shaking hands after the game
 

After a fed softball game Saturday my partner for the game, who happened to do the plate for the final game, got in line with the players and shook everyone's hand. I had never seen anyone do this. I was always taught to disappear as quickly as possible after the game. Does anyone do this?

Nope, meet my partner and leave the field. If a coach or player seeks me out to shake my hand I will oblige but I do not seek them out to shake hands after the game.

I walk off the field through the winner's dugout with my partners. If they are slow, I wait. We walk on the field as a crew, work as a crew, and leave as a crew. If possible, on the way past the teams, I say "Thanks, coach" and keep going.

I have seen some handshakers in my day, usually high school umpires. No offense to them, but in by observations, it's usually the guy with 25+ years of 2nd-year umpiring doing it.

I worked a HS game last week with a Rookie,
When it was over I saw him on the field observing the high 5's of the 2 teams.
I put a stop to that real fast and ushered him off the field.
He felt we should be there in case some trouble started.
I told him that is why we do not want to be there.
Get off ASAP thru the winning dugout.

That is so wrong in so many ways

There are also the teams where the players practically chase you down as you are leaving to try to shake hands & say thanks... I wave & acknowledge the "thanks" while continuing to try to leave, or at worst, a quick fist bump if the crowd of players won't let you quietly leave (as happens sometimes).

I did a game 10+ years ago with a guy I never met ... if I recall he did OK. But after the game while the girls were shaking hands he went to the circle and declared "Thank you girls, I enjoyed sharing the field with you!". Then he turned to home plate and said "Thank you fans for a great game!". Then he (we) left.

Weird.

I'm sitting here wondering which line did he join to shake hands? The winning or losing team's line? :confused:

I watched a high school game a few nights ago. A young lady was the field ump during the varsity game and PU during the JV. I noticed that she was doing a very good job and was very professional. I ended up in a conversation with a guy standing behind the screen who kind of looked like he was a loner. I asked "which one is your kid"? He pointed to her. It was her dad. I highly respected that. I didn't pry, but I could tell they had a pre-set exit strategy for her to leave the game, and he was there to make sure that went very smoothly.