Game Management

[jlutgen0]

Hello everyone, I haven't posted in a long time, as I have been lurking, but I am about to begin my second season working kid pitch and want some advice on game management.

 

What are some tips that you have for handling coaches when working the plate? Last season I seemed to be to passive, waiting to go talk to coaches between innings and that allowed a couple of situations to escalate to ejections. I just want to learn as much as I can before I start working in three weeks. Also, what kind of mental checklist do you go through before ejecting a coach and when should/shouldn't a coach be ejected?

 

Thank  you so much!

[SJA]

Well, for my .02,

#1. You're not there for a popularity contest.

#2. If you don't let it start, you don't have to stop it!

#3. The "4 P's" - Profanity, Prolonged, Personal, Physical = EJ 99% of time. HOWEVER, each case / encounter is based on YOUR tolerance level.

 . . . again, my .02

SJA :-)

 

[kylehutson]

IAWE - Ignore, Acknowledge, Warn, Eject

1) Unless it involves profanity, just let the first one go. Notice I said "one" not two, five, or twenty. Ignoring more than one will just start grating your nerves and unsettle you.

2) After the first one, give a quick but firm acknowledgement that you heard him. e.g., pop off your mask and say "I hear you, coach" or "balls and strikes aren't up for debate", and then right back to business.

3) If they still didn't get the hint there, call time and go talk to the coach. It's better if you can signal him to come meet you somewhere halfway between his position and yours. By moving to him, you're showing that you're not pulling a power trip, and by not rushing up to where he is, you're not looking like you're itching for a fight. Do NOT yell across the field. This makes you look like the aggressor. This is where you take a little more time and explain to the coach that this is his last shot - don't belittle or threaten, just make it clear that judgement calls aren't debatable, or whatever he's doing wrong.

4) At this point, if the coach misbehaves further, you aren't really ejecting so much as you're giving him the opportunity to eject himself if he fails to keep control of himself.

If you get a chance, I also highly recommend this book.

[stevis]

Why talk to coaches between innings?  (Especially if they're not being nice.  I mean, someone knows me from our LL board and asks how my daughter's team is doing, I'll be pleasant).   But I'm not going to indulge their gripes--indeed, shut them down quickly. 

But otherwise, go stand on the foul line, keep the between innings time short, and everyone will thank you in the end.

Since you say "kid" I assume we're talking pretty young...so Profanity and Prolonged should be much shorter leashes than they would with post-shaving players.  This is where kids should be learning from positive role models; show them how negative ones get shut down and/or sent home and they'll learn something too.

[UMP45]

1 hour ago, kylehutson said:

IAWE - Ignore, Acknowledge, Warn, Eject

1) Unless it involves profanity, just let the first one go. Notice I said "one" not two, five, or twenty. Ignoring more than one will just start grating your nerves and unsettle you.

2) After the first one, give a quick but firm acknowledgement that you heard him. e.g., pop off your mask and say "I hear you, coach" or "balls and strikes aren't up for debate", and then right back to business.

3) If they still didn't get the hint there, call time and go talk to the coach. It's better if you can signal him to come meet you somewhere halfway between his position and yours. By moving to him, you're showing that you're not pulling a power trip, and by not rushing up to where he is, you're not looking like you're itching for a fight. Do NOT yell across the field. This makes you look like the aggressor. This is where you take a little more time and explain to the coach that this is his last shot - don't belittle or threaten, just make it clear that judgement calls aren't debatable, or whatever he's doing wrong.

4) At this point, if the coach misbehaves further, you aren't really ejecting so much as you're giving him the opportunity to eject himself if he fails to keep control of himself.

If you get a chance, I also highly recommend this book.

If you leave your position behind the plate to engage the coach you WILL look like the aggressor.  

[kylehutson]

1 minute ago, UMP45 said:

If you leave your position behind the plate to engage the coach you WILL look like the aggressor.  

You know what an aggressor looks like. Don't do that. You can calmly walk over toward the coach (not all the way to him) without looking aggressive. But there's nothing wrong with taking a few steps. If you adamantly stand still, your body language says "I'm the boss and you are my underling, and I'm not going to budge for you or anybody else" - it creates unnecessary tension.

[ricka56]

33 minutes ago, UMP45 said:

If you leave your position behind the plate to engage the coach you WILL look like the aggressor.  

I don't want to engage a coach in a "discussion" with young ens around, so I move towards him and away from the players where impressionable minds (and witnesses) may hear you two. And if we going to do battle, I really don't care that I may look to be the aggressor to observers. I'm going to get a handle on the sitch, messily or not. 

