Other ways to handle it?

[Mike Walsh]

Originally posted by umpharp
This is ASA JO 14 and under league game.


Since everybody knew that he wasn't sure of the call, the coach exploded.
He came to me and I sent him to the base umpire as he was the one that made the call.
After the coach told him to check with me, we got together.

The coach comes back out as asks to appeal the game. I mistook his comment as meaning he wanted to appeal the play. I didn't know you could appeal a game. I asked him what he was appealing. Maybe he was asking about a pulled foot, or something, even though the play was clean. He said that the out/safe call should be overturned. I told him that it was a judgement call and then I said "Lets play ball"

Thanks

When working with a rookie, protecting him sometimes means stepping in where you normally wouldn't. Not always, but sometimes. Especially when he seems unsure. In this case, the coach came to you first, and you sent him to your partner. Correct move, usually. But on this day, a stern, "Coach, it's a judgment call, don't even come out," followed by, "Coach, get back in the dugout" might have stopped things sooner.

You said that the coach sent your partner to you. Both you and your partner gave him too much leash. You couldn't control this part, of course, but I hope you pointed out to your partner that he should only come to you when he thinks it's necessary, not when the coach does (and this was not one of those times).

The protest (and it was a protest, not an appeal) was a good opportuntity to re-establish control. You were right to ask what he was protesting. As soon as he indicated it was judgment, you should have given him hell. Told him something like, "Denied. You know that's not protestable. And if you try any more of this crap, I'll toss you like he should have. Now get back in the dugout and don't let me here another peep out of you".

Mike