Writing an article on officials being assaulted.

[Umpire in Chief]

I'm doing something I haven't done in a long time and I'm looking for your input. 
 

I am looking for 2 things:

1. News articles within the last year about officials being assaulted in any sport.
2. Your ideas as officials as to what we can do about it.

I have the frame work of the article with some of the most recent events, but want some history to show just how frequently it occurs.

Also if you have ever been assaulted in the course of your work as an official PM me if you'd like to talk about it.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Velho]

Quick hitters (no pun intended) that come way too quickly to mind:

1. https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2022/04/24/mississippi-youth-softball-umpire-sucker-punched-in-the-face-by-mom-wearing-mother-of-the-year-shirt/

2.

3. 

 

What we can do about it (and moving into verbal abuse) there was an ump that walked off the field in middle of a game (in SoCal I think?).

[wolfe_man]

Not physical assault, but we get verbally abused often.

Take last night for example, 5-4 game entering into the top of the 5th.  Rain was supposed to come in the afternoon, but held off so we've been trying to get this game in (or get at least 5 innings done).  Rain starts as HT takes the field in top 5.  We keep going, mud is building up as this field doesn't shed rain well.  There is no standing water on the field. We keep going... F1 walks a batter.  Wild pitch.  Ground-out. Rain staying steady, but I've played in much worse.

HT pitcher is having trouble consistently throwing strikes and adjusting to weather. I hear grumbling from HT coaches about why we're even playing still.  I confer with my partner as I'm already out from behind the plate on the ground-out, he is a much more experienced umpire and we agree to keep going.

After full-count, the batter singles to left-center, a run scores and now we have a tie game.  Rain appeared to be letting up and clearing by this point, but field is muddy but no water standing anywhere.  We hoped to get through the half and then put down diamond dry between innings, but HT really struggling to throw strikes now as he is just off to L or R of plate.  The remaining HT fans, players and coaches start ooh-ing and ahh-ing on every close pitch.  Another walk on an ugly curve ball that doesn't break, goes 5 feet behind the batter.

By this point, HT coaches are loudly griping and the HT fans pick it up.  "Why are we even playing?" "Someone is going to get hurt." etc. We were simply trying to get 3 outs and then we would have an official game in with the HT winning if we could not continue.

A Dad yells really loudly at me that "this is stupid, we shouldn't even be out here, someone is going to get hurt" I did something I seldom do and talked to the fence (I know, bad idea) and the HT AD immediately addressed the fan.  This school is known for very passionate fans in every sport.  They had no trouble with playing, until they saw they weren't going to get the outs and a rain-shorted win.

Regardless, as I return to the plate (I had spoke to fan as I was walking back) a new wave of rain comes pouring in.  It's really coming down now.  It's too much to even try to continue now, so we have the teams go to their dugouts.  We start to our cars after conferring with coaches that the AD wants VT to go their buses and HT to their personal vehicles (not in dugouts) for safety.  We also discussed what the outs, runners, count was so we could keep track as the game was suspended, not over.

We're now leaving the field and you have to use a single gate for all fans, coaches, players, umpires, etc.  A "lady" comes running up behind us yelling at us that we would have stopped it earlier if it were our son playing.  We don't engage and keep going.  She cuts between my partner and I and mouths something about us being idiots.  My partner stops dead and says "Are you calling me an idiot?" to which she has no desire to continue and walks away. My partners comments about this being why we are losing officials and down 50,000 over the last 10 years across the US.

It's not physical abuse, but this type of nonsense from fans is why we're losing people. I do think it is worse since the pandemic. It's almost like people think they have the right to not only feel a certain way, but also have the right to express it to you and that you have to take it. 

I had another one on Saturday where I called an IFF on a pop-up behind the SS position, towards 2B but just off the grass.  Any normal SS would catch that ball, but of course this one boots it. Regardless, IFF  says caught by an IF with normal effort, so I have definite IFF.   Parents begin griping at me that the ball wasn't even in the infield. How can you call that an IFF?  To be fair, this was MS ball which I normally pass up and avoid like the plague, but I was helping a friend out.

