Bad Game Management
 

I posted this video in the baseball part of the forum but it didn't generate a lot of discussion. Let me know what you guys think these umps could have done better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uurC8...eature=related

well you can't really tell what is said, kinda hard to judge the umps based on whats there

Gave me flashbacks and reminded me why I stopped calling "adult" softball years ago ! It also recalls a time when I was working men's fastpitch in the sticks and after a call, a player yelled to me "that was a bush league call".
I put my arms out and looked around the hills and woods that surrounded the field and shrugged my shoulders as if to say--"well" ??

I can't hear a darned thing anyone says. All I can tell is that #1 from the blue team is "just one of those guys." HP ump did make one mistake in "chasing" #1 to the shortstop position to give him his warning. I'd have only taken a few steps forward (10-15 feet or so), and calmly said, "short, cool it, let's play ball."

Based on the very limited info, the only thing I'd recommend (that may have happened, but the video didn't show) is to pull the coach/captain aside and tell him to cool his player.

I like suggestion #1. Address the player, but keep it simple, and allow others the benefit of hearing it, too.

It's rare for teams to trash talk like that. Once players started, I'd call both captains in and warn them that the next player who makes a comment to the other team will be ejected.

Rare? Where do you live? I'd like to call there! ;)

But yes, I agree - pull the coaches/captains aside and tell them to cool their players, or some guys will have to explain to their wives why they're home early from the game.

Pretty rare for things to get out of hand in this area, too. Most adult leagues address stuff like trash talk, profanity, arguing or charging umpires up front and back up any ejections with suspensions.

I work some adult baseball and those games are usually covered by well-trained, experienced officials that excel at game management. Most slow pitch leagues here are sponsored by local parks and rec departments that issue the standards of conduct in writing before the season and see it through. Violate the standards and you won't be playing in their leagues.

The lone men's fastpitch league in this area (I don't work games in it- I play in it!) had one "bad blood" incident last year that got out of control. The next week, the league coordinator got every team together before their games started and read them the riot act. A handful of offenders got two-week suspensions. Didn't have another problem all year!

A comment on the video: That plate umpire needs to work on his (cough, cough) "plate stance". My knees are hurting just watching that!

Ultimatums will only get an umpire in trouble. Drawing a line in the sand is only invitation for a test.

Simply tell the coaches to control their teams because if they cannot do there, there is no reason for THEM to be there. ;)

In Canada. I guess we really are uber-polite up here.

Not all parts of Canada!!!::(

I'm not sure this video is even worth discussion.

Anyone could nit pick it but I see nothing glaringly wrong in the video.
I have my patented response to that..

"Bush league? Are you bucking for a promotion?"

"Somebody's bucking for a promotion. It's probably that pederast Hanrahan." :D

Paul

I completely agree with you Mike. Put the onus back on them. It's the simplest way to remove you (as the ump) from the equation.

I look at it like this. I give the pregame with all the appropriate warnings/rules/regs. Depending on the violation during the game, I may give another warning based on the situation. If the same violation continues, someone has to go. Obvious fighting and (for my particular region) very loud cursing is an automatic ejection...

I do ASA SP here. There is no pregame, as adult SP leagues are just that- Adults! Pregame warnings only start things in a negative frame, and does anyone really think the coachs are going back to the dugouts and repeat those warnings? and that those players will follow if a situation arises?- Of course not! Those players should know the rules anyway. I figure I did over 150 mens SP games/tourney last summer/fall season- tossed maybe 6-8 for argueing too much after warnings. I believe I would have tossed 6-8 with pregame warnings involved....

As for ASA girls FP (NFHS), a pregame is required, and only legal equip/players, lineup cards, sportsmanship issues are brought up.
Our association follows state (OHSAA) rules mandates on umpires conduct- strongly suggests that pregame warnings are not brought up w/coaches at girls softball/boys baseball games.....

As has been stated on here and at clinics many, many times, pregames are not the place to issue warnings or give a rules clinic. Pregames are simply for introductions, giving the line-ups to the PU, and the PU inspecting the line-ups, covering any necessary ground rules, and flipping a coin if necessary.

Again, based entirely upon your region, but that's not what we're taught.

Add the fact that I was referring to ASA slowpitch (where we do not handle lineups), and you start to catch my drift.

The items I mentioned are specifically required of the umps in my association in my region. You can't very well tell me not to do exaclty what my UIC and zone rep tell me I should be doing...

Perhaps your UIC and zone rep need to attend a clinic once in a while...

:eek: Youch!

Not sure exactly how it works (Mike can probably get you in touch with them) but often we will have national staff at our regional clinics (they show up based on invite).

Maybe that might help them.

Read the NFHS Umpiring Manual or the CCA Umpiring Manual. Both hardly "regional," then tell me what they have to say about pregames. I don't have my ASA book here at work with me, but I am sure that it probably echoes the sentiment of the other two, as that is what has always been stated in their clinics.

Seems the only "regional" issue here is the one that is out of step with the nation, yours.

You don't handle line-ups in SP where you work? Seriously? How then, do you address situations such as BOO, which still applies in SP?

We have scorekeepers who do those duties. They're still part of our association, but not usually umpires (although there are some that do both).


The fact that we do things differently doesn't mean we're doing them incorrectly. Like I said...this is how we do things. We're also taught the national preferences as well, but this is not how we handle the regular county leagues.

JP, I live (but do not call) in the same county as you. What you are saying is not a "Regional" thing. That is only how your association handles it, or wants it handled in your leagues. The fact that the Zone UIC came from your association doesn't make it a Zone directive, either.

One county away, same district, same zone, we have pregames that do NOT include warnings, and we do take lineups from the coaches at pregame.

Right. I should have used the term "county" instead of region. I'm still a young one, remember. I don't have all the zone/region dialect of a true blue yet...