Parent Etiquette

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by frozenrope22

My 14 yr old son will be calling his first game as an umpire this Sat. My wife and I have watched him play travel ball for years but now watching him umpire is new.

Any suggestions? Do we cheer for a good call? Where would you sit? Can I take pictures?

We have been fortunate that our local area has a significant number of quality umpires that they have been a positive influence as evidence by the fact that he wants to be one.

Keep up the good work guys as you never know who is paying attention.

How did his first game go for him this weekend? And how did go for you watching him umpire?

[frozenrope22]

It went well. He had a lot of fun. He was doing 6-7yr old coach pitch. The usual stuff. Lots of running and not many outs. Everyone hits with free substitutions. Couple of times runners passed runners. Not a lot of calls to make just keep the kids running the right directions. His trainer says "I feel like I am robbing the park every time I get paid for one of these games."

His trainer says he needs to be louder but other than that he is ready to fly solo next week. The plan is he will do this group through the fall and move to 8-9yrs old in the spring.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by frozenrope22

It went well. He had a lot of fun. He was doing 6-7yr old coach pitch. The usual stuff. Lots of running and not many outs. Everyone hits with free substitutions. Couple of times runners passed runners. Not a lot of calls to make just keep the kids running the right directions. His trainer says "I feel like I am robbing the park every time I get paid for one of these games."

His trainer says he needs to be louder but other than that he is ready to fly solo next week. The plan is he will do this group through the fall and move to 8-9yrs old in the spring.

Like Kyle, I started a youth umpiring program for our local LL back when I was involved with LLBB. We started them the same way, at 12 yo in our coach pitch division and they moved up a higher division each year. If they stayed with the program, which included mandatory attendance at a four hour clinic each spring, by the time they were 14, they were calling games in our 11/12 yo majors division. Program worked well, had 100% backing of the league's BOD, parent's of our young umpires were amazed at the poise and confidence they developed right before their eyes.
Of everything I've done as an umpire, the seven years I spent running this program was by far the most fun and rewarding.
I wish your son the all the best in his development as an umpire.

[frozenrope22]

This was my sons second weekend umpiring. Coach disagreed with my sons rule interpretation. Son told him that he wasn't wrong and get back in the dugout. Coach sent his wife to get his rule book out of the car. Then he called time out and wanted to show my son the rule book. My son told him he could return to the dugout and they weren't discussing his rule book. So proud of him.
My wife's reaction was "can you believe that guy...he sent his wife to get his rule book" " I would have told him to shut up and get your own rule book."

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by frozenrope22

This was my sons second weekend umpiring. Coach disagreed with my sons rule interpretation. Son told him that he wasn't wrong and get back in the dugout. Coach sent his wife to get his rule book out of the car. Then he called time out and wanted to show my son the rule book. My son told him he could return to the dugout and they weren't discussing his rule book. So proud of him.
My wife's reaction was "can you believe that guy...he sent his wife to get his rule book" " I would have told him to shut up and get your own rule book."

I have a suggestion for you and your son. It might be a good idea to teach him to allow a manager to show him a rule in the rule book, even if he's confident that he's 100% right on the ruling. I don't normally recommend allowing a manager to pull the rule book out on the field, but I think that for a 14 year old umpire, it will help keep him out of trouble. As soon as he tells the manager that he's not going to be discussing the rule book, in the manager and other coaches eyes, he just told them that he doesn't want to be bothered with the facts.

There are ways he can allow a manager to use a rule book during a rules discussion without having to stand there and take a lot of crap as the manager peruses the rule book looking for the rule that he "thinks" applies.

Manager - "Billy I think you needed to call time on this interference call on my second baseman. The ball was in left field when he interfered with the runner, and not calling time like the rule says, allows their runner to go to third. By rule he only gets the base he's going to when there's interference by the defense. I've got it right here in the rule book.

Billy - "Mr. Leftout, please show me the rule. I'll give you 15 seconds to find it. After that, we need to move on and get the game going. You have the option of filing a protest if you don't like my ruling, and can't find it yourself."


YMMV - And I'm sure Kyle's kids have had to deal with situations very similar to this.

Tim.

[ozzy6900]

I do not agree with a coach bringing a rulebook out on the field under any circumstances. My son was faced with the same situation when he was 15 and he told the coach, "If you come out here with that book in your hand, we will not discuss anything and you will have to leave. Your team needs you, so I suggest that we meet after the game for your rules clinic.". The coach turned on his heals and headed to the dugout. He spotted me in the stands and said, "He's a chip off the old block!".

When a coach brings a rulebook out on the field, he is undermining the official. It doesn't matter if the official is 14 or he is the official for that game. He might be 14, but as an official, his ruling or call is final, just as mine would be.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I have a suggestion for you and your son. It might be a good idea to teach him to allow a manager to show him a rule in the rule book, even if he's confident that he's 100% right on the ruling. I don't normally recommend allowing a manager to pull the rule book out on the field, but I think that for a 14 year old umpire, it will help keep him out of trouble. As soon as he tells the manager that he's not going to be discussing the rule book, in the manager and other coaches eyes, he just told them that he doesn't want to be bothered with the facts.

Tim, I normally agree with you, but this is horrible advice. Except for the youngest ages of players (not umpires), I'm dumping any coach that brings a rule book to me to question a call. A coach has three options if he doesn't like a situation: (1) Protest, (2) Shut up, (3) Get ejected. For the younger years, I can see the dad/coach not knowing how bad of a situation it is, and will warn him to take the book back.

If his son wants to say "Coach, you need to go back to the bench and find the rule yourself. If you really feel I'm wrong now, you can file a protest before I put the ball back in play."

[BigUmp56]

You and I, as well as most of the partners we work with, have the luxury of "appearing" to be seasoned umpires when we step on the field. And I think that's why we don't get too much crap when we send a coach back to his bench to NOT bring the rule book out again, or depending on the level of play, we can send him to the showers, parking lot, or Lazy Boy and Budweiser for the rest of the day if they pull one out at all.

I don't know that it works that way for a 14 year old kid.

Tim.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by yawetag

Tim, I normally agree with you, but this is horrible advice. Except for the youngest ages of players (not umpires), I'm dumping any coach that brings a rule book to me to question a call. A coach has three options if he doesn't like a situation: (1) Protest, (2) Shut up, (3) Get ejected. For the younger years, I can see the dad/coach not knowing how bad of a situation it is, and will warn him to take the book back.

If his son wants to say "Coach, you need to go back to the bench and find the rule yourself. If you really feel I'm wrong now, you can file a protest before I put the ball back in play."

I believe the NCAA rulebook states that a copy shall or should be at every game. When I was doing College ball, If I ejected a coach for bringing a rule boo,k I know I would have received a call from my assignor asking me what rule violation was the coach ejected for.

I agree that most Coaches intentions are to try an show up the official but, the fact that he came out on the field to discuss anything can be construed as that also. What does carrying a book or pad or anything else have to do with it.

There have been times when a coach has approached me with a rulebook and I savor the moment. Why? Because I get to actually display my knowledge of the rules and in my own devious way turn the cards on him and shows his *** up.

If getting respect were as easy as Aretha Franklin would lead us to believe, we'd all be singing on the Field.The most respected officials exude unpretentious confidence. They combine decisiveness, knowledge of the game, professionalism, well-developed social skills and a calm demeanor that communicates itself to players, coaches, officials and fans.

Of course, if I am approached in a disrespectful manner, I also will have to resort to the rules of removal alloted me in the rulebook. See Ya.