[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by jumpmaster

The "Stupid Dad" thread and some actions that occurred during one of my games have prompted this thread:

How do you guys deal with the nagging parent? You know which one, the one who sits outside the fence and constantly complains about everything and anything you do. I have heard everything from ignore it to have the coach fix it. If you can successfully ignore them, how are you doing it? If you are having the coaches/administrators handle it, what is your basis for this?

My experience and training has been, at best, minimal in dealing with this. Teach me oh wise ones!

It happened once during a LL game a few years back. It was my 4th game of the day behind the dish (not uncommon in LL where umpires are scarce). It was hot and I know we are not suppossed to address fans, but as mentioned I was hot and had enough of this parent heckling me from the onset.

Rather then get angry or say something negative, I simply walked over to the fence and said to this parent:

"you know you are right, I am terrible today and IMO you can call a better game than me anyday. It's hot and I sure could use a nice cold glass of lemonade about now so I'll tell you what. You can borrow my equipment or I'm certain we have some upstairs that will fit you. I could use the rest, so I'll sit down and watch you."

This parent all of sudden became silent. I didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the game. In fact, after the game was over, not that I cared or anything, he said Good Game Blue.

Don't know if this will work all the time or not, but as mentioned, I was hot, tired, etc. from a very long day and at that point didn't care.

Generally, speaking it's best to ignore the fans and if they become unruly, let either the coach handle or if this is a LL game, let a BOD member handle.

Pete Booth