Fall ball

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Would you take the same action if, as the pitcher was beggining her delivery:

a boy was talking to her?
a coach was screaming at her?
a team mate was screaming at her?
a grand parent was trying to talk to her?

If not, why not? Cannot these all be equally distracting as a parent screaming at the child?

I don't need to refocus. When I walk on a field, I know why I am there, to umpire a ball game by the rules of the given sanctioning body.

And I have no problem letting the teams take care of themselves, that's why there is adult supervision.

I wouldn't stop a play to take care of the situation, no. This took place between innings. Someone trying to "talk" to her is much, much different than a person yelling obsenities at her. I could visibly see the effect on her and her distraction. Funny how this started about unruly parents. I've only had one this bad and took the necessary steps to fix the problem. I also handled it properly. I'm sorry you don't approve Mike, but I will not sit there and allow a little child to take that abuse - NEVER. It may be a HTBT, but if you were there, I honestly don't think you would have ignored the problem either - at least I hope not.

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I wouldn't stop a play to take care of the situation, no. This took place between innings. Someone trying to "talk" to her is much, much different than a person yelling obsenities at her. I could visibly see the effect on her and her distraction. Funny how this started about unruly parents. I've only had one this bad and took the necessary steps to fix the problem. I also handled it properly. I'm sorry you don't approve Mike, but I will not sit there and allow a little child to take that abuse - NEVER. It may be a HTBT, but if you were there, I honestly don't think you would have ignored the problem either - at least I hope not.

Ah ... the ever present danger of "other girls hitting balls at her" ... "between innings". It is all beginning to make sense now. Is it starting to make sense to the rest of you yet?

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Ah ... the ever present danger of "other girls hitting balls at her" ... "between innings". It is all beginning to make sense now. Is it starting to make sense to the rest of you yet?

A distracted player is a distracted player - you wanna take that chance have at it . . . bottom line is this - I did what I did and would do it again faced with the same circumstances. I'm sure you are an awesome umpire, although I have nothing to base that on, other than discussions here. You wouldn't make the same call - your choice. I think you would be wrong to allow that behavior to continue and possibly have an effect on the game. In my heart I made the correct call. I have no regrets and am not ashamed of what I did.

Do you umpire with that same chip on your shoulder?

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

A distracted player is a distracted player - you wanna take that chance have at it . . . bottom line is this - I did what I did and would do it again faced with the same circumstances. I'm sure you are an awesome umpire, although I have nothing to base that on, other than discussions here. You wouldn't make the same call - your choice. I think you would be wrong to allow that behavior to continue and possibly have an effect on the game. In my heart I made the correct call. I have no regrets and am not ashamed of what I did.

Do you umpire with that same chip on your shoulder?

Now why would you think I had ANY chip on my shoulder.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

Now why would you think I had ANY chip on my shoulder.

Just seems like you do. If you don't please accept my most humble apologies!

[scottk_61]

I have waited to comment on this thread jsut to see what or how it is dealt with by others.

Everyone is right that an off field issue doesn't belong to the umpires.
But then again it does.................................

Here is an easy and simple way to deal with the issue that keeps you where you need to be and the players safe.

If you have a fan or parent that is causing a problem,
and you are aware of it
and it is affecting a player's ability to participate in a game.

THEN, stop play
Call the site administrator/TD/Park Manager/League Officer
or the home teams coach

Simply tell them the problem and that in your opinion it is effecting the game or the players safety.
Finish with "Until the problem is taken care of, we have no game."

Then walk away from the fence and talk with your partner or get the coaches together and tell them why as a concern for safety or fair play the game won't continue with PROBLEM X outside the fence.

It usually gets taken care of real quickly.

We cannot say that a distraction outside of the fence is not our concern because it is.
We pay attention to
rain approaching
lightening
car lights in the batters face from the parking lot

Use some common sense and don't interject yourself into the situation anymore than is absolutely necessary.