Trash Talking Goes Too Far

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by bigsig

I stopped doing the “testosterone” leagues about 3 years ago. Even though I’m in an area with the highest per game fees in the country I am fortune enough to umpire as a hobby. I do it because I enjoy it. But I stopped enjoying men’s slow pitch.

Going out to do a doubleheader at 8 PM and getting home close to midnight. Hearing asinine arguments on EVERY call from players who have no clue what the rules are. That’s just not fun to me.

If these leagues don’t get their acts together soon they won’t have any umpires, or at least one’s with experience. Here we are at the point where most of the games are officiated by rookie umpires because no one else will do them.

Now the teams get umpires with little experience, reducing the quality of officiating, and our umpire association has a lot more turnover of new umpires then we should. No one wins.

These days, the average umpire only calls games for 3 years. A lot of rookies come and go, and it's a strange feeling when I'm only 30, yet I have more seniority than most of our crew.

Some of the problems we're facing have a lot to do with the turnover, but I think that's partially due to the lack of training most new umpires receive. I've seen rookie umpires calling higher-level games, mostly due to the fact that it's becoming increasingly harder for us to find willing participants. There are some areas that do a wonderful job of training their umpires, and I commend them for recognizing that training is a worthy investment. I encourage all organizers to spend as much training time as possible with everyone in their crew, newer and older umpires alike. The more training we offer our crews, the better-equipped they will be in order to handle complicated situations.

[Dholloway1962]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Does anyone know which states have made separate laws regarding assaulting a sports official? I wonder if there's a chart somewhere...

Found this (2 yrs old but probably not much has changed):

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0747.htm

EDITED: I do like the included civil provisions of Oregon, however price should be higher. That is probably a bigger deterent than the criminal penalty. Hitting someone in the pocketbook is the best!

[wadeintothem]

California's law is lip service and same as any other assault. Means nothing. Unfortunately too many umps think they have a "special law" floating out there.

Reading through other state, some really do have decent laws on the books.

CA does not.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Dholloway1962

Found this (2 yrs old but probably not much has changed):

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/rpt/2006-R-0747.htm

EDITED: I do like the included civil provisions of Oregon, however price should be higher. That is probably a bigger deterent than the criminal penalty. Hitting someone in the pocketbook is the best!

Lovely. NC classifies it as a Class 1 misdemeanor, with only 45 days maximum of jail time.

[archangel]

After the spring HS baseball season, I will do some summer baseball, but I switch to mens SP for 2 reasons: it gets too hot to wear the baseball plate gear vs the cooler ASA shorts/shirt, and I figure I played over 1800 SP games anyway, so maybe understand the "mentality?" of players(not that it means much).
I understand the stigma of mens SP, with 22 yr old superstar wannabees to 40 yr old beer belly crybaby types, but all in all, my games go fairly smoothly just a few problems ea season--maybe 150 games, avg 3-4 ejections. The LD includes us umpires in any suspension length conversations.
I believe the key is control and hustle( and certainly rule knowledge). I refuse to hear any trashtalking between players, will cut off extended complaints on a call, will toss(within the rules) anyone that crosses the line(my line, of course). My rep at the SP complexes is as a friendly harda$$. But it pays off as both teams of a game will thank me after, or even be glad to see me prior (trying to butter up maybe).
Occasionally (depending on the sitch) I will admit a mistake, which tends to diffuse things....Anticipating where a throw will go and moving closer, eliminates many potential complaints on a call.
Some officials just invite the grief. Not moving from behind the plate, making a close call at 2nd, watch out- here it comes...
I look forward to my SP games as being outside, getting exercise, and making good vacation $... guess I'm lucky in the team types we have here...