My advice to the 2nd year umpire:
1) If a coach is coming to you for an explanation of your call, keep it to as few words as possible..."coach, I have the tag beating the base touch" or "coach, I have the touch beating the tag". Stick to those few words. Don't elaborate, coaches will beat you up with your own words. 
2) Rehearse ALOUD what you might have to say, pre-season..."coach, we are done discussing this...we're going back to baseball now". "coach, if you continue to try to argue this point, you will be ejected". Saying the words aloud in rehearsal will make you more at ease when its time to deliver them for real in a game.  

[noumpere]

eject more, so you can eject less.

 

Now, that probably sounds way too red-ass, and taken just at face value, it might be.  But, way too many officials of youth sports take way too much crap from coaches who think that they have to act like (insert local crazy pro manager) on his worst day on every pitch.

 

So, answer a reasonable question or two throughout the game.  If it's not a reasonable question, explain, "Coach, I will answer a reasonable question but I can not have you (insert behavior).  If you continue, you will leave me no choice but to remove you from the game."  Then, follow through.

[Out&UglyToo]

I am known for an extremely long fuse. I try to embody the advice I got in umpire school, "Keep personalities out of it and calmly conduct the game." I agree with the IAWE, except for possibly the I = ignore. That can signal some mentalities that such language is OK.

 

When language more appropriate for starting lawn mowers is used in the holy realm of a baseball game, I remind coaches using such prose that the code in the NFL is, "Do you care to repeat that?", meaning the gun is loaded and the trigger is cocked (= one step short of an ejection). The level of language usually cleans up upon bringing up the NFL question. Players perhaps enjoy less tolerance than coaches when expletives burst forth.

 

When personal attacks are utilized, I remind the coach that argumentum ad homineum is usually grounds for ejectum ad coacheum. The discussion usually returns to the topic of baseball quite abruptly.

 

In 500+ games, I've had only 2 physical assaults. The first was a punch to the chest protector. I replied, "That's a bump. It will not look very good for you when the board reads my report." He backed off, apologized and remained in the game. The second was 3 very large coaches attempting to dissuade me of a balk call by way of intimidation, threatened to kill me, followed by a shove. I said, "That's a bump. It will not look good for you on my report when the board reads it. I umpire in 18 leagues. Think about what you want, and how best to get that. Getting physical with umpires does not work." (The second situation resulted in a forfeited game. The coaches lost their jobs, and were banned from most baseball leagues in North America after the highly-detailed report was faxed around.)

 

When a coach is discussing a play at high volume, and/or with high emotion, I walk away from the stands slowly, always turning away form him, while appearing to be politely listening to him. This makes him appear as the aggressor, and lends me credibility. If he asks me to request help, I may or may not, depending on the play, the position of other umpires, maybe other factors. I always want to get the call right, so with additional information from my umpire partners, I may or may not change a call. My ego is NOT involved here, only the good of the game.

 

Fans have 3 properties. 1) Ignorance of the rules. 2) Highly biased partisian favoritism. 3) Glee at tormenting officials.

Ignore these idiots. Place both teams in the dugouts and have the coaches or league officials deal with the fans.

 

Also, the code is that if you blew a call, take the heat, but don't eject him.

 

Arguments, like home runs and diving catches, are part of the show. That is the catharsis that the fans are paying for (whether ticket price or paying for their kids to play). I'm not advocating longer arguments, just be conservative about use of the index finger. Remember that arguing with an umpire is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. Sooner or later, you'll realize that the pig is thoroughly enjoying himself.

 

 

[ZebraStripes]

You got punched and didn't eject?  That's not going to help the next guy very much.

[Sut'n Blue]

 

Did you file a complaint with the police?

[Aging_Arbiter]

A punch in the chest should at least stop the game until that coach leaves with a pair of matching bracelets.

[ricka56]

19 hours ago, Out&UglyToo said:

I am known for an extremely long fuse. I try to embody the advice I got in umpire school, "Keep personalities out of it and calmly conduct the game." I agree with the IAWE, except for possibly the I = ignore. That can signal some mentalities that such language is OK.

When language more appropriate for starting lawn mowers is used in the holy realm of a baseball game, I remind coaches using such prose that the code in the NFL is, "Do you care to repeat that?", meaning the gun is loaded and the trigger is cocked (= one step short of an ejection). The level of language usually cleans up upon bringing up the NFL question. Players perhaps enjoy less tolerance than coaches when expletives burst forth.

