heckling spectator?

LMan · #1 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 11:13am

Hello, I am a LL ump and would like to ask a question if I may:

In a recent game, one team's pitcher has a number of nervous mannerisms, including bringing his pitching hand to his mouth (wiping his mouth w the back of his hand) while near the rubber..the opposing manager complained and the plate ump warned the pitcher several times.....in my judgement the complaint was valid every time.

...the real issue was that a parent of the pitcher's team (in the bleachers) was very belligerent and kept loudly catcalling the other manager for complaining, telling him to 'shut up and get back in the dugout' 'why dont you manage your lousy team and leave our kids alone' , etc. This went on for a while, and no one, including the plate ump, ever warned him or mentioned it otherwise. It was very loud, persistent, and embarrassing, although the guy didnt use profanity, as far as I know. I thought it was a terrible example for the kids.

My question is, is there a provision for the ump to warn/eject the spectator about this if it continues for a long while (ie, after 'the heat of the moment')? I know heckling is as much a part of the game as anything else, but that's more at the professional levels, so are the umps at this level required to put up with constant heckling of this type from one team's spectators to the other team?

Just looking for opinions, or where I am off-base. Thanks in advance!

blueump · #2 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 11:58am

Personally I never even acknowlege fans in the stand. They can scream all they want. I "hear" but I don't "listen". I know that's not the case with many umpires (one at a game this weekend threw out 3 parents during one game).

If it becomes disturbing enough for me, I'll talk to the head coach about it, and usually they are courteous to take care of the situation. If not, then I call on the AD.

JMHO

jicecone · #3 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 12:30pm

"I know heckling is as much a part of the game as anything else, but that's more at the professional levels,"

What book or law or ordinance declared this to be true?

Usually, local rules allow this to be taken care of. In most cases if you put the burden on the coach, it goes away.

LMan · #4 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 12:44pm

No ordnance or law, that was just my opinion. Inventive, witty heckling is, IMO, a part of the game (there's no law/rule that *mandates* the use of batboys, either AFAIK, but it's a tradition). Some hecklers are skilled, near-professionals at it. That leaves out profanity, however, which is almost always neither.

I just thought at the time, that the PU should have either warned the spectator directly or warned the coach (although all he could do was ask/plead that the spec stop) about it, esp 2-3 innings after the fact. He did neither, and it continued for most of the game. No real crime, I suppose, just annoying.

mcrowder · #5 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 01:58pm

Heckling the umpire is one thing, and I'll usually ignore it until profanity comes into play. Heckling a player or coach from the other team will warrant a warning a lot quicker though. It's a tough line to draw though. I usually draw it when it gets personal.

bluezebra · #6 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 06:25pm

Heckling is NOT part of the game in youth sports. It's amazing how many obnoxious adults there are. These jerks have no idea how it embarrasses their children.

Situations like this should be handled by the team's manager. I would have said a BOD member, but they usually hide from these situations.

kylejt · #7 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 06:47pm

Here's what you do. In a loud voice, call "TIME!"

Call for the BoD memeber on duty. Again, in a loud voice(loud enough for all to hear) state that there is someone in the stands that either needs to tone it down or leave. Barring that the umpire will put the teams in the dugouts until such time that they feel the problem is resolved.

Umpires have no jurisdiction over the spectators, nor do the managers. But they do have responsibilty for the playing conditions on the field, including knucleheads yelling from the stands.

greymule · #8 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 07:54pm

Many of the fields around here have posted signs that list prohibited behavior, and something that covers heckling is usually included. I've seen the police arrive to remove loudmouths at soccer games. I've also seen umpires eject spectators (sometimes for pretty minor stuff, frankly).

One problem in girls' FP is the boys who stand behind the outfield fence and make lewd comments to the outfielders. Naturally, they speak loud enough for the outfielders but not the umpires to hear. This happens mostly in school, but I've had a couple of incidents in summer tournaments.

When I played baseball, there was a constant stream of heckling from both sides. However, use of a player's name was an unwritten no-no, as was profanity.

DG · #9 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 09:21pm

A manager shall have control over his fans. If he does not he has no respect. Tell the manager to get the player heckling stopped. If he does not get it stoppped, take appropriate action.

MPC · #10 (**permalink**) Mon May 03, 2004, 09:48pm

Quote:

Originally posted by DG
A manager shall have control over his fans. If he does not he has no respect. Tell the manager to get the player heckling stopped. If he does not get it stoppped, take appropriate action.

And that is???????

kylejt · #11 (**permalink**) Tue May 04, 2004, 12:35am

"A manager shall have control over his fans. If he does not he has no respect. Tell the manager to get the player heckling stopped. If he does not get it stoppped, take appropriate action. "

Sorry DG, not in Little League. In fact the manager is not allowed to communicate outside the dugout.

Look at it this way, if the manager were responsible for the fans on his side of the backstop, what's to keep some joker from jumping over from the other side and creating a rukus. And what, you'd dump a manager because some fan from the other bleachers sat on your side and yelled at his own manager(his buddy)? Comedy.

thumpferee · #12 (**permalink**) Tue May 04, 2004, 04:47am

There should be a director or league official at the games. If deemed necessary, go to them and ask them to speak to the individual/s. They will handle it how they deem it necessary, even if it means having them escorted away from the field by local authorities, cancelling the game, etc.

LMan · #13 (**permalink**) Tue May 04, 2004, 07:41am

Agreed, but as someone already pointed out, they love to disappear in these situations

mick · #14 (**permalink**) Tue May 04, 2004, 08:20am

Quote:

Originally posted by LMan

My question is, is there a provision for the ump to warn/eject the spectator about this if it continues for a long while (ie, after 'the heat of the moment')? I know heckling is as much a part of the game as anything else, but that's more at the professional levels, so are the umps at this level required to put up with constant heckling of this type from one team's spectators to the other team?

Just looking for opinions, or where I am off-base. Thanks in advance!

LMan,
I have never ejected a fan for the good of the game.
What I have done in situations that are similar, is:

Locate the offensive fan;

Make neutral (avoid "evil eye") eye contact with them (loud talk usually stops here);

Ease near the fence, near the offender, (making myself available for an answer);

Explain the concern of the questionable rule or the behavior, to the fans and/or the heckler.

In one instance, after making eye contact with a heckler, the heckler said, "Eyeball me!!!???!", but then he stopped.
mick

sir_eldren · #15 (**permalink**) Wed May 05, 2004, 03:28am

Last season I was the subject of a fan's ridicule in a JV tournament (and many other games--but those are other stories). I made an out call that the crowd didn't agree with. A fan began to heckle me from behind the backstop. Unfortunately for him, I was on the bases and had no clue anybody was saying anything. Worse for him, my partner was a bit cranky after working 4 games the day before, and was in the middle of a triple-header on that day. He got sick of it pretty quick, and asked the coach of the home team to take care of the fan, to which the coach was more than abliged. The fan overheard this and went ballistic. Next thing I know my partner is telling a fan to leave and asking the coach to escort him off the premises! It was only about my 15th game, so it was quite an eye-opener to my rookie eyes.

Then there was the junk after the game because the guy didn't want to leave.... Ugh!

-Craig