In H.S. games around here each team keeps its own book, ususally by a Coach, or player or extra person in the dugout, or sometimes a parent in the stands. Once I know where the book is located, it is fairly easy to go to them with changes.

One local team uses a parent who moves around and is often on the fence 30' or so past the dugout. Not only is this guy difficult to find, or far away, but he is also a loudmouth obnoxious fan. He is constantly on umpires for the calls that don't go his way. (Don't ya luv it; your eyes are 4' behind the plate, but this guy can see balls and strikes better than you from 100' away at a right angle!)

My question: Can I consider him part of the coaching staff, or part of the home team administration? (NFHS rules that home team bookkeeper is Official Scorekeeper.) Can I require that he sit in the dugout, or in the stands at a place that is easily accessible to me? Can I hold him accountable for his criticism of judgment calls even as I do coaches or players? Can I eject him, or at least require that the coach be responsible for him?

WMB

The NFHS rules give you a lot more flexibility here than you state. NFHS Rule 9-2-2 says the official scorebook is the home team's book <u><b>unless the plate umpire rules otherwise.</b></u>

If the home scorebook is official, then the home scorekeeper is a game official. As the UIC for the game, you have authority over him - not on his scorekeeping duties per se, but on whether or not he remains an official of the game and where he needs to be and how he needs to conduct himself as an official.

Here is a suggestion: Before the game, get together with him and with the home coach. Explain that you are designating him to be the official scorekeeper, assuming he wishes to perform that duty. If he accepts, tell him he will need to remain seated inside or next to the dugout and conduct himself at all times in a manner consistent with a game official.

If he is not willing, or he later misbehaves, you can designate the visitors as the official book.

Whether you can "eject" a game official... that's another thing altogether!

Do it Naked Gun style.

This might help...

Here in AZ, we are in the same boat. The home team is considered the "official" book.

I don't go hunting for scorekeepers when announcing a change. Once I get the change from coach, I will mark my lineup card and turn toward the opposing teams dugout and LOUDLY announce the change.

My lineup card is what will be referred to if any questions arise. This tactic also keeps the game moving along.

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Unable to find the post where I posted that I had this problem
with the official scorer. He was arguing balls, strikes, outs, safes,
and etc. I finally ejected him and told visitors that they were
the official book. (I did compare books before turning the duties
over to the new "official scorekeeper"