The Basketbrawl & Softball

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by 3afan
Early this morning I was walking my dog & I was listening to a discussion about the brawl in Detroit. That got me to thinking - what should softball officials do in the case of the bench clearing brawl, or just a fight? I don't recall this being addressed in any TASO, ASA or USSSA clinic I've attended.

Now I know what I would do. I'd get out of harm's way, and starting taking numbers so when its all over I can decide who goes and who stays. But I would not get involved in breaking up the fight, I'd let the coaches, administrators, etc, handle that.

Thoughts?

Unless you are a sworn law enforcement officer within your jurisdiction, you get the hell out of the way and start taking numbers.

You DON'T:

Touch any of the players, fans, coaches or anyone else involved;

Try to stand in the way of potential participants;

Try to keep people in the game if they left the dugout or playing position to take part in the fray.

You DO:

Move to a safe position, even if it means going into the outfield or dugout;

Record the number of EVERY player involved;

Record the number, name or whatever you need to identify a coach, manager, scorekeeper or whomever gets involved and goes BEYOND the point of making a non-violent attempt to intercede;

Diligently eject AND REPORT all those which you removed from the game. If that leaves either or both teams with fewer than the required players, so be it!

Remember, your job is to do your job, not someone else's. If you want to be the "nice guy" and just let it go so they can finish the game on the field, you are not doing anyone, especially your fellow umpires, any favors.