I've had fans yelling at me a few times this year, mostly feeding off their coaches.  I do not play favorites or make up rules.  I am humble enough to admit when I'm wrong and realize that I am not an MLB umpire or perfect. I can honestly say the times the people have been the maddest at me this year was when I believe I was completely right, but it didn't go their way. 

Another one that stands out was a clear OBS on a run-down where F2 didn't get out of the way after doing his part.  He stays in the running lane and throws to F5, then R3 turns around and runs right smack into F2. Bang, OBS!  The fans and the VT HC lost it.  Fans yelling that's two this inning blue, etc. as they disagreed with another  judgment call earlier.

People are out of control.  I don't know the answer, but if they aren't made to comply and show good sportsmanship, then you are going to keep losing officials.  We don't make a lot of money here in OH anyhow doing this, so the abuse takes its toll fast.  I really enjoy the kids and the game and have a good rapport with most coaches, but the fans make it hard to keep on sometimes.

I'm not sure this is what you wanted or not, but the facts are most of us are never going to be punched in the mouth for a bad call.  We aren't going to be physically assaulted and quit as a result.  What makes us quit, is the never-ending verbal abuse from fans that honestly couldn't pass a rules test if their life depended on it, but yet feel they have a right to criticize and berate officials for any excuse.

NOTE: The above is the best of my recollection of the events as they transpired.  I am sure I missed something somewhere, but I have tried to portray what I felt was happening at that time.  I should not have talked to the fence, but I am not trying to portray anything that did not happen. There are definitely things I learned from this game that I will handle differently in the future, but I am confident that at no time did we attempt to do anything to favor either team or put anyone in harm's way.   When we saw the rain was making conditions truly unplayable, we suspended the game.  While it was raining, we did feel that the game could have been completed, until the harder rain started to fall. My partner was in C and in near constant communication with the F1 about his ability to pitch in the conditions. I was behind the plate and neither batter nor catcher was in danger of any injury either.  When the harder rain started to fall, then we called it for safety reasons. YMMV.

 

 

 

[boyinr]

This ran in our local paper this weekend.  Its well written

 

https://apnews.com/article/covid-sports-health-youth-football-5db4156110f035c65bbcf3f5981dc576

 

[wolfe_man]

1 hour ago, 65Blue said:

As someone who was at this game, this is not entirely what had happened. I am not from either team I just enjoy watching high school baseball in that area. It started to rain in the bottom of the 4th and at the end of the inning it was coming down hard. Nobody had conferred with either coach about diamond dry and asked if they had any on hand. Furthermore, the dirt circle and the mound was a total mud pit the the pitcher threw three straight behind a batter. That to me is key that it is time to stop, not only that it thundered and there was lightning and play still continued, where I think people got upset was when the game was called because of rain after VT took the lead and not where there was thunder and lightning. Now the VT does not have to play a half inning of defense in the rain. That lady was way out of line to approach you guys in the parking lot. That is way uncalled for. But that’s what was seen from the spectator perspective, you had more info than anyone else did. Like I said not a fan of either team just saying what I saw. 

I think we must be talking about different places.  In our game, there was one pitch behind the batter.  There was no lightning seen by either umpire or there would have been a mandatory 30 minute delay.  The same goes for if thunder was heard, which it was not at our game. I even made a comment to the catcher that I was glad there hadn't been any.   No coach or player or fan at our game mentioned either thunder or lightning. The AD would also have been required to notify us if he saw any.

And if you are not from either team, how can you know if one of us conferred with a coach about diamond dry or not?  Lastly, coming on here trying to "out" us is further proof of what I'm saying. If you disagreed with my side of the story and you believe this was the game you were at, then you had the option of trying to "correct" me via DM but you chose to try to confront me directly on here instead.

