Bench Jockeying

[pl8ump1012]

Since bench jockeying is a PoE this year....

I've never felt like I have the best grasp on when innocuous banter crosses the line to bench jockeying. NFHS defines bench jockeying as "negative verbal comments, taunting, or attempts to distract, intimidate, or embarrass opponents or officials from the dugout."

Some things are obviously inappropriate and need to be stopped. Some things are playful, funny, or otherwise totally harmless. Then there's the in-between.

I'd love to hear perspective on where you all draw the line, maybe with examples of what teams/players can/can't get away with.

[wolfe_man]

Ooo, let me get my popcorn, this is going to be good.  War stories to follow in 3... 2... 1...

 

In all seriousness, it can be somewhat hard to discern, but I think it is one of those where you'll know it when you see it/hear it. 

[Richvee]

I try to shut it down early. Whenever it's about the other team, stop it. 

I'll start by asking the coach to help out and take care of it. Usually they agree. When I get an answer like "What did they say?" or "I didn't hear anything". I'll just tell them "There shouldn't be any negative comments directed at the other team." 

Next step. walk up to the dugout between innings. Tell the kids calmly. "look guys, you know how this works. Cheer for your guys.Nothing about the other team from your dugout, OK? 

That usually stops it, rarely does it go to a bench warning, and ejection for any further nonsense. 

Stopping it the first time you hear it also stops the inevitable first question..."But what about them?? They've been doing it the whole game. 

I'm OK with the comments like "Leave it for the worms", "That's 6 in a row", 'NOOOO NEVER" .. But just like our cues for ejection, when it gets personal, I try to stop it. ... "Give him a bucket he's throwing up" (one of my favorites, but over the top for high school).."noodle arm", etc. have to be addressed

I have mixed feelings on stuff like "Rattled", or Nightmare" and the like. I tend to let that go early. but if it escalates to anything else where  I've talked to the coach and/or the bench. then those comments need to stop also. 

 

[SeeingEyeDog]

This has been a great week here at U-E...lots of great questions and topics. I can't wait to see where we are come May/June.

As always, I have to start with the NFHS. As a sports official in 2 high school sports in my market, I do support the NFHS and I do think they are trying to do what's "best for the high school game" and the people around it. And, as Axl Rose famously sings, "Welcome to the jungle, baby! You're gonna' die..." Indeed...it's a jungle, Axl. The NFHS has an impossible task. What the best interests are for Los Angeles is perhaps not the best interests for Des Moines or Pittsburgh or NYC or Taos or Austin. Remember in 2023 when NFHS added a rule about "excessive eye black"? Everyone across my market...umpires, coaches, players, parents, school administrators...was completely baffled by this. This simply was not an issue in our market. Then later that year as we moved into travel season, we started seeing teams from outside of our market and...it was an issue for some. I didn't handle it because I didn't see it in my games but, others did and after a handful of games, awareness was raised, people got woke to the rule and it was no longer an issue.

There are some great responses above and I would just simply reinforce...cheer and root FOR YOUR TEAM. In an ideal situation, everyone is just yelling. Maybe there are personal things being said but, it's all being drowned out and to me it takes on just a roar quality. It's just noise. But, once we do hear clear things directed from one team TO the OTHER TEAM or to the other team's PLAYERS, that's when I step in and speak to the head coach and say, "Coach, I hear personal remarks being directed from your players to the other team. Let's not have any more of that, please. This is a sportsmanship warning for your team." (...and note it in your book.)

And yes, as @Richvee said, do not get into a discussion about WHAT specifically was said. They know. The coach knows. They are embarrassed that they are having to be talked to about it and that manifests itself as, "What?!?! What did they say?!?! Who?!?!" It's like when we speed and we get pulled over and the officer asks us how fast we are going and we say, "I don't know..." We know. And it's embarrassing to be pulled over.

If you have issued a verbal warning and something happens again and you unable to determine WHO specifically said it? Well, the head coach is ultimately responsible for the words, actions and behaviors of his players and team personnel on the field and in their dugout/bench area. So, on a second occurrence, "Coach, I hear personal remarks again being directed from your players to the other team. This is a written warning. If it continues, you will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game or ejected. Please take care of this." (...and again, note it in your book. The reports write themselves.)

~Dawg