[JRutledge]

I have made this point very clear over the years. Assistants are to be seen and not heard. I do not respond to Asst. unless they are asking questions in a calm tone and demeanor or they are calling time out for their players. There job is to never argue directly with me. At least not in HS and college games. Most coaches understand this very well.

I had a situation earlier this year where a batter let the ball hit him (a very slow curve ball) so he could go to first. This happen about 2 other times and was very clear that this team was taught this. And after this situation, my partner said to me but I did not hear the kid, said the batter said, "they teach us to do that." But just as I ruled that the batter was to stay at home, I had both coaches start at me. I simply pointed to the Assistant Coach while looking at the Head Coach and said, "why is he talking?" The Assistant Coach got the message and went right back to where he was. The Head Coach continued to argue, which I had not problem with. He did make a comment to me that got him restricted to the dugout during that same conversation. But that was the only blow up and not another incident happen during the game. Now this was a Varsity game, so I am it is clear to me that the coaches understand this procedure or practice very well. This has nothing to do with treating them like human beings or not treating them like human beings. The coaches have a pecking order. And the rules back this up. Actually that is the case in all sports I officiate. The HC has rights that the Assistants never have. But it is very rare that I ever have assistants complain about anything. Mainly I see this is they understand their roles and understand how umpires are going to handle them when they start to complain.

Peace