I stand by my comments.  Anyone can enter comments on this site. To me, this is case and point for what I am trying to say about abuse.  Some can't even stop with the abuse at the game, but follow you online to dispute and argue.

EDIT: One other note, our game was not called, but rather suspended.  We were going to see if the field could be made playable and continue after that last band of rain, but both teams left.  The game will be continued, as it was when we were made to take cover when the harder rain started falling, the next time these two times meet or whenever they can fit it in their schedules if they don't happen to meet again this year.  This is the main reason we try to complete games if at all possible the day they are scheduled, but especially so this year due to all of the rain outs that have already taken place.

[Mudisfun]

Personally I think that the prevalence of travel ball and all of the high priced tournaments has driven this level of extreme competition in all of the participants. We use to deal with a few over zealous people, but now, with the time dedicated, travel associated and monthly fees paid by the parents, they have a new level of 'involvement' in their kids playing a game. Many of these parents see, correctly or with rose colored glasses, that their kids future educational or financial prospects are tied to their ability on a ball field.  With the daily news about so and so athlete scoring this multi-million dollar contract, or this NCAA player who is now going to monopolize by playing in college, the stakes for these parents is even higher.

Add into this the type A$$hole, I mean type A personality many of the coaches already have, mixed with a modicum of school yard bully and you have the perfect storm brewing to substantiate abusing someone who is viewed as an impediment to their team and players success. I have watched coaches who know the umpire well outside of baseball completely turn into another person on the field, to the point that friendships have been ended due to what was said/done on a ball field.

Enacting stricter laws to address abuse of officials when it becomes physical I agree is needed, but that is a reaction to a growing problem which in no way addresses or fixes the issue. Most 'good' people who commit a crime in the heat of the moment have not planned their actions and weighed what the results of their actions will actually be; they see red and decide to take matters into their own hands. No, addressing the behavior when it starts to rear its head when these adults' children are young is where it needs to start. What we need are strong role models in our youth leagues, strong leaders who will not tolerate this behavior, strong parents who will council 'that' parent and let them know their actions are unwelcome, and we need strong parents who vote with their dollars and walk from teams who promote abusive behavior versus continuing to endorse it by remaining mute. We need strong AD's and other school administrators who will immediately address poor fan, coach and player behavior and who have the balls to stand up for the ideals they claim their school or program instills in their players. For example, the school in TN that chose not to actually do anything about their HC's ejection in 2019 https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxsegXEtPNQrw1Wql2XgEnmANDAATT3tai other than impose the minimum the book required. The State association had to take action which negatively impacted the team/kids while not being able to impose any real penalties against the coach directly.

Until the overall sports community as a whole decides that abusing officials, that teaching our youth that this behavior is acceptable and encouraged changes, the result will be the continual loss of officials in all sports and the ultimate ending of organized sporting events since there will be no one there to actually manage and officiate the game.

 

[Velho]

51 minutes ago, Mudisfun said:

that their kids future educational or financial prospects are tied to their ability on a ball field.

Having gone through this a bit (but not very deep as my son decided not to play in college) there isn't that much money to be had unless you are the top of the top and yes, it's the rare parent that recognizes their kid is not that so your statement is true but hopelessly naively so on the parents part. This is why I slip this in as much as I can in every conversation I have with parents.

 

Shifting gears slightly, the article and discussion is great. Thank you @Umpire in Chief for taking it on and I'll add it's not just umpires. Saturday my son's high school had his baseball game and a 14U soccer game. As I walked by the soccer fans I heard a guy (likely a grandparent) complain that the girls weren't "pulling the f***ing trigger". It was not said with a laugh in his voice. It was said like someone took a middle middle strike to lose the world series. I daggered the guy like he had a coach complaining about my zone. I almost said something but wasn't in the mood for stupid that day.

