Have the coach help you
I've handled unruley fans/parents like this:
Inbetween batters, innings, whenever you have a dead ball opportunity:
Hey coach, can I talk to you for a second? There's some fans sitting on your side that are getting a little out of hand. I don't want to have to stop the game to deal with them, so can you handle that for me and get them to behave? If you can't, I'll resolve it... but I don't think you want me to do that. Thanks.
9 times out of 10 the coach is MORE than happy to handle it himself/herself, and not have me intervene. The last time I had to use this, the coach told me an inning later that he handled it, and the fan left the stands. I thanked him, and no one else was the wiser.
__________________
We see with our eyes. Fans and parents see with their hearts.
|