Coach handling??

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by JFlores

So coach stares at my direction and is chirping to his catcher to do a better job so that umpire can do a better job of seeing obvious strike. I look over and say coach that's enough, he responds by saying I'm talking to my catcher and this is not his first rodeo. I called time walk over and say loud enough so only him and I can hear, that's enough another word and he would be restricted.

How would u guys handle?

1) First contact with coach is between innings; non confrontational; informing him that he is out of line.

"Coach, no more ball/strike comments."

2) Eject

[MikeStrybel]

Ignore him. Rabbit ears make for long seasons. Also, try not to stop a game and walk towards a coach for a confrontation. In the era of YouTube and camera phones you may find yourself looking worse as the responder. Most never see or hear what precedes it. The internet is full of videos from fans yelling at an umpire for a perceived over reaction.

I may say something to the catcher, when the batter is away from the box. "You're doing fine son. I'll call the same zone when you're batting." It's subtle and gets the point across.

[jkumpire]

Handle with care, preferably with heavy thick gloves a radiation suit.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Ignore him. Rabbit ears

Stop it. Rabbit ears do *not* describe a coach obviously b!tching loudly enough for everyone to hear it. Rabbit ears describe making an effort to hear things that you probably *shouldn't be hearing*. If a coach doesn't want an umpire in his kitchen, he should talk softly enough so the umpire doesn't hear him. The coach doesn't get it both ways.

I'm with ignoring the coach, but if he persists you have no choice but to tell him to knock it off. When the coach comes back with the "I'm talking to the catcher" line, I've responded with "and I'm talking to you".

The rodeo line is funny. Especially since I've seen some very, very bad coaches with 25 years experience. Just like umpires, some coaches have one year of experience 25 times.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Stop it. Rabbit ears do *not* describe a coach obviously b!tching loudly enough for everyone to hear it. Rabbit ears describe making an effort to hear things that you probably *shouldn't be hearing*. If a coach doesn't want an umpire in his kitchen, he should talk softly enough so the umpire doesn't hear him. The coach doesn't get it both ways.

I'm with ignoring the coach, but if he persists you have no choice but to tell him to knock it off. When the coach comes back with the "I'm talking to the catcher" line, I've responded with "and I'm talking to you".

My apologies. I don't believe everyone could hear what the coach said, but since I was not there, he may have. I allow coaches to chirp and learned long ago that they have far more invested in the game than I do. While you may have a different definition of rabbit ears, mine works just fine. I don't take issue with things like the one described. It may have been meant for me but the retort he used was enough to indicate how the umpire would look for responding. Ignore it or risk a reputation of looking for fire where there is none.

I once had a coach tell his player to stop complaining because I was the best umpire he would see this year. It meant the same as the coach who complains. I ignore them both, but may smile at one a bit more.

Have a good season.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I allow coaches to chirp and learned long ago that they have far more invested in the game than I do.

Ugh.

[constable]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

My apologies. I don't believe everyone could hear what the coach said, but since I was not there, he may have. I allow coaches to chirp and learned long ago that they have far more invested in the game than I do. While you may have a different definition of rabbit ears, mine works just fine. I don't take issue with things like the one described. It may have been meant for me but the retort he used was enough to indicate how the umpire would look for responding. Ignore it or risk a reputation of looking for fire where there is none.

I once had a coach tell his player to stop complaining because I was the best umpire he would see this year. It meant the same as the coach who complains. I ignore them both, but may smile at one a bit more.

Have a good season.

Most illogical point I've heard by a sports "official" in many years.

I hope you never show up to work a game with me.

[MikeStrybel]

Wow.
I didn't want to be dragged into a big 'indicator' contest. I guess it's time to address a few points.

1) I use my name because I feel no need to hide my opinion. I have never mentioned my experience but I am hardly afraid at upsetting the IHSA or NCAA here. They usually don't worry about umpires who act professionally on the field or in a forum.

2) I have worked with Bob Jenkins and he knows that I am hardly a wannabe or Smitty. Still, I have been called names before and sleep fine at night. I will not reciprocate.

3) I refused to answer the question because you failed to extend the courtesy prior. I believe you were baiting me. If an umpire hangs onto memories of past behavior from a coach or player but won't tolerate the same from them, he is being petty and unprofessional. Until I call a game perfectly, I don't expect them to coach one that way.

4) It is hardly illogical to think a coach has more invested in a game than I do. His emotions are expected, mine aren't. I simply call what I see and enforce the rules. I'm not out there to collect war stories for my fellow umpires to drool over or congratulate me. Chirping doesn't bother me, it's a nuisance to those who cannot ignore it.

5) I don't consider coaches 'rats'. For the past six years I served as the umpire director for Asian baseball. I also coached a national team while abroad. The dynamic between coach/player and umpire is civil and respectful. I learned to appreciate that we each have a job to do and mistakes happen. I feel no need to hold grudges on the field. If a coach or player earns an ejection, I take care of it. For the record, I was ejected from a game as coach while abroad. I base my opinion on experience from both sides of the white lines.

6) It is sad to think that some of you believe this is a contest between us. You are entitled to your opinion about rulings and how you handle coaches. I may choose to handle things differently and hope you can appreciate this response as an attempt to douse the fire. I wish you a good day and a safe season.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Wow.
I figured that someone was just trying to show how tough they were as an umpire and didn't want to be dragged into a big 'indicator' contest.

Most if not all of the forum participants you are ping-ponging with have tens of thousands of posts and years of playing the "forum game". It's a simple one. Take a response, twist the answer to suit their purposes, gang up on the poster en masse, get personal with the comments and insults...wash, rinse, repeat.

It's up to you how you might wish to handle this behavior. I find it best to state my case and move on. When you have the upper hand, why bow down to the miscreants?

Think of it this way. In the movie Jurassic Park, there's a scene
where a researcher sticks her hand in a pile of dinosaur dung, digs around,
and pulls out an undigested berry. I'm sure if I ping-ponged with these participants, I too may discover a berry, but to me, the price is too high.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel
My apologies. I don't believe everyone could hear what the coach said, but since I was not there, he may have. I allow coaches to chirp and learned long ago that they have far more invested in the game than I do. While you may have a different definition of rabbit ears, mine works just fine. I don't take issue with things like the one described. It may have been meant for me but the retort he used was enough to indicate how the umpire would look for responding. Ignore it or risk a reputation of looking for fire where there is none.

I once had a coach tell his player to stop complaining because I was the best umpire he would see this year. It meant the same as the coach who complains. I ignore them both, but may smile at one a bit more.

Have a good season.

Originally Posted by constable

Most illogical point I've heard by a sports "official" in many years.

I see nothing illogical in his post at all. It's his way of handling coaches, if it works for him, what's wrong with that?

I hope you never show up to work a game with me.

Considering the chances are, what, 1 in a zillion, my bet is you're safe. Truthfully, that's the most illogical point I've heard by a sports "official" in many years.