Related, I have this video bookmarked 

 

 

 

[Velho]

Anecdote that comes to mind: friend was board president of one of our local LL's. They were debating volunteer vs paid umps. Some of the board members (not random parent) said "if we pay them I'll feel better about yelling at them."

[Catch18]

In my temperate youth (maybe was 23) after calling a kid out on a tag play at the plate (with dad approximately 3rd base line extended, more or less behind me), he called me out through the fence dropping the f-bomb. I honestly can’t remember if it was critiquing the call or me personally. But I turned to the fence and told him we weren’t listening to anyone like that and to knock it off. He got insanely enraged, stood up, came to the fence and smacked it while continuing to complain. I turned around to continue the next inning. All of a sudden I hear a “ptui” sound and then the feeling of this jerkoff’s spit hitting me in the back of the head, neck and shirt.

I calmly looked back, didn’t say a word, and proceeded to exit the field. Yep, 1-man 9U travel game. Sayonara everybody!

The team’s HC tried to BEG me to stay, said they’d handle the guy, and “don’t do this to the kids.” I keep my cool very well and said I wasn’t doing anything to the kids - his parent was, it’s on him.

Only 1 path to the parking lot, and this dad is being restrained by other ACs and parents, letting me pass through to the lot. I went home kind of in shock honestly. I wish I had called the cops right then and there. Got home and told the wife what happened and she pleaded with me to call the cops (not much chance to tell your 22 year old law student wife - future prosecutor - that’s it no big deal and to let it go). We had an officer come over and take a report. I went in a couple of days later to the local police station for a lineup sheet ID, but they didn’t have the guy I guess.

I worked for the local rec & parks league and the game was at our city’s fields. The Director couldn’t do much with the team, but she banned the guy from the city ballpark for a year. Justice was balanced that day.

The more we don’t take action (EJs, state assoc reports, etc.), the more people think their behavior is acceptable and will go unpunished (which frankly it is).

I ignore the fence most of the time. But I couldn’t let some verbal abuse go in a recent travel tournament. I was U1 and had a bang bang tag up appeal @ 2nd. Dad went ballistic from 170’+ away, so, I helped him find an early exit. It’s Sunday, game 3, 7th inning. I’m not holding my SH*# up for 20 min while we contact HQ, wait for a TD or UIC etc. This was more effective on several levels of magnitude. He walked about 30’ away from the fence, tried to hide and lean against a tree. I explained he’s gone and that doesn’t mean walk several feet away and still get to participate. Made him understand site and sound. HC came up to me afterward, looked pretty embarrassed, and apologized.

Well, that’s enough stories for now. Cheers.

[beerguy55]

I suspect there is a correlation with this to what I'll call Internet behavior, social media, and similar changes over the past generation.

My belief is this has grown in magnitude...I'm not dismissing the fact that the ubiquity of recording devices is a factor in the perception of an increased frequency...I'm simply more inclined to believe that it's more an increase in the capability to gather evidence...and that ease of recording the activity does not mean the events are not actually increasing in number.  I think they are.

I can only go by memory and anecdote.  Which, of course, means personal experience...or hearing about it from friends and acquaintances.   I just think there is a different attitude than 20, 30, 40 years ago...

And I think it aligns with the general social media phenomenon in the similar time frame (much of it eloquently outlined in The Social Dilemma).

Going back to Internet Message boards, and then expanding to spouting your opinions in the palm of your hand, the ability to abuse people with total anonymity, and without retribution, has made many people braver/stupider...and they've forgotten general decorum which over time has expanded to social settings...exacerbated more in any setting where there is a belief (whether founded or not) that they can get away with their behavior. 

