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When you get to the field to umpire your game you go through a pregame with your partner hopefully. You discuss mechanics, rotations and responsibilities. You get in the mindset of the game. You dress professionally and you walk into the game confident and poised. You have your pregame with the coaches and the game begins.
Now you have a strong foundation for the game. You establish your strike zone in the first inning. All is going well. You have sold the coaches and fans that you know what you are doing and have good control of the game.
Now a coach questions a close call. Be it Balls/Strikes or just a whacker. Then there is a time where the pitcher doesn't completely stop with a runner on 3rd. You are in the 5th inning and the coach starts to chip a bit. The fans are groaning. The game is close. The game is heating up. How do regain the edge that you established at the begining of the game?
Well let's analyze this. You did everything right in the pregame. Right? If not pull your partner in and get it right now.
You are confident. If not concentrate and go back to the basics.
The coaches are getting frustrated. Pull the coach aside between innings and get him to tell you what is bothering him. Listen.....Listen.... Tell him you are giving him 100% and maintain a level of control. Usually this will get him on your side. Usually he is frustrated with the game situations and not your calls. Keep it short and non confrontational. It will work.
Now the worst situation an umpire gets into. A call be it rule or judgement call. The coach is not buying it. How do you maintain control. First of all you do not need to sell him on it. You made the call and it is done. You listen to what he has to say. A good guage is to let him talk for 20 seconds. That is a long time and he will be worn out by then. If he says something that is not correct, do not interrupt him because the 20 seconds strats over. Use your best communication skills to get your point acroos as a question. This way he is on the defense and not you.
If the coach is abusive you need to let him know that he has said enough and he needs to go back to dug out and we need to continue play. Then turn and walk away. Maintain your composure. Do not be smug, abusive, defensive or demeaning. As you walk away hopefully your partner is able to step in and get the coach to the dug out. If not get to a place so far out of where he should be and then turn and ask him to go to the dug out you have heard enough. Do not give him a time limit and do not say I do not want to hear another word. If he says WORD you have to throw him. For saying WORD. Do not put yourself in that situation.
All of this is Common Sense Umpiring. It begins with a strong foundation. Self Control. Knowledge and Experience. Respect for members of the game is necessary, this includes coaches, players and fans. If you leave the chip at home and keep you attention betwen the lines you will be successful.
Too many times have I seen umpires call time, and yell or point in a aggressive manner to get something. Be it equiptment, a pitcher warming up, or someone that is loud. Control and timing is everything. Use Common Sense. If someone is yelling acknowlege him and ask him to come to you. Meet him half to 3/4 of the way. If he is yelling acroos the field in a controled manner gesture him to come to you.
Avoid people in the stands. If someone is that much out of control then ask the coach to help. If he is unable then see if there is an administrator. If there is not one on site then you can live with it or you can pull all players in and suspend play. Remember if he is distracting you then he is distracting the players and this can get someone hurt. If you do pull the players then you will not resume play until he leaves. Do not confront a fan yourself. The coach, administrator, or official should confront the fan.
Avoiding confrontation is difficult, yet necessary. Fans and out of control participants are not in the right frame of mind and not expected to be. An officail is expected to always be in the right frame of mind.
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