NFHS
Before the game starts, I informed both coaches that I don't want any parents behind the backstop because I believed that was the NFHS's position. (The backstop in this particular field is only ten feet from the plate.) Third inning, pitch catches outside corner for third out and I hear it from behind the backstop. I look back and see about 30 parents from the visitor's team about ten feet behind the backstop. I inform both coaches that I want EVERYONE removed from behind the backstop before the game will continue. (Visitor's coach pulls a HUHA and says its not his problem because he is the visiting team.) I get the home team coach to make everyone sit in the bleachers and the game continues without incident. Can I get a reference to the NFHS's position on anyone being behind the backstop?

Sure. I just called NFHS and talked to this really helpful (and sweet) lady named Sheila. She said it's okay if those folks are back there.

Willie, the only thing NFHS says about people being behind the backstop are coaches and bench personnel are not allowed back there. Parents/spectators are allowed anywhere they want as long as its not in live ball territory.

At a number of fields, some of the stands are directly behind the plate. At others, there is a tarp on the outside of the fence directly behind the plate and the stands are down 1B & 3B lines.

I am not aware of any ruling to keep folks from behind the stands, other than game participants (coaches, players, other).

SC Ump
Senior Member

Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 384

Sure. I just called NFHS and talked to this really helpful (and sweet) lady named Sheila. She said it's okay if those folks are back there.
__________________
Dan
<b>Apr 30th, 2005 06:47 AM</b>

<i>The NFHS offices are not open on Saturdays at 6:47 AM. Liar, liar pants on fire.</i>

:) Well I wonder who Sheila is. She was very helpful.

Person
 

<b>You never talk to anyone when you call the NFHS looking for rules intrepretations. The only ones that they allow to penetrate their defensive strategems are the 50 state associations representing the high schools in the US. Sheila is the all-night cleaning lady.</b> ;)

Re: Person
 

Winter Willie:

I am not going to involve myself in any arguments about NFHS turf wars. But, why are you looking for trouble regarding spectators behind the backstop? Do not go looking for trouble when there is no trouble.

MTD, Sr.

If you don't know the rule reference, why do you think that? Do you always warn coaches before the game even starts regarding fan behavior?

Yeah, you are just looking for trouble.
From a partners point of view, Im wishing you wouldnt do that.
http://smilies.sofrayt.com/^/aiw/secret.gif

My life is lived with parents behind the backstop.. Thats where many like to be.

Not sure how people get away with this bs except coaches must say "Well we gotta 'another one', but we gotta live with this blue so lets just try to get through it the best we can".

in fact, one field i work, the bleachers are on the Home side, and the only good clearing for the lawn chairs is behind the plate, in a semi circle, surrounding you - so I always have 20+ parents, not to mention kids playing ball, tag, or whatever other screaming and yelling you can imagine going on.

call the game and forget it.

[Edited by wadeintothem on May 1st, 2005 at 09:58 AM]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dakota

Quote:

Originally posted by WinterWillie If you don't know the rule reference, why do you think that?

Our board goes over all the rules at our meetings (which is where I first heard this rule discussed), the problem is the board never delineates between NFHS rules, ASA and the State Association rules. We are <b>NEVER</b> given a copy of the State Association rules to reference regarding HS softball.
Matter of fact, I had an AD call my voicemail (I had left for the game) this week to cancel a 3:30 PM game at 1:50 PM. I had called him earlier in the day at 11:30 to make sure the fields were OK and he assured me the game would be played. (At that time, I told him that if for any reason the game was canceled, he was required to give me a two hour notice or he would have to pay a game fee.)The AD's call on my voicemail was an attempt to get out of paying the game fee and when I told my board about it, no one on the executive board knew what the state rules were concerning this. When I got a copy of the agreement between the high school state association and the state board of umpires regarding cancelations- they were all amazed. (The contract requires a two hour notification of a cancelation to the umpire or a game fee must be paid.) No one on the board had ever seen it in writing.
My post regarding the "Parents" was to determine if the NFHS ever addressed the problem.

Quote:

Do you always warn coaches before the game even starts regarding fan behavior?

In my pregame conference at home plate with my partner, the coaches and captains, the majority of time is spent on talking about good sportsmanship and fan behavior where we address the issue of fans behind the backstop. The primary reason for removing fans from behind the backstop is to eliminate any possible distractions which may effect the pitcher but it totally eliminates any fan disagreements on any inside pitches catching the zone or any outside pitches catching the corners.

my pregame with coaches/cpts is introductions, line ups, then have coachs verify everyone/equip legal, last: coach tell us about your field - we do ground rules & special situations.

thats about it.

