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"When I could not get a response from him I finally went ballistic..."
If you coach youth ball you should not have "gone ballistic". If you umpire you REALLY should not have "gone ballistic". You're the role model, and guess what your players learned? That if the umpire does something you don't like, it's acceptable to "go ballistic". Better to bite your lip (your going ballistic won't accomplish anything save venting a little, and that's far outweighed by the show you're putting on for the players) and make some phone calls and do some paperwork. I would say the term "rat" fits you quite well - you're fine until something doesn't go your way (justly or unjustly), and then you turn and bite. Work on it, then call yourself an umpire. JJ |
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JJ,
While I would agree that it would have been better had wish7694 not gotten himself ejected, I find your characterization of him as a "Rat" both puerile and prejudicial. My impression from reading wish's OP is that he conducted himself reasonably and properly until the umpire's improper conduct exhausted his patience. Though I've never met the man (and this is, apparently, his 1st post), I found his description of the facts of the matter credible. I inferred that he was not particularly proud of the fact that he "went ballistic" - but, none of us is perfect. Just as there are Rat coaches, so, too, are there incompetent, dickhead umpires. In both the former and the latter case, these are the exceptions rather than the rule. In this case, my impression is that wish wasn't and the umpire was. Of course, I wasn't there, so I could be wrong. JM
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Finally, be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all. |
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The rest are rats. Remember, if coaches and players didn't lie or cheat, you wouldn't need umpires.
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GB |
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Garth
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JM P.S. How's your season going? I'm having a BLAST! Umpiring is significantly more fun than coaching, and WAAAYYYYY less stressful.
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Finally, be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all. |
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GB |
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JJ
I went ballistic in the sense that I called him out saying that sportsmanship goes both ways and that he can't go after my players and that the ejection was a terrible call. High school baseball is not youth baseball in that the coaches are paid to coach and wins and losses affect our continued employment. I absolutely accept that what I did after the ejection was wrong, but surely you can recognize that high school athletes can appreciate a coach standing up to a tyrannical umpire. I truly appreciate that most of you have given support and recognize that an umpire can aggravate the situation if it is not handled properly. JJ, You give both the players and coaches far to little credit in assuming that they would extrapolate from this instance that going ballistic is OK. I always preach to my players to control what they have in their power to control, which is never the umpire. I am sure that you do not believe my description of the situation, but if you are ejected without ever having said anything to the umpire, clearly something is wrong. I accept what I did after the ejection was wrong, but remember, you do not have the pressure of your record in part determining your continued employment. I would say that things went far beyond not "going my way". You represent a perfect example of the type of condescending attitude coaches fear and despise. Unfortunately those umpires stick in our memory longer than the many quality umpires we get to work with. |
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The big difference is that when a coach is let go, there's a press release and a couple of interviews. With umpires, it happens that one day, they just aren't there anymore. |
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Publius, I certainly do not mean to imply that umpires are not evaluated and critiqued, certainly to a great degree at the professional and collegiate level. But the reality is that high school umpires have MUCH better job security than the coaches they interact with.
This does not in any way justify inappropriate behavior by a coach towards umpires. I am just trying to present a point of view that is probably not expressed often on this board. |
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To be honest with you wish7694, I have had many a player question a call here and there. It is part of the game. But when they get out of line, I simply remind them that I am the umpire, not them. I can pretty much count the players that I have ejected for stepping over the line (this does not count the players that get ejected due to rule violations aka malicious contact and the like).
To follow a player or coach that is walking away is just wrong! I don't teach that, I do not condone that and if I am observing an umpire on our board, his report won't be too favorable! Now, I carry this over to the summer leagues that I am involved with also and it has cut down on the problems over the years. Head coaches and managers have the most freedom when it comes to argument. If a manager or head coach is coming out to me, I know it is not to discuss the world economy but it is also a time when I have to keep an open ear. I try to treat them with respect and expect the same in return. I allow them to speak their mind until they have made their point, repeat themselves, or just stop talking. I explain my position and for the most part, they know that the call won't change - the conversation is done! Most managers and head coaches then know it's time to get back to the game. The trick is respect - a two way street. When it comes to High School or NCAA, we all know that jobs are on the line. I'm going to reason with you and flat out tell you that I am trying to keep you in the game. So if I eject you from a FED game, you really ejected yourself! The only thing that I can suggest is keep this umpire's face or number embedded in your mind. When you run into him again, handle him with kid gloves and keep your players in line so that he has no reason to eject anyone. If this doesn't work, get hold of his association and lodge a complaint. Best of luck.
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When in doubt, bang 'em out! Ozzy |
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There are umpires who coach and there are coaches who umpire. There is a world of difference between the two. Unlike many who wear two hats, wish7694 was being honest when he said "I am a head varsity baseball coach who umpires... "
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GB |
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