Evalutions by coaches

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by spokanelurker

I'm a longtime coach, but do not feel qualified to evaluate any umpire on his knowledge of mechanics. But as to knowledge and interpretation of the rules and also game management, I think many coaches are qualified to evaluate officials. After all, isn't a large part of the dialogue on this board an informal and often vitriolic evaluation of coaches, or "rats" as you so unprofessionally term them? In another thread, one member of the board even extended that demeaning characterization to include players! Do any of you seriously think that umpires are the only participants on the field who possess any knowledge or integrity?

Unfortunately, there are some umpires who will excuse just about anything from umpires and think that just about everything a coach does is wrong.

I used to think that rat (not a word I have used many times) meant an obnoxious/confrontational/sleazy coach. I have come to learn that, for many here, rat means any and all coaches no matter what they do and no matter how unprofessional the umpire is.

I have umpired for 15+ years and have never such a view of coaches. Have I dealt with "rats'? yes, I have...some of them have been coaches and some have been umpires.

Joe