Quote:
Originally posted by IRISHMAFIA
the fans are not your concern and should be left to the TD, UIC and the coaches.
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You are correct, Mike, but around here some of the invitational tournaments give the umpires an additional tool.
They state specifically in the tournament rules that the coaches are responsbile for the behavior of their fans. This means that the umpires can warn the coach to control the fans under penalty of the coach being ejected.
I've used this a few times.
After issuing this warning a few weeks ago the coach told me a couple of innings later he had warned his fans to control themselves or the umpire would eject him. He said his fans cheered! Sometimes, maybe the warning backfires!
(Of course, it sounds like in the Keller's case, the coach was setting the tone for the fans, so it would not have helped much.)