Thread: Banter
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Old Mon Feb 24, 2003, 10:55am
Jerry Jerry is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 286
Having officiated all levels (LL, Federation, High School, College and Pro), very little "banter" is heard or tolerated nowadays. For Federation and High School, there's a "sportsmanship" message that is to be read/paraphrased to coaches prior to the game. I usually say something like, "Root for your own team as much as you can, but I don't want to hear anything directed toward the opponents or the officials in today's contest. Have respect for the coaches, the players, the umpires and the game of baseball. Good luck to both of you."

In youth games, whenever I hear "Hey, batta, batta, batta!" or "Hey, pitcha, pitcha, pitcha!" or clapping of hands by a runner . . . I immediately put a stop to it. Never had a serious argument from anyone for that.

In the Pro's . . . both old-timers as well as the new breed, many/most players, coaches and officials knew each other . . . and often partied together afterwards. Most of the "banter", quite incessant actually, was along the humerous level.
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