Socializing with the enemy...

[UmpireErnie]

IMHO...

As a general rule, you don't want to socialize with players and coaches during a game or immedatly before or after a game. You run the risk of appearing to favor one side or another.

Having said that, if a player or coach speaks to me I am not going to ignore him/her.

If you know a player or coach outside softball.. the feild is not a great place to catch up on old times. If they say "Hello" say "Hello" back and leave it at that.

Finally.. while it's a general rule, there is a different feeling at a High School Varsity game then there is at a Coed Class "Q" Slowpitch game. I have had a lot of fun working one-man at low level coed slowpitch games where the teams are glad to have me, glad to have a game to play, and not too worried about winning or losing. They just want to play and have fun. I'll be more talkative in such an setting, and I don't see any problem with it. I am not favoring anyone, just enjoying the game as much as the players are.

Nine more days to softball in Alaska!! Yea!!