How do you all handle teams that chant?

For example, there is one team in particular that when they are on the field they chant "hey batter, batter, listen to us chatter...baaaaaaaa". Then when on offense, they have one for the pitcher: "Hey pitcher pitcher...." These are younger girls 10-12, but I do run into it in some older age groups as well. I was trying to find a rule to back me up when I tell them to they can chant to help their team, but they can't call the pitcher or batter by name because it could be a form of interference or USC. I've been told that I could use the interference rule or uSC, but how can you tell when it actually does interfere with the batter/pitcher or when it becomes USC? Do you all use the same rules or is there something I'm missing?

So far I've gotten away with what I tell them, but I know soon some coach is going to challenge it and say there's no rule against them referring to certain positions on the field.

Do you all run into situations like this and if so, how do you handle it?

For the most part, the chants are in good taste and spirit.
"Too low, get the worms a helmet", "We got spirit, how 'bout you" etc. etc. I just let them chant. Now, if they make it personal, like yell out Susie's name just as she's about to pitch, or something along those lines, I stop it. Otherwise, it's a game, let the girls have fun. All the teams like to chant. Let's have fun.

as long as it does not get abusive or personal or ugly, etc. i'll pretty much let 'em say what they want

"Hey pitcher look at me, I'm a cow in a tree,
Eat more chicken, eat eat more chicken!"

I wouldn't even try to stop it. Silent games are called baseball! well, at least HS and college. Softball games without the chants and excitement from the kids just wouldn't be the same. If it gets abusive, you will know it and stop it.

Several years ago I did a u12 game and at the end the winning team formed a gauntlet forcing the losing team to walk under it to get to their dugout. They chanted "We are proud of you oh we are proud of you". I asked the coach if they do that if they lose and he said "no". I told him "then don't do it at all".
That was the tackiest thing I'd ever heard. I thought about the fist fights that would errupt at an U18 game if that happened.

I haven't seen it since.

But in most cases, this is meant in the spirit of good sportsmanship. I have seen this many times, and it is always the winning team doing it to the losing team. It is just another way of saying, "ya'll played one hell of a game!"

"Holy cow its a foul, moooo-ve it over."

Honestly, I have better things to do than monitor chants. It is, as many others have stated, simply a part of the game.

Why are you still there ?
 

Rachel, you make the statement with in your post "and at the end" (sorry I don't know how to do those fancy quote things on these posts) why are you sticking around long enough to have any conversations. Your job is done. I don't understand why an umpire would want the last feeling left to a coach as a bitter one. We have the possibility of leaving bad tastes during the game why strecth the time ?

"We are so proud of you" is usually done in good taste, not bad.

I usually let them say whatever they want other that specific names.

However, I'm backed up by Dixie rules that don't allow a player to be singled out by a cheer.

I had that team the next day and talked to the coach prior to the game. When the game is over I like to go away. If a team says something positive "We are proud of you" away from the other teams dugout I don't have a problem with that. The problem comes when the other team is forced to walk under the outstretched arms of the victorious team to get back to their dugout. There really is nothing as an umpire I can do to punish that kind of behavior. I just think that a team should shake hands and then go out to wherever they go to have their postgame meeting.

Couple of weeks ago, adult SP tourney, elimination game. Winners gather around the pitcher's plate, "GO XXX (OPPONENTS), GO XXX, GO, GO, GO, HOME!

I do a lot of softball, FP and SP, various levels and systems, and had never heard that one before!

By the way, the past couple of years, some of the HS baseball teams have started to use some chants very similar to the HS softball teams. Never thought I'd see that!

If the chants are directed toward their own team, ie., "Come on Candy, you're so dandy", etc. no problem. But if they're directed at the opposition, as in the original post, "Coach, that's not allowed. PERIOD. No discussion."

Bluezebra,

Let me make sure what you are saying. Are you saying that if the defensive team in the field starts saying "hey batter batter listen to us chatter...." then you put a stop to it? If so, what rule do you use to back that up if the coach questions??

Thanks

Speaking ASA

I would use 10.9.A.

The purpose of chants, IMO (for WMB;) ) is to show support for one's team, not to distract the opponent. Yes, we are not the "chant police" and most of the time I have blocked out the chatter to the point that I do not hear it. So, if I do hear it, something had been said that got my attention. If it was enough to get my attention, it is probably gotten the attention of the opposing team. Then I will listen.

I'm with BZ on this one. If it is directed at the opponent DURING PLAY, I will quietly attempt to muffle it by dealing with the coach, not the players.

