Handling Coaches

[tiger49]

Other than balls and strikes. The 5 Ps will earn ejection.

Past- "That's the second one today, Blue!"
Personal- "You're the worst I have even seen!"
Profane- "That's F**in' bulls**t!"
Prolonged- Going on and on after a warning.
Preformance- Acting out what happend, showing you up.

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by tiger49

Other than balls and strikes. The 5 Ps will earn ejection.

Past- "That's the second one today, Blue!"
Personal- "You're the worst I have even seen!"
Profane- "That's F**in' bulls**t!"
Prolonged- Going on and on after a warning.
Preformance- Acting out what happend, showing you up.

disagree with the bold as "blanket" ejections. again, balls and strikes doesn't do it, leaving their position to argue balls and strikes does it. as for the profanity, at some levels it's auto, at others it's not even a warning. personal profanity, however, is the same different story as the balls and strikes from my earlier post.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

as for the profanity, at some levels it's auto, at others it's not even a warning. personal profanity, however, is the same different story as the balls and strikes from my earlier post.

I agree, but I would add the "volume" of the profanity. If the cussing was during an argument where only you two heard the profanity, then it's nothing. If it's shouted from the dugout, then yes, that's ejectable IMO.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

Being new to umpiring, I'm curious to how you all handle a coach that comes out to argue a call with you? What do you say to him? Is there an automatic ejection point (besides arguing balls/strikes) based on what he might say to you, or when he tries to show you up? Any advice or some common phrases to say to the coach?

Coming into my second year, I'm trying to get a better feel for game management.

Thanks in advance for the help!

The first thing that you have to do is not give them a reason to come out! Be in position, get the right angle, pause-read-wait for it-react. Always give 110% even when you only have 40% left in you.

Of course, even doing all this, coaches will find it necessary to discuss calls. I got a chuckle out of the post that CajunNewBlue made and it is pretty close to reality. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with coaches in the middle of the infield. Everything from "Are you really sure he tagged my guy" to "I really can't stand it here anymore. Can you get me out of here?".

But before you try to employ some of the techniques that you read, you will need to get some experience under your belt. Coaches are a funny group. What they take from me will put you on their $hit list very quickly. It takes a long time to be able to "have your way" with coaches.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

...

Why do you have a redundant screen name? Aren't we all blind? At least in the eyes of the fans and coaches?

[Durham]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

Being new to umpiring, I'm curious to how you all handle a coach that comes out to argue a call with you? What do you say to him? Is there an automatic ejection point (besides arguing balls/strikes) based on what he might say to you, or when he tries to show you up? Any advice or some common phrases to say to the coach?

Coming into my second year, I'm trying to get a better feel for game management.

Thanks in advance for the help!

The best piece of advice that i could offer is know and understand your role as an umpire. You are there to manage the game and enforce the rules and conference guidelines/expectations. This means that you will have to communicate with the coaches effectively and talking to them in this context is not something that you should FEAR.

I say fear because a lot of officials go through the stage where they fear having to talk to coaches; it is natural and part of our development as officials. The fear can come from several sources, not knowing the rules well, not wanting to rock the boat, and just being new and unsure.

Think back to situations that you had and reflect on ones that come up this season, is there fear or apprehension involved in them? If so identify the source and work on the source. Because simply explaining what you have and understanding that while a coach may be entitled to an explanation, he is not entitled to say what ever he likes to or about you. If you keep that in mind you begin to realize that talking to a coach is ok. It is not knowing what you are talking about that can be scary.

Also, it is also ok to say things like: please, thank you, I don’t like that rule either, I understand that you …….. but this is how I saw it or the rule says ….

Good luck this season all!

[JFlores]

When you see a coach coming just say "Coach SYAD"

[beachbum]

concerning mind games...
I think that most coaches believe that there is going to only be a few close judgement calls in a game. By comming out and questioning the first judgement play, they hope to get the next call or the majority of calls.

Last year HSJV,(my first) I had a bang, bang play at second, non force. The coach came out to question where the tag was on his guy(player was sliding). he tried to convince me that because the glove swipe was at the belt, his player MIGHT have been safe.


Being new, he made me start thinking about that. I believe that was his goal in the first place.

[archangel]

Originally Posted by beachbum

concerning mind games...
I think that most coaches believe that there is going to only be a few close judgement calls in a game. By comming out and questioning the first judgement play, they hope to get the next call or the majority of calls.

I realize that coaches try this, but it really makes no sense to me ( besides blah blah coachspeak)...Think about it--you call a bang bang play, and during it, you're actually going to think who should get the call/what coach said what--all in the milliseconds before the play? I dont think so....

Though I am constantly trying to improve my game, its usually after a close play that I than realize which team gained or lost by the call, not that I care.. ...

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

Being new to umpiring, I'm curious to how you all handle a coach that comes out to argue a call with you? What do you say to him? Is there an automatic ejection point (besides arguing balls/strikes) based on what he might say to you, or when he tries to show you up? Any advice or some common phrases to say to the coach?

Coming into my second year, I'm trying to get a better feel for game management.

Thanks in advance for the help!

You have to learn what to say and when to say it. Can't tell you how to do it just do lots of games and you'll figure it out.

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

Being new to umpiring, I'm curious to how you all handle a coach that comes out to argue a call with you? What do you say to him? Is there an automatic ejection point (besides arguing balls/strikes) based on what he might say to you, or when he tries to show you up? Any advice or some common phrases to say to the coach?

Coming into my second year, I'm trying to get a better feel for game management.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Discuss with veterans all the situations you had on the field, whether or not there was an ejection. Find out ways you might have been able to handle it differently. Get as much feedback as possible, and use whatever game management strategies work best for you.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Excellent advice!

Take your life skills with people to your game management. If you're a fair, decent person, then follow your instincts as you develop your specific coach-relating skills.

[David B]

Originally Posted by blindofficial

Being new to umpiring, I'm curious to how you all handle a coach that comes out to argue a call with you? What do you say to him? Is there an automatic ejection point (besides arguing balls/strikes) based on what he might say to you, or when he tries to show you up? Any advice or some common phrases to say to the coach?

Coming into my second year, I'm trying to get a better feel for game management.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Being new to umpiring, it will take lots of games and situations; however, the best advice I like to give is to be patient.

You're new, coaches are going to test you. They will say things to you that they might not say to a veteran. So you have to learn to take it.
You don't want to get a poor reputation by looking for things to eject a coach for.

Have your guidelines as to what you will not take from a coach:
1)any suggestion you are cheating
2)cursing directed directly at you
3) .... depends of course on your personality.

Others have given good advice, but you have to find what works for you. Finally pay a lot of attention (if you can) to the veteran officials in your area to see how they handle coaches/players etc.

Good luck!

Thanks
DAvid

[Klokard]

Great advice from all the previous posts. The only thing I want to add is about what the coach is trying to accomplish. If he is protecting one of his players by coming out and asking about a call, you may want to hear him out. At that point, be firm and state clearly what you saw and ask him to go back to the dugout. There are coaches who will draw the line. I disagree that as a newbie you need to be more tolerant. What if you are a transplant from a different Assoc? Or better yet, someone working down a division? It is important to listen, but by no means do you allow a coach any leniency due to your seniority. Fastest way to lose respect among coaches is to allow them to bully you. The hand up in a stop sign as he comes out works well. Let him know, "Coach, I am not letting you come out on every close call you don't like." Be firm and fair. You will get respect.