I guess I will jump in here as well, since I came over to the dark side as they say, coaching to now umpiring (last two years) all youth baseball. I have been humbled as a person, a man, a father and a mentor(so I thought) when I would jump on all and any umpire I thought was not giving me the calls or getting the calls right. I know now of what I didn’t know and it has changed my perspective on people on the real meaning of competition and what sports have become. I love working the games and see young kids learn and grow. I continually see coaches take advantage of young umpires. That is why in our organization we pair a young umpire with a Sr. umpire and that is for two reasons. 1. To protect the young umpire from being used and abused by coaches and fans. 2. To mentor, teach guide encourage. I don’t know the umpire personally that posted the OP but what I can do is reflect on another approach I would have offered such as explaining to the young ump his options and allowing him to get it right or learn from it in fairness to the game and in honor of the game. I grow weary of coaches influencing young athletes of why they lost a game due to an umpire’s error when in fact they should be teaching how to overcome adversity overcome challenges overcome situations when they don’t go your way or what you perceive to be your way. How to improve on the game and your skills, take aways as to what you learned or gained in the game today. That is what they should walk away with. Such is life right? Or, maybe it is all about winning at any cost....lessons learned from our recent economic strife based on honor, integrity, character and doing the right thing. What will that young player that got hit in the back learn from this experience as he witnessed his coach communicating to this young umpire? I am sure the other players in ear shout heard him as well. What do they come away with? What does this young umpire come away with? Are we building bridges or building walls?