[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by akalsey

Originally posted by bob jenkins

The "best" rule I've seen on this -- the player that throws the bat isn't out, but the next player in the line-up is. Nothing gets a kid's attention like peer-pressure. When a team and another individual is made to suffer, the offending action is (usually) quickly corrected.

When someone uses profanity on the field, do you eject a random player from the bench? Punishing a player for the mistake of another is a quick way to send the game into chaos.

I agree with Bob, the major cure to many of these things is to make the team suffer. If the team suffers, then the shenanigans will take care of itself.

Look at Football / basketball. Let's say the defense makes a great stop on 4th and short in football, and the ball is ready to be turned over to the offense, but some knucklehead on defense roughs the QB or commits a similar unsportsmanlike act.

Ruling: The player depending upon the act could be EJ'D but the more important point is both the Offensive and Defensive TEAM now suffer because of the actions of ONE player. The offensive does not go on the field, and the defense is penalized 15 yards and an automatic first down to the other team. If this happens you do not have to worry about the coach getting all over this player his teammates will.

In a nutshell, I agree with Bob in that if the TEAM as a whole suffers, many of these issues will go away or the player will not be on the team anymore.

Pete Booth