You make the call

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

And even then you have umpires going long for a "gotcha".

Even locally, you will have multple opinions and level of enforcement based on one's rearing, religious background, religious background of those around you, embarassment, knowledge of particular players, etc.

Richmond use to have a profanity rule during their big Memorial Day tournament. Any cursing either added an out to your team or gave your opponent an extra out while batting.

One of my teammates hit a drive up the middle. The pitcher (team from NYC) went up for the ball and muttered, "Oh, Christ!". Before the pitcher's feet hit the ground, the umpire (young female) already gave my team a fourth out for that half inning.

Even though our team benefited from the award, I had no problem telling that umpire she was dead wrong and requested she keeps her religious beliefs in check during the remainder of the game. She was tiffed, but since I didn't curse (or, at least, what she considered cursing), there was nothing for her to do.

Since someone is waiting on this one, I am not the language police. Do not bring your family to a competitive adult game in which you KNOW before hand that profanity may be involved and expect the umpire to play the part of your mother. Do not expect others to completely change their ways to accommodate those not participating.

Will I ask a player to keep the volume down? Yep. Will I remind them that others are in the area and may not appreciate his actions? At times.

Will I start threatening players and coaches with outs, ejections and reports for what some may consider questionable language the is not directed at an umpire or another participant in the game. Nope!

Our leagues all have specific rules defining unsportsmanlike conduct and the use of profanity. They are points of emphasis in all managers and umpires meetings and the league demands that the penalties for violation of the rules be enforced.

The late Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, in writing an opinion in an obscenity case, said " I cannot define obscenity, but I know it when I see it."

Well, it does not take much to recognize abusive, lewd, and profane speech, either. And the burden is not on the users of the park to stay away, it is on the players to refrain from using the language.

The result of these rules has been terriffic. The penalties, which start with outs and, for repeat offenders, run to removal from a team roster, have made the blue language almost non-existent, even in the testosterone laden Men's Open Leagues.

I am not arguing for ASA rules on these matters, since the Leagues can set their own local standards quite well.

And, as an umpire, the league rules are just as important as the ASA Rules, perhaps even more important, since the League is writing my pay check.

The bottom line here is that softball players are tenants in a community park and must abide by the landlord's rules. Players who cannot speak in a civil tongue and umpires who won't enforce the rules will have to go elsewhere.