At what point do you engage/remove an obnoxious fan?

[buckrog64]

As frustrating as it is to hear these types most fans around them see the person for who they are: a loud mouth, obnoxious, make our school look bad kind of fan. There are spouses who can't even sit with one another at a contest because of the embarrassing behavior that is expressed by one spouse. In the long run, I think such a fan pays a much larger price for the pound of flesh they're trying to extract. The other moments, language, abuse, coming onto the court, etc., yeah, those are an escalation. Deal with them quickly. Thankfully it doesn't happen all that often.

[JRutledge]

I wouldn't in most cases directly. The only time I would even say anything directly if that individual in the first row and they decide to talk to me as I am right in front of them.

That being said there is a little trick that some friends use and we call it, "Playing the game." If a person is over the top obnoxious, I have with some friends bring my partner with me together and look at the individual and even point directly at them, but we could be talking about anything like where we are going to eat or what cute girl is in the stands and usually this gets the fan's attention and the people with them. They know they have been pointed out and they usually fall in line without any other action as their spouse or child gets them to stop because of their total embarrassment. Every time I have seen this done, there is no need for further action. Again, you do not go to the stands and do this and you do not need to stop play. But it is a little trick and it works. I have done it twice this year and one of the times the police wanted to know if I was going to eject the individual. But other than that if you are going to actually eject a fan have the game management do that for you. Just point them out and get them out. Do not tell the individual yourself or say anything to them.

Peace

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I wouldn't in most cases directly. The only time I would even say anything directly if that individual in the first row and they decide to talk to me as I am right in front of them.

That being said there is a little trick that some friends use and we call it, "Playing the game." If a person is over the top obnoxious, I have with some friends bring my partner with me together and look at the individual and even point directly at them, but we could be talking about anything like where we are going to eat or what cute girl is in the stands and usually this gets the fan's attention and the people with them. They know they have been pointed out and they usually fall in line without any other action as their spouse or child gets them to stop because of their total embarrassment. Every time I have seen this done, there is no need for further action. Again, you do not go to the stands and do this and you do not need to stop play. But it is a little trick and it works. I have done it twice this year and one of the times the police wanted to know if I was going to eject the individual. But other than that if you are going to actually eject a fan have the game management do that for you. Just point them out and get them out. Do not tell the individual yourself or say anything to them.

Peace

Nice! I like. Cretin gets the hint, if he doesn't he's gone.
Filed.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I wouldn't in most cases directly. The only time I would even say anything directly if that individual in the first row and they decide to talk to me as I am right in front of them.

That being said there is a little trick that some friends use and we call it, "Playing the game." If a person is over the top obnoxious, I have with some friends bring my partner with me together and look at the individual and even point directly at them, but we could be talking about anything like where we are going to eat or what cute girl is in the stands and usually this gets the fan's attention and the people with them. They know they have been pointed out and they usually fall in line without any other action as their spouse or child gets them to stop because of their total embarrassment. Every time I have seen this done, there is no need for further action. Again, you do not go to the stands and do this and you do not need to stop play. But it is a little trick and it works. I have done it twice this year and one of the times the police wanted to know if I was going to eject the individual. But other than that if you are going to actually eject a fan have the game management do that for you. Just point them out and get them out. Do not tell the individual yourself or say anything to them.

Peace

Excellent.

[RobbyinTN]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Excellent.

+1 - may use that myself if the situation warrants

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

+1 - may use that myself if the situation warrants

This works so well one time with a guy that was so bad, that when my partner's did this to him, he said immediately..."I'm leaving!!!" and walked out the door.

Peace

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If a person is over the top obnoxious, I have with some friends bring my partner with me together and look at the individual and even point directly at them, but we could be talking about anything like where we are going to eat or what cute girl is in the stands and usually this gets the fan's attention and the people with them. They know they have been pointed out and they usually fall in line without any other action as their spouse or child gets them to stop because of their total embarrassment. Every time I have seen this done, there is no need for further action.

I do this too, but I go over to the cop by the door and point to the offender. Works very well.

[hoopguy]

In my area, the schools read a 'fans code of conduct' statement before all varsity High School games expressing exactly what is expected and allowed of the fans. I can't recite it word for word but part of the code of conduct is that you definitely can not single out a player by using his or her name and be critical in a negative sense. This would include the players parents I would definitely talk to game management if I thought a negative comment was directed at a player using the players name. The fans code of conduct basically says to cheer for your team or keep quiet. There are references to players, coaches and officials and how they must be treated. Also, the burden on enforcing this is on game management but that does not mean that we as officials can't help out when we hear something that they may not hear.

This does not mean I would have rabbit ears on minor things directed at me but I believe the players should be protected from insults from idiots.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If a person is over the top obnoxious, I have with some friends bring my partner with me together and look at the individual and even point directly at them, but we could be talking about anything like where we are going to eat or what cute girl is in the stands and usually this gets the fan's attention and the people with them. They know they have been pointed out and they usually fall in line without any other action as their spouse or child gets them to stop because of their total embarrassment.

How do we make this work with Mark Padgett on the Forum?