My 1st Ejection

[PeteBooth]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Gentlemen,

On Saturday, while working my 68th game of the season, I had my first ejection. Below is the text of the ejection report I sent to the league.

(Addressed to the League President),

My name is John Muller and I umpired the xxx game earlier today between (Home Team) and (Visiting Team).

During the bottom of the 5th inning, I ejected the (Visitor) head coach following a controversial play.

With one out and the bases loaded, the (Home Team) batter hit a fly ball to RCF that the (Visitor) F8 and F9 both went after. The (Visitor) F8 got his glove on the ball and then had a near immediate and rather violent collision with the F9. I was unable to see the ball after the collision so I ran out towards RF to get an angle. When my angle of vision had cleared the fielder lying on the ground, I saw the ball lying on the ground and the fielder reaching to pick it up with his bare hand. I immediately ruled "NO CATCH, NO CATCH!" while signalling SAFE.

After action had relaxed, I called time, allowed the coaches to tend the injured player and had a discussion with the (Visitor) head coach. I let him have his say and then asked him if he'd like to know what I saw. I explained what I had seen and told him that my ruling was "No Catch" per OBR Rule 2.0 Catch, because, in my judgement the fielder's release of the ball was neither voluntary nor intentional.

At this point, the coach started making derogatory comments about my competency as an umpire. I told him, "That's enough, Coach". He persisted, and I ejected him.

After he left the immediate premises, the game resumed and was completed without further incident.

If you have any questions for me regarding this incident, you may feel free to contact me at this e-mail or on my cell phone at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Sincerely,

John Muller

Comments or critique?

JM

I agree with the others. Put in the EXACT words that the coach said to you.

RE: Some leagues in addition to having an automatic 1 game suspension also have fines in place for use of profanity. The president of one of the leagues we service in addition to the reason why someone got Ej'd ALSO wants to know if profanity was used. In other words to keep control in the league a "double whammy".

Also, as Garth Put it, simply put in words the inning / incident that the coach was Ej'd. You have too much detail

NOTE: All of this advice could be moot if this is the way your association wants it. We had a recent thread on this lately. The explanations given to you are what is done in most associations. No-one likes reading a thesis and for possible disciplinary actions the exact wording needs to be included.

In other words, the type of report you gave us might be the type of report that is required where you work.

Pete Booth

[UmpJM]

Gentlemen,

Thanks to all for your helpful advice - especially the concise "rewrites" of my first attempt at an ejection report. Most helpful.

I honestly don't/didn't remember exactly what the coach said. I just distinctly remember the comments going from focusing on the call to commenting on my umpiring. Next time I'll make it a point to remember exactly what was said. (The coach never used anything approaching profanity - not even a "Damn" or "Bull$hit").

There hadn't been a peep from him or anyone on his team the whole game prior to that, nor was there anything after he left.

When the game ended, the only way back to the parking lot was down the Visitor's side of the field. I braced myself to "walk the gauntlet" back to my car. I didn't hear a single comment until I was almost off the field when one of the visitor's Dad's said, "I thought you called a good game". I said "Thanks" and kept walking.

Kind of weird.

JM

[JRutledge]

You really need to know what the coach said. If all you say is something general, the coach will be able to say they said no such thing. Even if you did not hear everything, you have to know why you ejected them. It just adds to your credibility to the league or whomever that you have to deal with.

Peace

[socalblue1]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Gentlemen,

Thanks to all for your helpful advice - especially the concise "rewrites" of my first attempt at an ejection report. Most helpful.

I honestly don't/didn't remember exactly what the coach said. I just distinctly remember the comments going from focusing on the call to commenting on my umpiring. Next time I'll make it a point to remember exactly what was said. (The coach never used anything approaching profanity - not even a "Damn" or "Bull$hit").

There hadn't been a peep from him or anyone on his team the whole game prior to that, nor was there anything after he left.

When the game ended, the only way back to the parking lot was down the Visitor's side of the field. I braced myself to "walk the gauntlet" back to my car. I didn't hear a single comment until I was almost off the field when one of the visitor's Dad's said, "I thought you called a good game". I said "Thanks" and kept walking.

Kind of weird.

JM

Congrats there for the 1st one! We had a pool going at the DC to see how long it would take. Most went to <5 games ... enough said.

As a note: I keep a 3x5 card + a Honigs bullet pencil handy when working the bases. Makes it easy to jot down comments, quotes, etc (Esp when you get old & gray like me). Amazing how concise an EJ report can be when one spends 30 seconds on notes. At the plate we have lineup cards, so that's a no brainer.