It's getting scary out there ...
 

This was an under-8 soccer game. At that age, they barely know which direction to go. Whenever I think things have hit rock bottom, something like this happens.

You make it sound like 8U should be calm? I think it is the worst age, you have a group of parents that have NO clue about rules, only the ones they have known their whole lives....yep the myths! I was UIC of a local rec tourney 8U on one diamond 12U on two others. The most excitement was the 8U field.....had one coach and two parents in my face over a girl overrunning first and turning left....they taged her she should have been out. I saw the play my umpire ruled it perfectly, no attempt to advance runner is safe at 1st. Now I was told how wrong that was and how mistaken we were you HAVE to turn right or you are out if tagged. I informed them I would go get the ASA book if they would like to read it. "I don't care what the book says you are wrong" well that was the end of discussion.....but that is the mind set of these individuals.....crazy people, those kids were 6-8 years old for goodness sake.....sad, really sad!

Assuming the coach protested the call, and you were called to settle the protest...why would you as the UIC be discussing rule interpretations with parents?

If he was the tournament UIC and outside the fence and the parents were outside the fence, probably to get them shut the f*** up.

Well it happened like this if you really want to know....younger umpire on field made perfect call, but so much complaining she looked to me, just looked and I gave her a thumbs up shaking my head yes. Well then coach came out she told them her ruling and they said she was wrong she said if you would like me to I will check with the UIC he is right there....so when she said yes I stepped forward told them it was the correct call, coach was upset, I told her that is how it is lets let the kids play. As i stepped back outside of the diamond a few minutes later a parent came up to talk to me, I am a somewhat social person so I told them the ruling, especially since the stands are on the end of the fence I knew he coudl not have heard the discussion on the field, that is when he went from calm discussion to pi**ed off, and then I went from social to doing what Sargee suggested....;)

But to answer your question I try my best to be completely unnoticed as much as possible when I UIC and I don't approach fans to tell them the rules, calm them down, assist in throwing them out yes, but not to shoot the breeze over rules....but if someone approaches me and I have time then I will attempt to discuss something with them as long as they are civil.

Edit: For the record I was so proud of my 16 year old umpire for how she handled this situation, remained calm and confident in the face of very upset adults (well people over 18)!!

A common example of coaching technique being seen as a rule. Many coaches will teach players to turn right to avoid tag outs, and then they and their "parents" assume that is a rule.

We have one participant of this very board who has the same attitude...

Tom,
Who has that snorkel - y'all keep arguing with him rather than ignoring him.

Ok, after cleaning a mouthful of bran muffin and a sip of coffee off my monitor, I'm ready to go back to work. Thank you. :D

If you weren't so far west, you would have been finished. :)