start to get in each other's faces in the stands and were bickering back and forth. I went over and warned both sides that if the bickering didn't stop, the game would be suspended.Was there anything I could have done better or different? Thanks in advance.

Coach just forfieted the game right here. Respond with Coach, I accept your forfeit or if he has an assistant let them that if he doesn't leave that the team will forfeit the game. Other than that see if you can avoid getting it to that point. You said you repeatedly warned him. Instead, here is what I do, others may correct me if they want. 1st. time he has an offensive confrence, say loud so everyone can hear, "Coach, that is you one confrence this inning," If he has another one in the same inning, "coach, by rule you only get one per inning as such by rule you are now restricted to the dugout." If he presses then he has ejected himself, because you gave him ample time to correct himself.

[mstaylor]

First remember that coaches ask for time, you grant it. When he asks for time, grant it. The second time, simply tell him he has had his one this inning. If he gets insistant, call a directed strike or eject him, either is fine. Any converstaion beyond that is an easy ejection.

The parents are easy, pull the kids off the field, put them in the dugout and find the site administrator. If none is there tell them the game is done until the parents figure it out. If they don't, leave.

[Guest]

ignore this:

Coach just forfieted the game right here. Respond with Coach, I accept your forfeit or if he has an assistant let them that if he doesn't leave that the team will forfeit the game. Other than that see if you can avoid getting it to that point. You said you repeatedly warned him. Instead, here is what I do, others may correct me if they want. 1st. time he has an offensive confrence, say loud so everyone can hear, "Coach, that is you one confrence this inning," If he has another one in the same inning, "coach, by rule you only get one per inning as such by rule you are now restricted to the dugout." If he presses then he has ejected himself, because you gave him ample time to correct himself.

It's difficult to follow parts of your post, namely the pitch count part, but a few general points for you:

1 - Don't repeatedly warn a coach. It's "one and done" when it comes to this. He gets one warning; if he continues to behave in this way, kindly show him the door.

2 - Don't walk over to a bench / coaches box to warn / dump the coach. If you're the plate umpire, you should never be leaving the plate area. Picture yourself on the big diamond (for the purpose of my example) - you should go no further than the edge of the dirt circle around the plate to warn or eject him. In this case though, unlike when he comes out to argue with you, you're yelling across the field at him, so everyone can hear what you're saying - choose your words carefully.

3 - Once you actually eject him, you're not going to knit a flag with him. Some people will indicate to you that once a manager is ejected, he doesn't exist. I don't quite agree with this, I'll give him about 10-15 seconds to blow off some steam before I expect someone else to interject or end the situation myself by walking away. But, don't ever tell the one you've ejected right off the bat "if you don't leave, you'll forfeit." The most you should be saying to the guy you've ejected is "you've gotta go." Think Jim Wolf vs Bobby Cox. If you're really having an issue, look over at the bench and say "someone come get him." If this doesn't work, repeat yourself with some more urgency "someone really needs to come get him." If that doesn't work, call all the players off the field, send them to their benches, pull out your timepiece, and tell him he has a minute (or less) to get off the field or the game will is over. Note how you've exhausted a lot of other options before dropping the 'forfeit' line on him.

4 - Technically you have no authority over parents. However, if things get hostile in the crowd, it is perfectly acceptable to clear the field as Mike suggested. Doing anything more though exceeds your power as an umpire.

That said, when you've got little guys out there, most likely a house-league game where team McDonalds is playing team Pizza Hut, I don't find it out of line to have gone to the coaches to get involved in the situation. Just be sure to note that if / when you advance to more serious baseball, going to a dugout and asking them to control the fans will get you laughed at.

[Mr Umpire]

ignore this:

Coach just forfieted the game right here. Respond with Coach, I accept your forfeit or if he has an assistant let them that if he doesn't leave that the team will forfeit the game. Other than that see if you can avoid getting it to that point. You said you repeatedly warned him. Instead, here is what I do, others may correct me if they want. 1st. time he has an offensive confrence, say loud so everyone can hear, "Coach, that is you one confrence this inning," If he has another one in the same inning, "coach, by rule you only get one per inning as such by rule you are now restricted to the dugout." If he presses then he has ejected himself, because you gave him ample time to correct himself.

It's difficult to follow parts of your post, namely the pitch count part, but a few general points for you:

1 - Don't repeatedly warn a coach. It's "one and done" when it comes to this. He gets one warning; if he continues to behave in this way, kindly show him the door.

2 - Don't walk over to a bench / coaches box to warn / dump the coach. If you're the plate umpire, you should never be leaving the plate area. Picture yourself on the big diamond (for the purpose of my example) - you should go no further than the edge of the dirt circle around the plate to warn or eject him. In this case though, unlike when he comes out to argue with you, you're yelling across the field at him, so everyone can hear what you're saying - choose your words carefully.

3 - Once you actually eject him, you're not going to knit a flag with him. Some people will indicate to you that once a manager is ejected, he doesn't exist. I don't quite agree with this, I'll give him about 10-15 seconds to blow off some steam before I expect someone else to interject or end the situation myself by walking away. But, don't ever tell the one you've ejected right off the bat "if you don't leave, you'll forfeit." The most you should be saying to the guy you've ejected is "you've gotta go." Think Jim Wolf vs Bobby Cox. If you're really having an issue, look over at the bench and say "someone come get him." If this doesn't work, repeat yourself with some more urgency "someone really needs to come get him." If that doesn't work, call all the players off the field, send them to their benches, pull out your timepiece, and tell him he has a minute (or less) to get off the field or the game will is over. Note how you've exhausted a lot of other options before dropping the 'forfeit' line on him.

