Handling Coaches

[CajunNewBlue]

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!

assuming its high school ball.....

if he walks to you with his mouth shut.. manuever (sp) so your standing side-by-side and you say "whats your question coach?"
if he walks at you already talking... I make him repeat himself once I get him along side me. if it isnt a question I ask "whats your question coach?"
if he is coming at you any faster than a fast walk.. he gets a whoa sign and if he is still coming he gets the go sit in the parking lot mechanic.
if he says "you suck" he's gone but if he adds "but, you are consistent" i might let him stay.
there is no such thing as a "automatic ejection" IMHO, just things that earn a quick ejection.. such a profanity, talking bad about my partner, and not pointing out the hot mommies to me

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

if he walks to you with his mouth shut.. manuever (sp) so your standing

I picked up something similar to this at my JUCO rules meeting a couple weeks ago. He said that you should try everything you can to avoid being face to face/body to body with a manager because it's a confrontational pose.

The example given is if you're out having a beer and talking, you don't stand like that; one guy's at 90 degrees or so.

Conversational vs confrontational. Then again, you'll get coaches that won't give a rat's *** (sic) and will get in your grill no matter what you do.

[archangel]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

if he says "you suck" he's gone but if he adds "but, you are consistent" i might let him stay.

Spit out my coffee--Thanks!!

[DG]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

if he says "you suck" he's gone but if he adds "but, you are consistent" i might let him stay.

Reminds me of something that was supposedly said by a famous college basketball coach.

Coach: can you eject me for what I'm thinking?
Official: no
Coach: good because I'm thinking you suck

[Kevin Finnerty]

Banter like that makes you immediately think of Frank Layden ... one of the genuinely funniest men in sports history:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Layden

[KJUmp]

You have received a ton of good solid advice from everyone..esp. from JRut and Durham. There's really an art to it...understanding when you have to do it and, probably more important, when you shouldn't do it. We don't have a the luxury in baseball of controlling bad behavior by coaches (and players for that matter) through penalties like football and basketball officials do. But that's what I think makes baseball special. We have the unwritten codes. You don't show-up the umps, conversely umps shouldn't show-up the coach or players; while it's in the book that you don't argue balls&strikes..as several of the posters have pointed out...it's not an absolute. You need to set your own level of what you're going to listen to or tolerate. When we decide enough is enough they're done. It's not 15 yards or two foul shots and the other team get the ball.
The thing is though, you'll never develop a rep as a strong umpire if you let whining and *****ing about balls&strikes. You can't let coaches try to manipulate or intimidate you. As JRut pointed out to you...a lot can be said between a coach&ump of the diamond that nobody hears. So as many of the guys have said...communicate. Do it professionally..in a conversational, matter of fact, non confrontational manner. Many times it just nips things in the bud.
Years ago I read a piece on MLB ump Bruce Fromming (as big a red *** as there was when he broke in) and what he said about arguments was this..."there's a right way and a wrong way for a coach/manager/player to argue. If they come at me they better do it the right way or they're gone."
Be confident, look and act professional, be approachable, work on being a communicator, but don't ever be afraid to toss somebody when it's warranted.
Good luck with your career...and welcome to the club.

[realistic]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Banter like that makes you immediately think of Frank Layden ... one of the genuinely funniest men in sports history:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Layden

Isn't he on "The Price is Right" now??

[Kevin Finnerty]

There was a coach who said one of the unspeakable things to me, but I didn't run him because it was an LA City Section game, and if you toss a coach, the game's over. I umpire high school so that kids can have games. I'm not going to let some semi-professional blowhard coach make everyone go home because he can't control his idiocy in a public setting.

So I make him sit in the dugout like a child and stew until the game reaches its natural conclusion, giving every youngster on his team the chance to look like a bigger man than Mr. Coach. Once you put a guy through that, they are never a problem when you see them again. It works out better than tossing them.

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by DG

Reminds me of something that was supposedly said by a famous college basketball coach.

Jim Valvano: can you eject me for what I'm thinking?
Henry Nichols: no
Jim Valvano: good because I'm thinking you suck

http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local...090000411.html

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

Reminds me of something that was supposedly said by a famous college basketball coach.

Coach: can you eject me for what I'm thinking?
Official: no
Coach: good because I'm thinking you suck

That reminds me of this HS coach that used to come up to me between innings on the foul line and tell me, "hey, I think you're doing a helluva job back there, but your partner over there (pointing at him)...he thinks you're horsesh*t!" Fortunately, I had known this guy for years, and I knew he was just giving me some good-natured grief! He actually owns a local sporting goods store that carries some good umpire equipment.