My man..I spend ZERO time on fan problems during the pregame. They have a RIGHT to be there as long as they do not disrespect the players or umpires. Get over it and call the game.

Well, it is not an NFHS rule, so it must be local or state.

I do spend a sentence or two in the plate meeting reminding everyone that I expect good sportsmanship, but nothing beyond that.

IMO, warning the coach in the plate meeting about anything gets things off to a contentious start.

Very well said!

Between the lines.......
 

WOW ! being worried about fans, fans sitting positions, fans behavior, Being paid or not, 2 hour notice, warning AD's before lunch.....all of these things OUTSIDE the lines ! I'm now worried about what you'll call BETWEEN the lines. None of us are getting rich in this business but most of us still enjoy our "jobs" as umpires. You need to get the games priorities in order!

Re: Between the lines.......
 

The "job" by nature is a contentious one, anyone that thinks otherwise ........

Wow..

Maybe it is just me, but I have done far more games that were anything but 'contentious'.

Guess I just try to have too much fun when I am working.

The job, by its nature, is judgmental, but not contentious.

There are contentious people you have to deal with from time to time, but that is no reason to begin the game on that note.

I always being with the expectation of good sportsmanship, and I try to project that expectation. Not in a "good sports, or else" way, but in a "lets have fun out there" way.

If it gets contentious, I deal with it then.

Yep, you dont want to set a bad tone. You are just asking for trouble for yourself. Its a self fullfilling prophesy.

I'm not trying to hijack this or anything, but in some states, the officials (sport regardless) are required to mention sportsmanship in the pregame meeting and in some cases make sure the PA announcer has read the same statement to the fans as well. This PA announcement might be a conference thing as well, as I haven't seen it. I work football and basketball in Iowa and I know we have to read them the sportsmanship statement (captains and coaches) before the game. We also have to rate sportsmanship for the players, coaches AND FANS.

Pre Game
 

I officiate HS in Indiana. We have to mention 2 things per the IHSAA during the pregame meeting. #1 "Coaches : are all of your players properly and leagally equiped?" #2 Coaches and players IHSAA maintains that we show good sportsmanship thruout this contest". We can vary these statements to some extent. As long as the setiment of the IHSAA is expressed and passed along to the players and coaches at the time of the pre-game meeting. My second statement is more along the lines of "Coaches due to IHSAA rules I must mention that all participants are expected to show and maintian a sportsmanship attitude and display of actions but since I know that this will not be a problem tonight lets have a good game and play ball". I am still mentioning the facts that IHSAA wants mentioned while also maintainng a feeling along with the coaches and players that I'm not going into this game with a preconcived notion that bad things are going to happen. We don't have any thing "official" to report unsportsmanship attitudes on, but a e-mail or phone call to the IHSAA is always welcomed and addressed as needed by the state.

Basic pregame for me in ND is..

Introductions..

Coaches are your players properly equipped and is all your equipment regulation?

Ground rules..(or anything else we saw during our pregame inspection that could be a problem.)

Questions?? All right, let's remember to display good sportsmanship throughout the contest and good luck. Home team you may take the field.


Quick, to the point, and as cordial as possible. Try to set a positive tone for the game.

I have had very few contentious games.. COMPETETIVE, yes, but even the guys at the major level tend to behave themselves. I think you can avoid more problems with your professionalism than with trying to deal with a problem before it happens...trust me, at some point in time, a coach has wondered WHY you brought that up in the pregame...and then he/she started to wonder why it would happen to you...and once they start to doubt you...they have no respect for you. I would seriously consider leaving that part out of my pregame..... but do what you will

gsf23 - ND (North Dakota?) Are talking girls high school? If so, when did ND start that? I haven't lived there for 7 years. What part of ND?

As for the original post, I only do adult slowpitch so I don't mention sportsmanship except to say something like 'Let's have a good game'. I agree that we should start the game out on a positive note, if at all possible. If we've had run-ins with someone on either team that we clear the air and let them know that this is a new game and what happened before is not going to affect how this game is called. As much as the players need to be good sports, we are held to an even higher standard.

I think they started about 5-6 years ago, just with a few of the larger class A schools.