Incident With Fan

[Kingsman1288]

This might seem like it has an obvious answer, but if it does the answer has so far eluded me. Sorry for the length...

Working the 5th game of a 5 game set today at a 6 court facility. "Home" team is more physical than the other, puts "Visiting" team in bonus rather quickly after the second half begins. Home player picks up his fourth foul and during time out the player's mom comes on the court and tries to ask us what exactly her son is doing to be called for fouls. I'm ready to whack her with a T right there, but my partner waves me up and simply says to her, "He pushes, now get back in the stands."

Mom returns to the stands and then proceeds, with her husband, to rain abuse down on my partner and I the rest of the game. They are not being profane or getting personal in any way and my partner advises me to ignore them, which I do. Now here's where it gets interesting...

Being a multi-court facility, there are no locker rooms for us to escape to or leave our gear in. We have no choice but to run to the table, sign the score sheet, grab our gear and get the heck out of dodge. Unfortunately, we are not quite fast enough and the Dad catches us. He starts getting louder and louder as we walk away from him. We realize we're not going to make it to the door without this getting worse, so we make a beeline towards the nearest cluster of officials we see. Before we make it there, the Dad grabs my partner by the arm and attempts to pull him around and make my partner face him. Thankfully one of the officials we were heading to saw what was happening and got in between them. To make a long story short, our Supervisor wants my partner to press charges, etc.

My question is what do you do in a situation like that? Is there anything you can do?

Granted, I should have not have let the parents go on as they did during the game and in that sense I probably should not have acceded to my partner as much as I did, but you live and learn.

[Nevadaref]

When you have abusive parents and you know which child is theirs, call a fifth foul on the kid and get him out of the game as quickly as possible.

[Kingsman1288]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

When you have abusive parents and you know which child is theirs, call a fifth foul on the kid and get him out of the game as quickly as possible.

We actually did foul him out too. That probably didn't help much...

[Juulie Downs]

When the mom came out onto the floor to talk to you, you should have found some sort of site administrator to address the issue. Fans have no business pulling that kind of stuff. Then when the fans continued to berate you, again, site administration should have become involved.

In a game like this, I have literally used a fire exit to get out away from nasty fans. Whatever it takes.

And then, don't work in that league or whatever again. If the powers that be can't control their fans any better than that, you don't want to even go there.

[canuckrefguy]

"Sorry ma'am, which player is your son?"
"Number 14."
"Tweet. Technical foul - White 14."

[shishstripes]

I agree with Juulie outside of the fact they should never have allowed a parent to get on the floor without running out there to put her back where she belonged. Which bags the question, 6 court facility, very doubtful there was game administration on each court.

Do we know who our game administrators are and where they can be found?

I had a situation umpiring where after the game, the losing coach came after my partner in the parking lot and my partner was "egging" the coach on, you could see a lot brewing during the game as well. I was able to get between them and had the coach (who was also a parent) calm down enough to look around at all of his players staring wide-eyed. He apologized to me and went to his car.

[Kingsman1288]

Originally Posted by shishstripes

Do we know who are game administration is and where they can be found?

Not on a consistent basis, no. With 6 courts they run all over the place so it takes forever to find one.

[w_sohl]

Second she hit the floor, mommy better hope there is a radio broadcast of the game, because she is going to be spending the rest of it in her car.

I've done this before, ejected a father while the mother had to sit there embarassed. I'm sure dad got an ear full when they got home.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

Second she hit the floor, mommy better hope there is a radio broadcast of the game, because she is going to be spending the rest of it in her car.

I've done this before, ejected a father while the mother had to sit there embarassed. I'm sure dad got an ear full when they got home.

My earlier post was obviously in jest. However, this comment is serious.

ANYONE WHO STEPS ONTO THE PLAYING COURT WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION IS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED FROM THE PREMISES.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

ANYONE WHO STEPS ONTO THE PLAYING COURT WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION IS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED FROM THE PREMISES.

And, if the parent doesn't want to leave AND you can't find game administration - tell the coach they've got one minute to get the fan outa there or declare the game a forfeit. The rest of the players and parents won't stand for it..... JMO

[muxbule]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

My earlier post was obviously in jest. However, this comment is serious.

ANYONE WHO STEPS ONTO THE PLAYING COURT WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION IS AUTOMATICALLY EJECTED FROM THE PREMISES.

Bingo, issue solved. And if game management is no where to be found. "Coach, you have a minute to escort this fan, thank you'

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

This might seem like it has an obvious answer, but if it does the answer has so far eluded me. Sorry for the length...

Working the 5th game of a 5 game set today at a 6 court facility. "Home" team is more physical than the other, puts "Visiting" team in bonus rather quickly after the second half begins. Home player picks up his fourth foul and during time out the player's mom comes on the court and tries to ask us what exactly her son is doing to be called for fouls. I'm ready to whack her with a T right there, but my partner waves me up and simply says to her, "He pushes, now get back in the stands."

Mom returns to the stands and then proceeds, with her husband, to rain abuse down on my partner and I the rest of the game. They are not being profane or getting personal in any way and my partner advises me to ignore them, which I do. Now here's where it gets interesting...

In Ontario we have a Fair Play Policy. She came onto the court? Buh-bye.

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

Being a multi-court facility, there are no locker rooms for us to escape to or leave our gear in. We have no choice but to run to the table, sign the score sheet, grab our gear and get the heck out of dodge. Unfortunately, we are not quite fast enough and the Dad catches us. He starts getting louder and louder as we walk away from him. We realize we're not going to make it to the door without this getting worse, so we make a beeline towards the nearest cluster of officials we see. Before we make it there, the Dad grabs my partner by the arm and attempts to pull him around and make my partner face him.

"Sir, do I need to phone the police?"

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

Thankfully one of the officials we were heading to saw what was happening and got in between them. To make a long story short, our Supervisor wants my partner to press charges, etc.

My question is what do you do in a situation like that? Is there anything you can do?

Granted, I should have not have let the parents go on as they did during the game and in that sense I probably should not have acceded to my partner as much as I did, but you live and learn.

Yes, I would seriously consider pressing charges.

The only thing I think you can do is to try to avoid being confronted. It sounds as though you did that in the crowded venue. If talk is civil, then I might end up talking to the guy, but otherwise, I'm ignoring him and going right past him too.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

...and during time out the player's mom comes on the court and tries to ask us what exactly her son is doing to be called for fouls. I'm ready to whack her with a T right there, but my partner waves me up and simply says to her, "He pushes, now get back in the stands."...

Here's where my story would end. Game would not proceed until I talk to site admin about the fan. What admin does after that is up to them.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Kingsman1288

Not on a consistent basis, no. With 6 courts they run all over the place so it takes forever to find one.

Ask the table to call Game Management to your court (if they have phones / walkie-talkies) or to get GM's attention when they next come by. Restart the game.

When GM comes by stop the game or at a natural stoppage, talk to them and have the offender removed.

[jeffpea]

if you do not have the parent ejected from the game and do not press charges, what makes you think these parents (or any others parents/fans watching this unfold) will stop engaging in this behavior in the future?