So Mike, are you saying you would have them stop the "hey batter batter..." cheer?

Rachel:

It looks like you are looking for problems here where there really are none. This is just a post game congratulations ceremony, and it happens on ballfields everywhere. I'd let it be, if I were you. Incidents of good sportmanship should be valued and encouraged when they happen.

Had a FAN at a 7th/8th grade school game this year complain about the other teams cheers....we ignored the idiot....

This is bz not Mike, and YES I'd stop it. That's infantile for one, and illegal for another. Again, if it's directed toward the opponent, it's a NO-NO.

Yelling by the defense at the batter is not only infantile but illegal. I do not have my NFHS, ASA, or USSSA rules books in front of me but I do know from personal experience and an interpretation that the I received directly from the NFHS Rules Editor that the NFHS considers, yelling at the batter by the defense to be taunting. I do not allow yelling at the batter by the defense in both softball and baseball.

Regarding chants from the dugout, as long as it is directed toward their own batter and not toward the pitcher I ignore it. Once the chants are directed toward the opposing pitcher, I stop it.


My sons are 11 and 14, and both have been playing baseball since they were in kindergarten (YMCA programs) and since they were 9 they have played in our city's P&R Dept. programs. The teams that they have played on since they were 9 are teams that are made up of boys from the area around the local elementary school. The fathers that have coached these teams for the last 10 years or so have not allowed the defense to yell at the opposing batter because they have all agreed that it is bush league and is taunting. It is refreshing to see that there are still fathers who coach their sons athletic teams who believe that sportsmanship is an important aspect of learning how to play a sport.

If you were to tell a coach to stop the chants directed at the other team, what rule in book would you use to stop it?
I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been told that you could possibly use the USC rule or possibly interference.
I do like the chants urging their teamates to do good. I think it's an awesome part of the game. But, I want to put a stop to chanting against the other team, I just want something to refer to in the book to back me up.

Thanks for all of the posts.

Just tell them "Rule 10"

At a 14U ASA National some years back, I was PU and one of the teams was from Florida and totally obnoxious. The Dads and Moms in the stands had those long plastic horns, cans full of rocks, cow bells, boom boxes, you name it and they were VERY distracting to the other team as the devices were being used constantly, not just between inning music. However, I didn't say anything until the opposing coach came up to me between innings and complained. I mean the stand folks were AWFUL! My 2 ps and I were sick of them!
I went over to the coach of the Florida team and relayed the information and asked him to tell his parents to turn off the music once the teams took the field and don't use the horns, etc., on purpose to distract the other team under Rule 10. http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/wink/thumb.gifHe agreed, but unfortunately, several of the Dads did not. http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/...ckeye/hihi.gif I told an off game blue to get the UIC and continued the game. Next 1/2 inning break, I explained to the UIC the problem. He went to the coach, 2 Dads refused to comply and they were escorted to the parking lot by the police on duty. http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/...nebiggrinA.gif No more problems with this Florida team. BTW, they won by 1 run, but at least the other team had an equal opportunity.http://www.computerpannen.com/cwm/cwm/cwm3d/3devil3.gif

...and if you don't agree------http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/...weetz/moon.gif I don't care! The UIC thought it was the right thing to do.

Heyblue said:"If you were to tell a coach to stop the chants directed at the other team, what rule in book would you use to stop it?"

ASA 10.9: Players, coaches, manager or other team members will not make disparaging or insulting remarks to or about opposing players, officials or spectators or commit any acts that could be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.

That rule hands a lot of authority to the umpire, Heyblue. And Mark is correct about NFHS constests; the difference is in the location of rules. NFHS 3.6 Bench and Field Conduct is quite explicit about player and coach mis-conduct.

WRT Rachel's concern about the "Arch," for years I have seen girls JV basketball teams provide the "arch" for their varsity team to enter the court. I took it as an act of respect, and I would see the same on the sofball diamond. For me, if the winners does that for the losing team, I would consider it an act of high sportsmanship and would applaud it.

Now on the football practice field, as many of the guys will remember, running the "gauntlet" is hell!

WMB

Its THEIR Game...not ours...give them the benefit of the doubt. Now cow bells and noise makers are OUT without a question..Chantstowards the other team are as normal as anything I can think of.... Chants with derogatory terms should not be allowed.....

Well down here they do no let the Offensive Team chant anything to the defensive players. They can only chant to there teammates at bat or on the bases. No chanting to the other teams pitcher, catcher etc...