When personal attacks are utilized, I remind the coach that argumentum ad homineum is usually grounds for ejectum ad coacheum. The discussion usually returns to the topic of baseball quite abruptly.

In 500+ games, I've had only 2 physical assaults. The first was a punch to the chest protector. I replied, "That's a bump. It will not look very good for you when the board reads my report." He backed off, apologized and remained in the game. The second was 3 very large coaches attempting to dissuade me of a balk call by way of intimidation, threatened to kill me, followed by a shove. I said, "That's a bump. It will not look good for you on my report when the board reads it. I umpire in 18 leagues. Think about what you want, and how best to get that. Getting physical with umpires does not work." (The second situation resulted in a forfeited game. The coaches lost their jobs, and were banned from most baseball leagues in North America after the highly-detailed report was faxed around.)

When a coach is discussing a play at high volume, and/or with high emotion, I walk away from the stands slowly, always turning away form him, while appearing to be politely listening to him. This makes him appear as the aggressor, and lends me credibility. If he asks me to request help, I may or may not, depending on the play, the position of other umpires, maybe other factors. I always want to get the call right, so with additional information from my umpire partners, I may or may not change a call. My ego is NOT involved here, only the good of the game.

Fans have 3 properties. 1) Ignorance of the rules. 2) Highly biased partisian favoritism. 3) Glee at tormenting officials.

Ignore these idiots. Place both teams in the dugouts and have the coaches or league officials deal with the fans.

Also, the code is that if you blew a call, take the heat, but don't eject him.

Arguments, like home runs and diving catches, are part of the show. That is the catharsis that the fans are paying for (whether ticket price or paying for their kids to play). I'm not advocating longer arguments, just be conservative about use of the index finger. Remember that arguing with an umpire is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. Sooner or later, you'll realize that the pig is thoroughly enjoying himself.

I'm calling BS on this entire post. 

[Out&UglyToo]

Ricka, think what you will, but consider the following.

 

The coach that threw the punch was right near me. His reaction was immediate to my call. I don't recall all the details of that one, but I think it was a balk call. It probably involved his son. That and stepping out of the batter's box to hit a pitched ball get the most violent reactions.

   His punch was almost comical. He didn't miss entirely, but he was no Mike Tyson. I said, "Coach! What ARE we trying to teach these kids?" He immediately said, "Oh, God, what have I done? I am sorry! Are you OK? I am WAY out of line. I am SO sorry. (Etc. Etc.)" I guess the thought of ejecting him never occurred - I knew I did not have to worry about this guy. He realized his error so suddenly and turned around 180 degrees. His apology was so genuine, I chuckled, I think I did explain the pitcher lifting up his left leg before coming set, not something you want to do with a runner on third, and we got back to "Play ball".

 

You'll notice that was not the case with the second situation. I ejected all 3 of them. When they got even hotter, I told them they had 30 seconds to get off the playing field, 60 seconds to get out of the viewing area of the ballgame. The shove came about 2 minutes after that. That did it. I said what you read above, walked over to the plate, and announced that the coaches' behavior required the forfeiture of the game, the opponents were awarded 7 runs, the home team zero runs, that the pitch counts, at bats, and hits did count toward league statistics.

 

They then threatened to overturn my car. A 1973 Pontiac Catalina is not easily turned over, even by 3 guys with the help of 3 gorillas. I was not too worried about false threats. These were guys accustomed to barrio bullying tactics to get their way - a mind game - against which I was equally accustomed, and to which I was not deeply impressed. I called their bluff, they lost. They were up against an umpire armed with superior wits and not about to be intimidated with 75 people watching. People left the stands. The wind went out of their sails. They went home. to the best of my recollection, the head coach did, at some point, begin to back off and told the other two to ease off. I believe I included that in my report.

 

Handcuffs would have been welcome, but only for effect. I knew that they were bluffing, that they felt they couldn't back off without losing face. I did not think of calling cops - that would have looked weak.

 

I imagine that report is still around somewhere, as it probably gained notoriety. That occurred in about 1999 to 2001, somewhere in there. If I find that anybody still has it, I'll try to post it. I was soon after injured and quit umpiring for 14 years. I'm just doing some youth ball now.