Combine that with many cases of irresponsible media, whether it's news outlets, or Internet  sites, that have no accountability to the accuracy of their content, the Internet has created a framework for like-minded people to form their own societal echo chamber to bolster their own beliefs...in short, everyone can now prove them selves right, beyond any doubt, and beliefs and believers that would have once been fringe and cult-like can now find themselves no longer alone,  and hold firm to their beliefs, and be loud and proud.   This is then exacerbated by a fake news industry which not only creates fake content, but fake social media users, and bots, to make even the most outrageous "fact" seem like it has the support of millions of people.  (being knee deep in cybersecurity, the interconnectivity between all this is mind-boggling)

All these leads to mentality to so many people (and,  frankly, many on the lower IQ, lower education scale) to think they are "right", not because there is no evidence, but because they can find any evidence they need to find to support their position - and then they are justified in their position, justified in their outrage at any perceived injustice...even to something as simple as  an umpire getting a few calls wrong.

In short, I don't think this is a coincidence, and I think there's a relationship here between the mentality that allows a former Playboy playmate to headline an anti-vaxxer movement, elite sports athletes and entertainers  to spread Flat Earth mantra, billionaire television celebrities to lead Obama birthplace conspiracy movements, to the general online nastiness and judgment that is directed at ANY parent that is unfortunate enough to make a mistake leading to their child's death/injury, to people attacking an umpire that had the nerve to call someone out.

It all comes from the same place.

[Velho]

20 minutes ago, beerguy55 said:

the ability to abuse people with total anonymity, and without retribution, has made many people braver/stupider

Yep. It has been said that the threat of getting punched in the nose (literally) would change this behavior. Not condoning it but it is an interesting downstream effect of a more civil society (more physically civil at least).

[dumbdumb]

i would talk to barry mano. here is an article and he mentions only 25 states have laws to make assault on an official a felony.  only 23 states have that.

 

https://www.theitem.com/stories/amid-increasing-abuse-officials-flee-youth-sports,381633

[Dottelife]

During covid all fans had to be behind the outfield fence. It was glorious and never enjoyed umping as much as then. I would love to see this become a thing. 
The problem is coaches are stupid, parents think there is no consequences for their behavior and leagues do not have umpires back.  
 

[Velho]

10 hours ago, Dottelife said:

During covid all fans had to be behind the outfield fence.

In your area there were no fans near the backstop or dugouts? That does sound glorious.

[Dottelife]

12 hours ago, Velho said:

In your area there were no fans near the backstop or dugouts? That does sound glorious.

It was great and we tried to get the GM to make it permanent lol

[The Man in Blue]

On 4/26/2022 at 12:21 PM, Velho said:

Anecdote that comes to mind: friend was board president of one of our local LL's. They were debating volunteer vs paid umps. Some of the board members (not random parent) said "if we pay them I'll feel better about yelling at them."

 

Similar story from when I ran our local rec league (for almost 10 years).

After developing a thorough disgust for the way adults were treating 16-year old kids trying to do a community service, I decided to eliminate umpires from coach pitch (8u) the following season.  I discussed it with my board and got their backing.  

At the next coaches' meeting we announced this.  One particularly overly-competitive coach asked, "Who is going to make the calls?" 

I replied, "You guys are." 

The coach says "I can't watch the play and coach my team!  Who do I argue with when I don't like the call?"

I just stared at her blankly.  "If you weren't watching the play, why are you arguing anything with somebody's 16 year old daughter?  And thank you for making my point."

The coach didn't come back.  It was a win-win.

I really think the sad tripping point is going to be when we finally suck it up and say "I'm sorry, the kids cannot play because we cannot find responsible coaches and/or umpires to call the games."  Yes, it sucks that the kids take the brunt of that, but we cannot continue to allow this.  We are hiding behind the kids as justification for child-like behavior.

I hate to say it this way, and maybe it is because I am in a dark spot right now ...

... my school -- a MIDDLE SCHOOL -- has had multiple students and former students arrested in the last week for multiple homicides and shooting sprees.  One was shot and killed by the police while shooting up a local family festival.  These kids were never held accountable in school, so they continued to believe there was no consequence for their actions out of school.  Make whatever connection you will out of that, but I stand by it.

[Velho]

32 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

I decided to eliminate umpires from coach pitch (8u) the following season. 