4 - Technically you have no authority over parents. However, if things get hostile in the crowd, it is perfectly acceptable to clear the field as Mike suggested. Doing anything more though exceeds your power as an umpire.

That said, when you've got little guys out there, most likely a house-league game where team McDonalds is playing team Pizza Hut, I don't find it out of line to have gone to the coaches to get involved in the situation. Just be sure to note that if / when you advance to more serious baseball, going to a dugout and asking them to control the fans will get you laughed at.

Completely agree. However, do not say the game is a forfeit ever. Tell them the game is suspended and let the league decide if it is a forfeit. If you declare it a forfeit and the league finishes it another day, you look the fool and that you overstepped your boundaries. Declaring it suspended puts everything on the league's shoulders of how to handle the issue and no one looks like anyone is stepping on anyone else's toes.

[HokieUmp]

In general, I agree, except here:

The most you should be saying to the guy you've ejected is "you've gotta go." Think Jim Wolf vs Bobby Cox. If you're really having an issue, look over at the bench and say "someone come get him." If this doesn't work, repeat yourself with some more urgency "someone really needs to come get him." If that doesn't work, call all the players off the field, send them to their benches, pull out your timepiece, and tell him he has a minute (or less) to get off the field or the game will is over. Note how you've exhausted a lot of other options before dropping the 'forfeit' line on him.

We're taught to EJ, and then turn and walk away. But even if you don't do that, I agree that you don't talk forfeit, just that he has to go. However, if you're still having problems getting him gone, I think I'd be looking less at the bench area, and more to my partner, who CLEARLY has forgotten his role as rodeo clown at this point.

(...and we'd be sure to talk about THAT little event in the postgame chat....)

[semper_fi_72]

I would only add:

This is Little League Farm.

It is suppose to be instructional, non-competitive ball.

The coaches may not know any better and perhaps taking a moment to explain the rule to them may assist in not having to eject him.

So instead of warning perhaps just approach the coach and say "Hey Bill, are your aware that the rules only give you one offensive conference a inning"?

You have now educated the coach that did not know any better this early in the season.

Remember Little League we are there for the kids.

[sgvump]

Thank you all for the advice and input on this situation. The last thing I wanted to do was to eject anyone especially in a LL farm game. As I mentioned the coach was warned beforehand and he chose not to comply or even pay any mind to the rule as was explained to him. The coach was disruptive and defiant the whole game up until he was ejected. Thanks again to all, I'm sure tonight will be a much better game!

[NovaScotiaBlue]

I'm sure tonight will be a much better game!

That last line shows you already posess one of the best skills an umpire can have, a great attitude. You learn from it and move on :clap:

[sgvump]

[kwiggie]

However, if you're still having problems getting him gone, I think I'd be looking less at the bench area, and more to my partner, who CLEARLY has forgotten his role as rodeo clown at this point.

(...and we'd be sure to talk about THAT little event in the postgame chat....)

Absolutely! were "IS" your partner in all this?

[Rich Ives]

Hello everyone.I am a rookie ump, and I had an ejection this evening in a farm LL game. I ejected a visitng coach,after repeately warning him about having more than 2 offensive timeouts per inning. At that point he argued that he was allowed to bring his player over to the coaches third base box as many times as he pleased and have a conversation with him.He was warned and the game went on. Next inning bottom of the 4th, he comes out of the dugout shouting "What are you doing", arguing the pitch count. At that point I went over and said "Coach you're done for the day, you can leave". He said he would not go anywhere. I then warned and advised him that he must leave the game or the game would be suspended. He ended up leaving and play resumed. Shortly after that the parents of both teams start to get in each other's faces in the stands and were bickering back and forth. I went over and warned both sides that if the bickering didn't stop, the game would be suspended.Was there anything I could have done better or different? Thanks in advance.

Coach just forfieted the game right here. Respond with Coach, I accept your forfeit or if he has an assistant let them that if he doesn't leave that the team will forfeit the game. Other than that see if you can avoid getting it to that point. You said you repeatedly warned him. Instead, here is what I do, others may correct me if they want. 1st. time he has an offensive confrence, say loud so everyone can hear, "Coach, that is you one confrence this inning," If he has another one in the same inning, "coach, by rule you only get one per inning as such by rule you are now restricted to the dugout." If he presses then he has ejected himself, because you gave him ample time to correct himself.

You're going to forfeit a LL minors game? Good luck with that.

Toss the coach - continue the game.

[Rich Ives]

BTW folks, you might want to read Regulation XIV(d) Exception.

[sgvump]

I was working a one man game here.

[SinCityBlue]

You stated that you "repeatedly" warned the coach; Never "repeatedly" warn anybody. If the coach wants to act like a ding dong and argue everything then get rid of the problem...run him. I agree that you can't forfeit a game, you can suspend one. I had an incident where i ran a coach last year and he wouldn't leave, i simply told the coach that either he's leaving or my partner and i were, the choice was his.

As far as parents go, if they get too crazy tell the coach to go talk to them and if that doesn't work clear the field and ask for a field aministrator. I always warn coaches at the plate conference that they are responsible for their players, coaches...and FANS (which coincides with making sure that the coaches have a plan in place in case things get crazy).

GL this season. BTW, i just worked a game by myself last week as well, so i feel ya.

[NY Blue]

"In 10 seconds, one of us is leaving. The game will go on without you, but it won't go on without me. Your choice...."