First in a Long Time

[LittleBlue]

Memorial Day Weekend Tournament, 12u championship, both teams had gotten on the umpires throughout the weekend. I wasn't going to bring anything from the past into the new game, but I was going to take much gruff either. The tournament director told us that they wanted us to warn, warn again and then eject only if absolutely necessary.

Both teams weren't that crazy about my zone, but nothing bad was said to that point besides some grumbling.

HT was down 9-6 in the bottom of the 6th. First pitch is borderline low, but a pitch I was calling all game. Manager (who is at 1st) loses it. "That's not a f*****g strike! Are you f*****g kidding me? This whole game game you're zone has been f******g bs!" He's gone, but not done. *While kicking dirt on the plate and me "You are the worst f*****g umpire I've ever seen. How do you even get my game. You know we paid good money to win this championship!" My partner ran in to try to corral him while I'm trying to keep the assistants in the coaches box. If at all possible he melts down even farther and goes noes to nose with my partner, "you should be ashamed of yourself. You're an embarrassment to umpires and to baseball. Your just as bad as he is! Here do you want to hit me? Go ahead take a swing." My partner was calm, cool and colected and just said I'm not touching you, you have to go.

Eventually we get him to go after he makes a mess of his dugout. As we wait for him to go he looks back and walks back to the field and continues to curse us and the other team out.

When all this settles down two walks and a homer and we're tied and then a base hit, two passed balls and a suicide squeeze and his team wins. What s**t show. Now for the BBQ!

[catsbackr]

This happens in 12U?   OMG!

[woodiemiller]

10-9 game? LOL

 

[stl_ump]

What really surprises me is that parents would let their kids play for a guy like this.  Though on the other hand, maybe they are like minded (mouthed) and see nothing wrong with it.

If I might quote from a very famous sitcom... "Who are these people"

[kstrunk]

What really surprises me is that parents would let their kids play for a guy like this.  Though on the other hand, maybe they are like minded (mouthed) and see nothing wrong with it.

If I might quote from a very famous sitcom... "Who are these people"

 My son plays 12u travel ball and I've been witnessing 'groupie' parents totally selling out their kids for coaches who could care less about their son's physical AND emotional health. I'm all for growing kids up, and I'm all for tough love when necessary regarding effort and work ethic, but there has to be limits. For many, if not most of these parents though, it's win at all costs. Get it done, or I'll jump on the pile with your coaches. And the language from the parents, at  their own kids!!!! Disgusting! 

[LittleBlue]

 My son plays 12u travel ball and I've been witnessing 'groupie' parents totally selling out their kids for coaches who could care less about their son's physical AND emotional health. I'm all for growing kids up, and I'm all for tough love when necessary regarding effort and work ethic, but there has to be limits. For many, if not most of these parents though, it's win at all costs. Get it done, or I'll jump on the pile with your coaches. And the language from the parents, at  their own kids!!!! Disgusting! 

The set up of the bleachers at the field is odd in that the HT parents are almost right on top of home plate while the VT parents are past 1st base. Surprisingly the parents for the HT weren't that bad. They got wound up when the manager went off, but for most of the game they were saying that I was calling a good game and that it was going both ways.

What I really liked was how mature all of the kids acted during the whole thing. They never complained, never question any of our calls. Both teams were happy to be playing baseball over the holiday weekend. Too bad the kids were coached by 2 year olds.

[Mudisfun]

If this coach were anywhere near my 11 year old he would never play for that man again.

Someone has to be the adult out there... It may take a village to raise our children but I don't want the village idiot influencing my children. My letter to that groups BOD would be short and to the point as well as the letter to the TD where they played and the governing body that controls the parent organization. Oh and I would vote with my check book and never send a dime to this team EVER again as long and that coach is involved.

[bluejerred]

Good ol' 10U and 12U ball.  Always an adventure.  More lessons of game management can be learned at these levels than any other level.

[MPLSMatt]

Honestly, if this happened to me in 12u I think that I'd consider leaving if it went on too long and neither the TD or parents or anyone attempted to settle things down.  Continuing to cuss and kick dirt after you're ejected and no one saying "that's enough, Bill" and talk of "go ahead and hit me..."  No one needs that.  

I probably wouldn't actually leave if I were in this situation, but from my computer I think that that might be the best way to teach everyone a lesson.   At some point someone has to take a stand and clearly neither the TD nor the parents are stepping up to do so.  At some point it goes beyond right and wrong calls and even sportsmanship to someone being a human being about the situation in front of a bunch of pre-teens. They'll all remember the day that they didn't have an umpire to finish their game because coach acted like a jacka**. 

 

[LMSANS]

I ejected a coach for excessive arguing a balk no-call.  He came on to the field and started kicking dirt on me.  I ended the game.  It was a holiday weekend tournament.  I went right to the TD (a coach who always supports the umpires in his tourneys) and told him what happened.  He asked if I would be back the next day (it was the last game of the day for me.)  I said yes, he paid me for that day and said "I'll see you tomorrow, but that team won't see anybody here tomorrow."

I will not suffer verbal or physical abuse to umpire.  Eject to remove the problem, suspend the game in place and then end the game.  This is extreme and does not apply to every circumstance.

[Majordave]

 

I will not suffer verbal or physical abuse to umpire.  Eject to remove the problem, suspend the game in place and then end the game.  This is extreme and does not apply to every circumstance.

I've never had to do what Larry suggests but I've threatened to once. It has validity. For some reason though when I get my blood pressure elevated and eject/argue with a coach they get the not so subliminal message that that if they choose to escalate any further, I am crazier and potentially more violent than they are. (I am confident that I truly am so.....So far, so good.)

I am not looking forward to the day when I actually have to defend myself from an attack and then become offensive on the attacker. It won't be pretty. Hope it never arrives. 

[UmpJeff]

In all my years umpiring, I've NEVER had a manager/coach ever use the F-bomb to me except during a college game.  Never. 

I guess I'm fortunate.  

As soon as any coach, who's level is followed by a "U", drops an F-bomb which can be heard by ears other than my own...he's done. 

[UmpJeff]

This happens in 12U?   OMG!

​I find this a bit difficult to believe...

[StrikeToWin]

​I find this a bit difficult to believe...

​Don't, it happens more than you can imagine.  I've listened to coaches in mound meetings and can't believe he talks to his team like that.  He's not addressing me so I don't say anything but it's unreal.  If they are talking to me in a conversational tone and not chewing me out, I don't generally care what they say, but as soon as it gets loud enough for others to hear, we have a problem.

[bluejerred]

10U and 12U are the toughest game management challenges you will ever have.  The pipeline of baseball/softball has not reached the filters yet.

[catsbackr]

10U and 12U are the toughest?   Like I said before, oMG.