 

I guess that I based my reaction to the very different ways these coaches handled their own view in the mirror (or lack of it). I barely remember the first incident. It seems as though I still recall the second as clear as yesterday, although I may have some of the details confused. It was a long time ago. It may have been a tag play, or ??? I do remember the facial expressions on each guy. Bullies are mostly guys who know it is a mind game. They'll cower in a real fight. Stay cool, calm, and maintain your credibility, and you'll get promoted up to varsity games and eventually championship games.

Edited March 24, 2016 by Out&UglyToo
internet connection cutting out intermittently

[ZebraStripes]

7 minutes ago, Out&UglyToo said:

Ricka, think what you will, but consider the following.

 

The coach that threw the punch was right near me. His reaction was immediate to my call. I don't recall all the details of that one, but I think it was a balk call. It probably involved his son. That and stepping out of the batter's box to hit a pitched ball get the most violent reactions.

   His punch was almost comical. He didn't miss entirely, but he was no Mike Tyson. I said, "Coach! What ARE we trying to teach these kids?"

 

Still editing - Out&UglyToo

It doesn't matter.  When you don't toss him, you have completely lost all credibility as an official of that game.

[Out&UglyToo]

Zebra -

No, I did not eject the first guy, I ejected all 3 of those guys who were out of line in the other game.

 

I think you quoted me while I was still editing, not reading my completed post.

 

Tossing them was the right thing to do. If they insist that certain rules do not apply to their pitcher, they lose credibility, not me. If they try to intimidate, and the bluff gets called, they don't really look all that tough, do they? I gain more credibility for standing by the game and conducting it in a fair manner, The league backed me up entirely, and other umpires respected me far more after that incident. My ratings went up. The intimidation effort continuing after the second incident was when the nerves were needed. With nobody watching, they could have pulled out a gun. I did not blink nor did I cower. I stand by my action in both cases.

[udbrky]

It's kind of like being a cop and pulling over a guy that blows a .15 and saying "Do you think you should go home and drink instead?" and letting him go...

[Out&UglyToo]

The editor won't allow me to re-edit.

I just did it too. I misread you post. I missed the word "not".

 

So not ejecting him cost me credibility? Maybe for some people who think like that. Really the punch was so silly, and apology so real, I didn't really think about it. It was his about face that got me. I would have felt pretty mean ejecting him after that, that's probably why I did not think of it. I just laughed it off and the game went on.

[udbrky]

2 physical assaults in 500 games shouldn't be an "only". How many people here have been physically assaulted?

 

Even in college intramurals, I only knew of 1 physical confrontation in my 5 years there. One guy got pulled down by his lanyard. He was T'ing the guy up as he went down.

[scrounge]

You would have felt mean ejecting the guy who PUNCHED you?!?

So which would you consider yourself?

Option A: 

or Option B:

[Out&UglyToo]

No, a cop ignoring a drunk driver blowing a .15 is a hole different thing. NOT OK. Bust the cop and the driver.

 

The guy in the first case was not any kind of danger to self or others. I was mostly surprised that he was that close to me. It seemed to have surprised him even more than me. It was not the kind of thing I took seriously. It just seemed funny, like an actor doing his own stunt. Had I any thought that it was a dangerous slug to the face, or that he was in any way out of control or hot about it, I probably would have sent him.

 

I am hard-of-hearing. I may have missed something that was said. I did not hear anything. Maybe he was trying to get my attention. I do leave slack for that. Often people get mad at me until they realize that I can't hear too well. That happens a lot, that and thinking I still understand a conversation and suddenly realize that I'm out in left field. Ugh. So I do keep a lot of slack. It works for me.

 

I just said part about "what are we trying to teach these kids? That was a bump and it won't look good for you when the board reads my report..." when he went into his apology. I think the umpire assignor asked me about it a few weeks later and I had forgotten about it. I don't recall if I even reported it. That would have seemed wrong.

 

His immediate change of attitude may have caused me to allowed him more slack than I should, but it was so pleasing to see a grown man, a Southern Californian at that, apologize like that and get on himself. It certainly disarmed any attitude I had.  The priority was to play baseball, not to dole out punishments where ever possible.

 

As for 2 assaults being a trend, please consider that the latter situation are guys that had already been banned form one league, then somehow became coaches in a higher level league. I heard a rumor that they did not last but 3 games in either league. They probably are regulars in the prison system, if not lifers. I hope not. I hope the lesson in baseball sank in and they changed their ways, but I doubt that. It's those guys, I really doubt it's me. I hardly count the first as an assault - it seemed more like a joke at the time.

