My First Ejection ...

[NSABlue]

[B]"open your mouth one more time and you will be leaving the field" ..He didn't say a word, but opened his mouth wide.[/B]

I agree with everyone else here. This action by a coach is mocking you and should earn an immediate ejection.

So I said you're ejected and don't come back for the next game either.
I'm really wondering about this one. How do you (as a game umpire) have the authority to suspend a coach from his next game? This is wrong, even if you have the authority. It just sets you up as the bully who abuses his power and sets up a battle the next time you two meet.

Remember, when you wrestle with a pig, pretty soon everyone is all muddy and no one can tell who is who.

You need to be better than that!!

[Skahtboi]

Al, you have been given some sage advice by the previous posters on how to handle these situations. Good to see you out there learning more and more, though. Now, learn from this experience and become an even stronger umpire.

[LIIRISHMAN]

Sad to see Coaches and parents so caught up in winning a 8 and under SB game. As other posters have stated give the warning not a ultimatiumn after that you're not throwing him or her out,there doing it to themselves.

[Al]

Originally Posted by NSABlue

[B]"open your mouth one more time and you will be leaving the field" ..He didn't say a word, but opened his mouth wide.[/B]

I agree with everyone else here. This action by a coach is mocking you and should earn an immediate ejection.

So I said you're ejected and don't come back for the next game either.
I'm really wondering about this one. How do you (as a game umpire) have the authority to suspend a coach from his next game? This is wrong, even if you have the authority. It just sets you up as the bully who abuses his power and sets up a battle the next time you two meet.

Remember, when you wrestle with a pig, pretty soon everyone is all muddy and no one can tell who is who.

You need to be better than that!!

Thanks to all,

When the assistant coach opened his mouth it was indeed to try to be a wise guy. I made it clear exactly what I meant by that by saying if another word comes out of that mouth you are outta here. I know that very first "One More" was a mistake and I'll not do that again. I'll do as you all have rightly suggested. However, NSAblue, I not only have the right to tell the coach he can't come back for the next game; but that's the way the rule reads (USSSA) "If a coach/manager is ejected from a game he must sit out the remainder of that game and the following game. Anyone ejected will be asked to leave the park at the discretion of the umpire. And if the ejected coach refuses... he forfeits the game.

Maybe the administrator should have told him he won't allow any coach that is tossed to come back for the next game, but the way he spoke to me on the phone he sounded as if the coach knew he blew it and was truly sorry and knew better to let down his kids on lousy sportmanship examples. The administrator also said they (Bears) really are frustrated because the team they were playing (Twisters) has a much better team than any in the league, (7 of the their kids played for the travel team all winter). This is an issue that many coaches have with the administrator. They complain it's not fair. The problem is the new coaches didn't know who were the best players when the teams were chosen. But he said they need to find out and it's their own fault for not knowing. The coach for the Twisters was the coach for travel team "Cyclones" so she knew all the best players and got most of them. There has been complaints all season because of this and it just came to a head in this game because the bears had an early lead, then a couple calls went against them.

But, all things being considered, I think the administrator was thinking of the kids, and the situation. Yes, he left it in my hands, but if he allowed the coach to come back without my agreement what would that have taught the coach about respecting umpires? Tonight, if there is no rain out I will accept his apology and move on. Thanks, ..... Al

[mcrowder]

Well, I'll answer that last part.

When you eject - regardless of what the rules say regarding further action - you are ejecting for THAT game. Even though there are rules in place dictating that he is gone for the next, the umpire should not even bring that up. "Coach, you're gone." is enough.

Then, since you did not mention anything about his next game, the whole thing about whether he is out of the next game or not is out of your hands - thus, if the admin felt he learned his lesson and could come back (debateable, but at 8U I'd err on the side of the kids too), it is no disrespect to your authority at all.

Back to the him opening his mouth wide nonsense... it doesn't matter what you said or meant. His action was basically him saying FU to you, and flaunting your authority. Regardless of your exact words or intent - he should be tossed for that alone (ESPECIALLY at younger ages).

[Al]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Well, I'll answer that last part.

When you eject - regardless of what the rules say regarding further action - you are ejecting for THAT game. Even though there are rules in place dictating that he is gone for the next, the umpire should not even bring that up. "Coach, you're gone." is enough.

Then, since you did not mention anything about his next game, the whole thing about whether he is out of the next game or not is out of your hands - thus, if the admin felt he learned his lesson and could come back (debateable, but at 8U I'd err on the side of the kids too), it is no disrespect to your authority at all.

Back to the him opening his mouth wide nonsense... it doesn't matter what you said or meant. His action was basically him saying FU to you, and flaunting your authority. Regardless of your exact words or intent - he should be tossed for that alone (ESPECIALLY at younger ages).

Mcrowder,

I should be paying for this advice and instruction. I'm serious! You guys are doing a really good thing to be sharing your knowledge and experiences with those that are still very green, but desire to get it right in every way. I have learned a lot in the last few games that I may have continued to do wrong for a long time, even with keeping my nose in the rule book. I'll tell ya what I am amazed just how many things there are to learn; and how to apply, as well. I know you, and many others, really love this game and that's why you take the time to help improve the officiating that goes on on thousands of fields. It really makes a difference that you guys may never get to see live, but if there are a lot of umpires like myself I can tell you the game is improved because of your sharing what you learned. Must hurry out the door... Thank you sir! ...Al

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Al

Mcrowder,

I should be paying for this advice and instruction. I'm serious! You guys are doing a really good thing to be sharing your knowledge and experiences with those that are still very green, but desire to get it right in every way. I have learned a lot in the last few games that I may have continued to do wrong for a long time, even with keeping my nose in the rule book. I'll tell ya what I am amazed just how many things there are to learn; and how to apply, as well. I know you, and many others, really love this game and that's why you take the time to help improve the officiating that goes on on thousands of fields. It really makes a difference that you guys may never get to see live, but if there are a lot of umpires like myself I can tell you the game is improved because of your sharing what you learned. Must hurry out the door... Thank you sir! ...Al

Hey! You can pay us if you want to. I believe the going rate that Mike used to charge on another umpiring BB was $.02. (Have we adjusted that considering inflation...etc.?)

[mcrowder]

I think we've all learned a lot from this board. I had to unlearn some bad habits when I first started visiting this board, as the only training I'd had over the past several years was from the same guys every year - and they were teaching things wrong. I love this place.

[CecilOne]

Al, please don't think we're not all learning eevn if it is your question.

A further point about ultimatums. Someone said warning insted of ultimatum, but that is not the point. No warning, either because it has to include some kind of "if". Just say "no more" or anything similar.

new Q: Is is really in the kids' best interest to return a coach who acts like that the next game, rather then have them coached by someone more civilized and learn that misbehavior has consequences.

new comment: personally, I'd have suspended him for pulling the team into a forfeit