Threats/Attacks

Simbio · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Oct 26, 2003, 04:05pm

I had for the first time last Saturday, a coach threaten to beat me up (after I ejected him from the game for his second unsportsmanlike.) He was an assistant coach that blew up over a misunderstanding and made a travesty out of the game and a horrible example in front of his team of 11 year-olds. Anyhow, I had the police escort him off the premises as he continued shouting swear words at me. I was wondering, how many out there have had similar experiences (and I imagine much worse.) I'm 6'4" and weigh 285lbs and imagine that might have some influence on why I've never been threatened before. But I know there are others that have and have probably been assaulted and I was just wondering if anyone wanted to share their stories?

TXMike · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Oct 26, 2003, 04:13pm

The bigger question is what did YOU do about it? Are you just blowing it off? If you are threatened (in most states) there is a criminal offense. It needs to be reported and you (and your association) need to be firm in trying to ensure the matter is dealt with by local police and prosecutor.

Snake~eyes · #3 (**permalink**) Sun Oct 26, 2003, 06:59pm

If he threatened you that is assault. Also most of the states have(or are pushing for) laws that are specifically to protect officials that have stiffer penalties.

I have never been threatened before but two weeks ago the coach came up to me after the game and told me I was the worst official ever. This was the assistant coach because the head coach had been ejected and the assistant coach just wanted to whine some more.

chris s · #4 (**permalink**) Sun Oct 26, 2003, 07:32pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Simbio
I had for the first time last Saturday, a coach threaten to beat me up (after I ejected him from the game for his second unsportsmanlike.) He was an assistant coach that blew up over a misunderstanding and made a travesty out of the game and a horrible example in front of his team of 11 year-olds. Anyhow, I had the police escort him off the premises as he continued shouting swear words at me. I was wondering, how many out there have had similar experiences (and I imagine much worse.) I'm 6'4" and weigh 285lbs and imagine that might have some influence on why I've never been threatened before. But I know there are others that have and have probably been assaulted and I was just wondering if anyone wanted to share their stories?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Po-Warner playoff last season, I was WH, 4th game of day in 85 degree heat. A's ball, 1st/goal at the 2. B player(DT) gets hurt in the pile. Asst coach is standing there, kid gets up with help and starts crying bout being "clipped". Asst coach turns to me and yells, " YOU need to watch for clips." I respond with, "free blocking zone, blocks in the back and clips are legal." He responds with, " you are full of sh*t!"

I ask him to watch his language, then I get a "F*ck you, I'll kick your ***!!" He was bout 6'4", 250 and I am 5'8" 180.....I quickly tweet to the league prez and get him over(another big boy), he yanked homeys credential badge off his neck and advised him it would be in coaches best interest to leave now, before cops are called...100% compliance...gee, haven't seen that guy since

JRutledge · #5 (**permalink**) Sun Oct 26, 2003, 08:11pm

Simbio,

What level was this? If this was HS, this could be something that would affect a school board. If this is Pop Warner or some other kind of league problem that might open themselves up for liability.

Whatever you do or whatever level this happen at, I would contact the Police immediately after the game. File a report and let the process go from there.

Peace

Simbio · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Oct 27, 2003, 06:56pm

It was just little league. He was an assistant coach (one of the 5 coaches on this sideline.) When I ejected him, he ran onto the field and yelling "You want to go right now?!" I stood there calmly because a police officer was about 5 feet away approaching us. As he was being escorted off the field, he continued yelling obscenities at me. I got his id badge and turned it in to the little league reps that were there and filed a report to the association. I didn't feel I need to press any charges against him or anything. I was just informed by our arbiter that that coach has been suspended indefinitely, so hopefully he'll never get to coach little league again.

TXMike · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Oct 27, 2003, 10:09pm

"threatened to beat me up" and "You wanna go right now?" are 2 very different statements.

Sounds like the league did the right thing though.

Simbio · #8 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 28, 2003, 05:05pm

Sorry, I guess I should've clarified. He did run at me as he yelled that and got right up in my face before the policeman escorted him back. I guess the police officer didn't feel any law had been broken. I'm just amazed at the contiually declining sportsmanship in all athletics. Something needs to be done, but what?

