Overzealous Fans

[TommyUmp]

13U game, non-tourney.

edit: (HT) R2 to third on a steal attempt. Throw beats runner, but runner is able to reach around the tag and get to the bag before VT tag is applied. I safe the runner - VT stands go nuts. Start in on all the cliches that they think are clever to say. Whatever, I let it roll off per usual.

Game 2 I'm behind the plate. HT runner in a rundown between 3rd and home. He remains in it for about 7 throws, constantly re-establishing his baseline (he is about 3-4 feet wide of the foul line at this point), and as the catcher receives the ball to make a tag, he breezes past it. I'm 90 degrees to the tag and I see nothing but air. I safe him, very reluctantly because I know what's about to happen; sure enough it did. In comes the first base coach - pissed. I do my best to calm him down a bit by explaining my angle and what I saw, and that I understand he's heated but there was no tag to make an out call with. Of course the fans are hollering personal things at this point, but I let it go assuming things will calm. Once the coaches and players settle, we resume play, but the fans won't shut the ******** up. I tell myself "well, was a tough call to swallow, I'll give it some time". An inning and a half later, it didn't cease. Of course, on cue, a play comes to the plate, but this time the VT attempting to score . The throw comes in high and the runner slides under the tag, so I safe him. Annnnnnnnnnnd here come the sarcastic and backhanded compliments. One of the HT coaches says "that was a make-up, huh" (I should have dumped him but didn't want more commotion). I then turn to the VT coach, who has been nothing but a complete gentleman this entire time, and say "You need to take care of your fans. I've heard enough. If they continue they are all going to go." He obliges and they all shut their mouths.

No problems for the rest of the game, thankfully.

So, here is my question: With no tournament director or athletic director around, how do I deal with unruly fans? I typically would have gone to the head coach and told him to take care of the fans or he is ejected, but he was the only one on the VT that had any ounce of sportsmanship, so dumping him is like S. Korea telling the USA to piss off (sorta). So what can I do here? Is it viable to dump an entire teams' spectating group? I keep thinking of that guy who threw out the stands and how bad it looked, but boy it sure looked like a big banana split today...

P.S. Bin Laden is dead, finally.

[Guest]

1) 1B coach goes for arguing with you.

2) Manager goes for implying less than complete impartiality on your part.

3) Short of anything that puts the safety or livelihood of you, your partner, or any team personnel at risk, ignore the fans. Even more so, you have zero authority to eject the fans. In the event you do have an issue, an issue defined above, with some / all of the fans and there is no security or A/T D to deal with them, clear the field, speak with both coaches so as to have them take the necessary action (which is removing the appropriate fans), and wait at the mound with your partner until this happens. You have the manager deal with it because you have no power in the matter; you wait at the mound so as to stay out of projectile firing range.

4) I didn't realize we still cared about him.

[UMP45]

TommyUmp, Unless there is some local or tournament rule welcome to Umpiring 101. You have no jurisdiction over fans. Unless you hear racial or vulgar profanity, f-bomb,MF, etc., just do your best to tune them out. 2 things I tell my partners is you can't deal with dumb and they had to pay to get in, we had to take a test. Every now and then, when I have the plate, some catchers will say "what game are they watching?". I just tell them they had to pay to get in and we were asked to be here. As far as the coaches you will have to decide how much to take. When I hear "make-up call" or "homer" I have very quick word of prayer with the coach. And I will ask him are you questioing my integrity or are you saying I'm cheating? It gets their attention.

[mazzamouth]

1) Yea leave the fans alone.. unless they are threatening you, your partner, or the players leave them alone.

2) if the 1st base coach was not the head coach, then you should have stopped him, and told him I will only talk with the head coach, if he continues, you will have no choice but to eject him.

[Thunderheads]

4) I didn't realize we still cared about him.

Who's "we" ?? I'm sure most canucks don't , and/or, never did care about him

(p.s. I am part Canadian, so I can use the word 'canuck') :angel4:

[TommyUmp]

1) Yea leave the fans alone.. unless they are threatening you, your partner, or the players leave them alone.

2) if the 1st base coach was not the head coach, then you should have stopped him, and told him I will only talk with the head coach, if he continues, you will have no choice but to eject him.

1) Yeah I knew that I was out of my jurisdiction when I told the coach "they'll be gone if they don't knock it off". They were just really, really, nasty. Since it was a 13U game, I didn't feel like letting it go like it was 'OK'. You know, lead by example...

2) I would have stopped the 1st base coach but it was such a long play that he magically appeared at home. Maybe he came running down from first base during the play? I made the call (facing the infield), turned to my right, and he was standing there (maybe he was on the bench that inning?). I have never been in a game like this before, and I've done every level of ball from LL to JC.

On top of all this nonsense, it was raining the entire game, and switching balls out every other pitch just made it feel like an eternity.

Thanks for all of your very informative replies.

[Mr Umpire]

2) if the 1st base coach was not the head coach, then you should have stopped him, and told him I will only talk with the head coach, if he continues, you will have no choice but to eject him.

I think it is the coach from the 1B dugout. He called the runner safe so why would the 1B coach argue? I think it was worded wrong though the advice still stands.

[Mr Umpire]

1) Yeah I knew that I was out of my jurisdiction when I told the coach "they'll be gone if they don't knock it off". They were just really, really, nasty. Since it was a 13U game, I didn't feel like letting it go like it was 'OK'. You know, lead by example...

2) I would have stopped the 1st base coach but it was such a long play that he magically appeared at home. Maybe he came running down from first base during the play? I made the call (facing the infield), turned to my right, and he was standing there (maybe he was on the bench that inning?). I have never been in a game like this before, and I've done every level of ball from LL to JC.

On top of all this nonsense, it was raining the entire game, and switching balls out every other pitch just made it feel like an eternity.

Thanks for all of your very informative replies.

Why would the 1B coach argue if the runner is safe?

[stl_ump]

Boy you guys have it rough.

Our park (16 fields) makes the Head Coach responsible for fan control. If things get out of hand, he is warned and will suffer the ejection consequences if things aren't taken care of. On a second ejection, it's a forfeit.

It's worked pretty good so far.

[Rich Ives]

Boy you guys have it rough.

Our park (16 fields) makes the Head Coach responsible for fan control. If things get out of hand, he is warned and will suffer the ejection consequences if things aren't taken care of. On a second ejection, it's a forfeit.

It's worked pretty good so far.

Local rule.

LL rules specifically say the manger is not responsible. He has too much else to deal with.