My local LL has no umpires from t-ball through AA (kid pitch with coach only after 4 balls). Been that way the 14 years I've been here. Never gave a second thought that it would be done otherwise.

A coach makes a bad call, you shrug it off. They all balance out naturally. One that sunk it in for me: we had a call go our way and a bit later one went against me. I snap looked at the other coach, he gives a "come see come sa" upward palm hand gesture and look. I had to laugh and from there I was good to go.

[dumbdumb]

https://thespun.com/more/top-stories/sports-world-furious-over-viral-little-league-video

[Catch18]

When I hear people tell me about their 9 year old kid playing some 50-75 games, I say “sorry.”

[Recontra]

Oregon has two statutes that other states might want to adopt. The 1st permits a sports official to eject any player, coach, parent, or fan from any sports field or sports complex (even public parks) who engages in inappropriate behavior. Violators commit criminal trespass. The 2nd provides liquidated damages and attorneys fees to any sports official who is subjected to offensive contact, during or after the game, on the field or in the immediate vicinity of the complex (i.e. parking lot). Actual injury need not be shown. 

ORS 164.274

As used in ORS 164.276 and 164.278 :

(1) “Coach” means a person who instructs or trains members of a team or directs the strategy of a team participating in a sports event.

(2) “Inappropriate behavior” means:

(a) Engaging in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior;

(b) Violating the rules of conduct governing coaches, team players and spectators at a sports event;

(c) Publicly insulting another person by abusive words or gestures in a manner intended to provoke a violent response; or

(d) Intentionally subjecting another person to offensive physical contact.

(3) “Premises” has the meaning given that term in ORS 164.205 .

(4) “Spectator” means any person, other than a team player or coach, who attends a sports event.

(5) “Sports official” has the meaning given that term in ORS 30.882.

ORS 164.276

A sports official may order a coach, team player or spectator to leave the premises at which a sports event is taking place and at which the sports official is officiating if the coach, team player or spectator is engaging in inappropriate behavior.

ORS 164.278 

 

(1) A person commits the crime of criminal trespass at a sports event if the person:

(a) Is a coach, team player or spectator at a sports event;

(b) Engages in inappropriate behavior;

(c) Has been ordered by a sports official to leave the premises at which the sports event is taking place; and

(d) Fails to leave the premises or returns to the premises during the period of time when reentry has been prohibited.

(2) Criminal trespass at a sports event is a Class C misdemeanor.

ORS 30.882  Award of liquidated damages to sports official subjected to offensive physical contact 

(1) In addition to, and not in lieu of any other damages that may be claimed, a plaintiff who is a sports official shall receive liquidated damages in an amount not less than $500 but not more than $1,000 in any action in which the plaintiff establishes that:

(a)The defendant intentionally subjected the plaintiff to offensive physical contact;

(b) The defendant knew that the plaintiff was a sports official at the time the offensive physical contact was made;

(c) The offensive physical contact is made while the plaintiff is within, or in the immediate vicinity of, a facility at which the plaintiff serves as a sports official for a sports event; and

(d) The offensive physical contact is made while the plaintiff is serving as a sports official or within a brief period of time thereafter.

(2) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff in an action in which liquidated damages are awarded under this section.

(3) An award of liquidated damages under this section is not subject to ORS 31.725 (Pleading punitive damages), 31.730 (Standards for award of punitive damages) or 31.735 (Distribution of punitive damages).

(4) As used in this section, “sports official” means a person who:

(a) Serves as a referee, umpire, linesman or judge or performs similar functions under a different title; and

(b) Is a member of, or registered by, a local, state, regional or national organization that engages in providing education and training in sports officiating. [1999 c.786 §1]

   

 

[boyinr]

Here’s another one.  
 

https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/player-facing-criminal-charge-vicious-attack-referee-during-basketball-game-cohasset/3ESGIMMW6FANRMO3QSHN35W7TQ/