Quote:
Originally Posted by bob jenkins
Much of this depends on the level you do (generally, the lower the level the more Ts), and your experience (like with all fouls it goes from zero to "a lot" to "a reasonable number")
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I think about my progression as a baseball/softball umpire, 20 years ago when I started I went from taking no action whenever challenged, questioned, etc, right from my first game when I missed a call early in the game and a coach told me I was so fat I couldn't get out of my own way (my partner did nothing either, I may add) and then went from a point where I wouldn't take even the most innocent line pushing comment to now where I have found the balance between what is ok, what is pushing the line and what is over that line.
Newer and younger officials take too much guff and don't know how to handle pressure situations.
For anyone who struggles with this, I would recommend checking out any books or materials on Verbal Judo, it is a pretty helpful communications tool.
Used correctly it can lead to some really good light bulb moments for a coach.