Forksref · #9 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 28, 2003, 08:51pm

Attitudes and behavior come from the top. For the league, it comes from the officers, etc. For the team, it comes from the head coach.

My first year of FB officiating, I did pee wee stuff. Before a game, one of the league bigshots asked me to "take care of those fans over there" who he indicated were usually out of control. ME?? I am here to do a game, not be a policeman for the fans. That shows really weak leadership in that organization. Another reason why I never have done non-school games again in FB.

Sounds like some leagues are better than others in terms of attitudes.

Snake~eyes · #10 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 28, 2003, 09:18pm

At the beginning of the game we tell the coach he is responsible for his sidelines, including fans. If we have a problem with a fan during a game we will say coach control your fan. If he can't then we will have the field commissioner remove the spectator. Simple as that.

William C · #11 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 29, 2003, 04:34pm

A lot of these posts are about little league coaches.
They are the ones I've had most of my problems with.
That says a lot about the folks that are coaching these youngsters.
The last person I threw out was a LL coach. A lot of them aren't suited for coaching and definitely don't understand the rules which makes for a dangerous combination.
Our LL office here does a great job of controlling the coaches AND fans. They absolutely do not put up with ANY mouth from a fan and they expect us to flag a coach on the spot -with any out bursts from them. One coach this year was hollering 'face mask' and before I had a chance to look at him - the rec. director was on him and telling him to 'shut his mouth'.
The high school coaches are more in tune w/ the game - and we don't have as many problems with them -- but that's not to say it won't happen some day. But - the school would be in big time trouble if anything happened.

MD Longhorn · #12 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 29, 2003, 04:56pm

I agree there are more problems at PeeWee than higher levels, although I'd say in my area it's more fan related than coach related. I've never had one come anywhere near threatening, though. The local board came down hard after a particularly noisy (and non-fun) week a few weeks ago. We now start every game by getting the coaches together and giving them "the speech".

"Coach - you are the only one who can discuss calls we make or don't make with an official. If any of the other coaches make complaints or derogatory remarks, its 15 yards, no questions asked. If your fans get even marginally unruly, its 15 yards. If we have to throw 2 flags for this in the game, we'll clear your sideline and the fans can watch from their cars." Also - there's been a board member at each game since then to back us up and help us enforce that if necessary. It's been a much healthier and much more enjoyable game the 3 weeks since then.

At the higher levels, even starting in 7th grade, it's much better (although with the fans physically separated from us up in the stands, that's probably a good part of the reason). I do remember one fan on my side getting completely out of hand with the yelling, and the coach leans over in my ear and says, "Don't worry son, I'll send him a rulebook first thing in the morning." Got a grin from me.

Simbio · #13 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 29, 2003, 05:18pm

William C, mbcrowder: I want to officiate wherever this magical place is LOL.... Man, I wish it was like that here...I too have found that most the problems occur at little league level, but this is also the first year I've ever flagged a varsity head coach for unsportsmanlike, as well as a varsity assistant coach. I wish our little league board would take a more active approach to controlling the fans and coaches. I swear, sometimes it seems like all the parent's come to the games for is to yell at us. The councils need to be more hardnosed and have a rep watching each field.

William C, mbcrowder: Where are you two from? Which state?

William C · #14 (**permalink**) Wed Oct 29, 2003, 05:29pm

First of all - I'm in N.C.
Each league is different. We have helped some other youth leagues in our area - and they can get very rowdy - to say the least. That's why I choose not to do them anymore. After calling for 30+ years - I have realized - I don't have to take that grief. One thing about those leagues is - they are run by fans - and those fans are the coaches and manning the concession stands. So - there's really no one to police that group - as opposed to our local league - where it's run by the rec. dept. and policed by them.
One fan was yelling at the chain crew once - and it didn't take them 30 secs. to get to that guy and set him straight.

MD Longhorn · #15 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 30, 2003, 09:48am

I'm in Texas. But William's right - it's different from league to league. I officiate PeeWee in two leagues - one in the Colony, one in Frisco. The Colony is where they instituted the rules I describe, and it has been great since. In Frisco, it's still your typical PeeWee league that we're all used to.