What would you do if......

[His High Holiness]

I've had this happen at very high levels. (NCAA players with 2000 paid attendance.)

As long as they are not throwing things at the other team or into the stands, or at the umpires, let them behave like two year olds. Stop the game and let everyone watch. Say nothing. It is entertainment. Eventually the fans will let them know how stupid they are. It is a losing proposition for you to insert yourself into this temper tantrum.

League administration will fine them for this behavior. You do not need to do anything, nor will it be held against you by your supervisor that you did nothing about it.

You are not there to supervise intra-squad problems. Only when they go after you, the other team, or maybe the fans, are you required to take action.

I once had a coach get so furious at his player for getting picked off on a 3-1 play that he started throwing equipment at him when he got back to the dugout. The hapless player ran out of the dugout and the coach threw equipment onto the field at the player. Only when he had emptied the dugout of equipment did he stop. The player reentered the dugout and the coach went out onto the field, picked up some equipment and hurled the equipment back at the player. The player then ran to the parking lot and jumped into his car and drove off. The coach was still yelling at him. My partner and I watched in silence as the coach picked up all the equipment and put it back in the dugout. The fans cheered, hissed, and catcalled throughout the performance.

Then we continued the game without saying a word.

Peter

[Edited by His High Holiness on Sep 16th, 2005 at 02:40 PM]