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Don,
It may be difficult to adjust at first, but just work on blowing him off.
Just because he requests the count, does not mean you must give it. Just because they request an appeal, does not mean you MUST honor it. Don't read that wrong. You should honor a valid appeal, but if it continues through the game, blow him off! If he argues, tell him you believe he is making a travesty of the game with his frivilous appeals and if it continues, someone is leaving and it isn't going to be you.
Doesn't like your strike zone and wants to discuss it? "Coach, are you arguing ball-strike calls? Well, it sounded like it to me, so consider this your team warning. By the way, coach, in accordance with rule 4.9.B, I am required to eject the next member of your team who argues balls and strikes."
If he acts as a base coach and you really want to get under his skin, wait for him to move a little too close to the foul line, or toward the plate. Loudly, call time, step out from behind the plate, remove your mask, point at him and say, "Coach, back in the box, please!"
They'll see the smoke coming out of his ears from center field. When he claims there is no coach's box lined, just tell him that he has enough experience to know where he is supposed to be.
Hard-line? Yep. Attention-getting? Absolutely! Mean? Okay, maybe. Effective? Depends on how arrogant/stupid the coach is.
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The bat issue in softball is as much about liability, insurance and litigation as it is about competition, inflated egos and softball.
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