spectator ejection

[jumpmaster]

FED Rules

Each team has a fan that is generally making an a** of themselves from the bleachers. Harrassing the pitchers from both teams and the plate ump. After 3 innings, I can tell that someone is getting to my partner, who is on the dish, and his timing, consistency and mechanics have gone to the pits. After the 1/2 inning, I go to him and try to help him get his mind clear, get focused and go back to being the GOOD ump that he is. This lasts for a 1/2 inning. Things come to a head in the bottom of the 4th inning, when the V pitcher turns to me and asks me if I can do anything about the fans (his included). One of the parents is riding him pretty hard. I decide to take the bull by the horns and I call time and call the headcoaches to the mound, my partner, the plate ump is coming up to the mound and looks rattled. I explain to the coaches that the fans need to be told to back off, they can cheer and root for their team, but they need to leave the opposing team and the umpires alone, or we as umpires are going to have to start ejecting people. We are adults and need to set an example for the kids. V coach says ok and returns to dugout. H coach goes to the his fan and tells her to leave the other players alone as well as the umpires. UIC gives play ball. 2 batters later, UIC calls time and asks fan, who is sitting right behind home plate calling balls and strikes and heckling the UIC, to leave, fan yells "YOU SUCK" and picks up his chair leaves. At the 1/2 inning I see him sitting at the outfield fence and go tell him that he needs to leave the facilities. He calls me some 4 letter words and tells me how much he likes me, then leaves. After the next 1/2 inning I see him standing in the parking lot, behind centerfield, the fence is made of chicken wire, and I put both teams in the dugout and tell him either he leaves or the V forfeits. V, Head Coach comes out and tells him to leave.

My question - Did we handle this correctly? There was not a school administrator around to escort the gentleman from the field.

[Bfair]

I don't think I'd have threatened the teams with ejection, but I would not have continued the game until the violators left the area and discontinued intruding into the game. I feel you were correct in those actions.

Once the fans left the immediate playing area and no further problems were occurring, I think you were merely adding fuel to the fire in continuing to require the fan to leave the facility. If any further problems occurred, I would have addressed it by requiring fan(s) to leave the facility. If they wouldn't, the game would be stopped and the league administrators could decide the outcome.


Just my opinion,

Freix

[PeteBooth]

In HS for the most part there is no one around, so the coaches have to assist you when it comes to fans.

I agree with you on getting the coaches together to help out. I disagree in engaging with the Fan.

UIC calls time and asks fan, who is sitting right behind home plate calling balls and strikes and heckling the UIC, to leave,


Our job is inside the diamond not outside of it. If a FAN is belligerent and making it virtually impossible to officiate the game as was the case in your thread, simply call TIME - go to either coach (depending upon whose FAN it is) and have them take care of the problem.

Do not start the game back up again until the problem is solved. If the delay is substantial you should also receive an extra 1/2 FEE for that game.

After the game write a report and send it to:

1. Your assignor
2. The athletic director of each school
3. The principal of each school

Hopefully, the school will intsruct this FAN to stay home at least for one game and subsequent behavior penalized more harshly.

Pete Booth

[kman]

tell the fan to go home, play ball

[ENelson]

Someone is responsible for maintaining their head. In a perfect worl we focus on the game between the lines. We have a consistent zone and work the game.

Then there are those situations. Where the fans believe they go to games to heckle and mouth off. Hopefully it does not effect your game. Unfortunately at times it does.

It appears that during this game the "Bugs got in the house and you needed to find the RAID". The fans are irritating, they could also be considered a danger to the players on the field. If they distract a player while making a play could cause injury. I once saw a fan climb the fence behind home plate while the pitcher was pitching the ball. An administrator escorted him.

So make sure you keep focused but also be aware of situations that can cause injury. Remove the players from the field and suspend the game. The spectators will then have the problem removed.

Remember some people have the mentality of a BUG. They need to be squashed. Stop the game and use the Raid. Get rid of them.

If some umpires use their best judgement they would not use the power of the forfeit, they use other tools like pier preassure. I have seen situations blow up because of confortation that was not necessary. Usually because they have the pwer of being the Umpire. That is a minconception.