 

One thing I wanted to add. I like Stevis' answer, the 4th down from the top. Don't go talk to the coaches between innings. That is good advice.

[SJA]

I may get some "heat" from posting this but, if anyone puts their hands on me in hostility, either officially or unofficially at any time, they better damn sure know what to do with them.

SJA

[udbrky]

I'm not saying it's a trend. I'm saying that it's not acceptable. The fact that they got banned means it was beyond the scope of acceptable and should've been dealt with.

As for the first, he realizes he did wrong, good for him. But Sometimes, you have to wear the consequences as part of that learning process. I think you should never just blow this off like that.

[ALStripes17]

No, a cop ignoring a drunk driver blowing a .15 is a hole different thing. NOT OK. Bust the cop and the driver.

 

The guy in the first case was not any kind of danger to self or others. I was mostly surprised that he was that close to me. It seemed to have surprised him even more than me. It was not the kind of thing I took seriously. It just seemed funny, like an actor doing his own stunt. Had I any thought that it was a dangerous slug to the face, or that he was in any way out of control or hot about it, I probably would have sent him.

 

I am hard-of-hearing. I may have missed something that was said. I did not hear anything. Maybe he was trying to get my attention. I do leave slack for that. Often people get mad at me until they realize that I can't hear too well. That happens a lot, that and thinking I still understand a conversation and suddenly realize that I'm out in left field. Ugh. So I do keep a lot of slack. It works for me.

 

I just said part about "what are we trying to teach these kids? That was a bump and it won't look good for you when the board reads my report..." when he went into his apology. I think the umpire assignor asked me about it a few weeks later and I had forgotten about it. I don't recall if I even reported it. That would have seemed wrong.

 

His immediate change of attitude may have caused me to allowed him more slack than I should, but it was so pleasing to see a grown man, a Southern Californian at that, apologize like that and get on himself. It certainly disarmed any attitude I had.  The priority was to play baseball, not to dole out punishments where ever possible.

 

As for 2 assaults being a trend, please consider that the latter situation are guys that had already been banned form one league, then somehow became coaches in a higher level league. I heard a rumor that they did not last but 3 games in either league. They probably are regulars in the prison system, if not lifers. I hope not. I hope the lesson in baseball sank in and they changed their ways, but I doubt that. It's those guys, I really doubt it's me. I hardly count the first as an assault - it seemed more like a joke at the time.

 

One thing I wanted to add. I like Stevis' answer, the 4th down from the top. Don't go talk to the coaches between innings. That is good advice.

It doesn't matter how apologetic an individual is, if physical contact occurs, he is gone. There is no reason any coach or player should be anywhere close to us when expressing their displeasure in a call. Ride your horse as much as you want but that does our fellow brethren a disservice when something like that goes without punishment.

You don't have to call the police necessarily but he is sure as heck not finishing that game within sight or sound.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Out&UglyToo]

ALS -

Why am I finding myself on defense over something so trivial? You had to be there and see it. It was no big deal. The first guy just did not seem serious enough to even make me think of removing him, if he did, I'd have sent him. To "have to" punish him is Nazi-think. My action had the desired effect. I see that as good enough. The situation was in control. I did not harm anyone, my fellow umpires included, by bringing him around to my way of thinking with a simple question.

 

Rule 9.01 (d) says an umpire "has the authority to disqualify any player, coach, or manager", it does not say that the umpire "shall" disqualify any player coach or manager for language, unsportsmanlike behavior, etc.. That does not force our hand, it leaves us room for discretion.

 

Maybe I'm so tough that a baby punch goes unnoticed, I'm not trying to say that, (besides it hit the chest protector, so throw out the tough guy theory). Maybe I'm so secure in my self that when a guy apologizes, we can get back to baseball, and everything will be OK. Maybe that it was so easily mistaken for unintentional, because I'm hard-of-hearing and he might have been trying to request me to call time, then I called a balk on his boy, maybe that is why I keep a lot of slack in my system. It works for me. You had to see the game, I sort of remember thinking that I over-reacted, not under. Get my drift?  I'm not advocating a lack of control here, just the right amount of slack / control. A zealot umpire with a quick trigger finger spoils all the fun. One with no control lets a game get out of hand. The line in between is where we do our best work.THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING.

[udbrky]

Coach #2 pushes you later, you toss him.

 

"But I saw you ignore another coach that pushed you."

 

You should NOT let someone physically touch you. There's no room for it. It doesn't matter how tough you are or even how hard they do it? It's not a quick trigger.