I take great pride and pleasure from completely ignoring the fans. I also take great pride and pleasure in setting a dumb-a$$ coach straight early in the game, and if he doesn't get the clue dump him. I have never had a word to say to a dumb-a$$ fan after the game.

One mistake, you told him you did not want to hear any more, he ignored you and you warned again. There should be no such thing as two warnings, the first is a warning, the second is a dump, otherwise the first warning meant nothing.

I'm sorry, I typed it wrong. When I told the coach that it was enough and he ignored me, I meant that he didn't pay any attention to me when I said it so I repeated myself, and that's when he put his hand over his ear and I dumped him. I didn't mean he ignored me and kept saying crap about my strike zone. That's my fault, I should have made that more understandable.

Certainly, I believe their is a place and time to shut fans up. If you just stand there, sometimes other fans think that the offending fan's behavior is acceptable and will go unpunished. If the TD is there, I may give him a slight point in between innings if he is within sight of me. If he comes over, I'll tell him very nondiscretely (keeping my mask on).

If there is no TD, these fans, IMO, need to be shut up. I don't mind taking typical crap all game long, but sometimes when you just take the crap, it leads to worse things and actions from fans. I want to prevent that at all costs, for the sanctity of the game I am working.

I realize my authority lies on the field side of the fence. I don't get involved with fans. I have never seen a situation made better by an umpire getting involved with fans.

Varsity HS game, big rivalry between the 2 teams, student fans of home team start yelling increasingly obnoxious things to visiting defense, then at visiting teams parents. Said parents complaining, and slightly yelling back. Things are starting to boil over, so between innings, Pu partner and I talk to home coach, describe the 3 main student troublemakers, ask him to settle things down--that we werent going to stand for this kind of fan display-- he sends a parent to sit in the same student area--calms things down.
2 innings later, it starts up again(where was parent??). We explain to home coach that unless he had those 3 leave the field/park immediately, that the game was delayed, maybe a "possible" forfeit- coach was very angry at us, as his was a playoff level team vs a losing record team, but those 3 were soon gone, home team wins, and parents from both teams thank us as we head to cars.
Normally I ignore "ump" comments, but in this case....

It helps cut down on a player or manager taking a free shot at you if the game gets out of hand ie: team down by 5 with two outs in the 7th and *****ing about a ball/strike call knowing that even if he gets tossed all he gets is the chance to have a beer earlier than the rest (men's ball)

That is what I'm saying. Sometimes if you do nothing (or don't direct somebody like a TD or an AD to do something) it will just get worse and worse. To the point where you will have to do something. I would hate suspending play because of a couple of wackjobs in the bleachers.

If you can prevent it before it gets to that point (if you feel that it will continue to increse), why not do something? I'm not talking about your average chirping. I'm talking about blatant harrassment of any individual involved in the game.

Leave it to those who have the authority to deal with fans. You don't.

You remind me of the old story about the young bull and and the old bull. As they stand on hill looking down on a herd of cows, the young bull says "let's run down there and #@$% one of them cows." The old bull sighs and says, "No, let's WALK down there and #@$% all of them."


Calm down, young bull. Ace says you have talent. I'll take his word for it. But you will still learn from experience and time.

I don't know why but I have twice this year spoken to fans (breaking my 6 year drought). Not particularly proud of doing so I'll relay the storys so others may gain entertainment from my folly.

1. After ejected 2 coaches then 2 innings later having to repremand the remaining coach for talking to the original coach, I had put up with 4 innings of Fans screaming, they particularly enjoyed "Let the boys Play" I finally turned and said "The Boys are still playing!"

2. Was a little funnier. In a 9-10 yr old game, don't know if the do in the US but up here these kids seem to sing/cheer all game long. I have no issue with it apart from the headache, but 1 (so far only one I have heard) cheeer is expressly for the torment of the opposing pitcher. Like "This is the song that has no End" the continually repeat "We are slowly putting pressure ont he pitcher..." I find this unexceptable and unsportsmanlike for A diamond on which I work. So I always stop it. I call time and tell the team to Cheer for themselves or don't cheer. Anyhow, I do this and The coach says no one has ever told us not to before, I said well never been on my diamond before. Small nothing discussion, and a parent in a big group screams out I don't know this, Never happened before Where is that in the rule book. Everyone around him laughs and agrees, I turn my head and said 9.01 (d). The shut up and then he yell, what line, and he gets crickets too trys once more then nothing. It was funny. And not a single call I had in the rest of the game was questioned.

Now I know in both incidences I shouldn't have said anything, I'm not even sure Why I did. I will try to get back on my high horse and ignore the commoners as I did before. But at least in story B it was pretty funny.

I am tired and my typing has gone all to Hell. I hope you can understand my message above. Sorry.

10-4. Learning with every pitch.

This is why methinks Tuss has the makings of a great official.

Ace