Someone Please Remind Me Why I Umpire???

[RKBUmp]

While my hearing isnt horrible, I have some significant loss in higher frequencies and started wearing hearing aids about 3 months ago. My wife got tired of me not understanding what she was saying. I have worn them on the bases but had never worn them at the plate until a couple of weeks ago. I heard all kinds of stuff coming from the fans I had not realized was going on before. Think maybe I will just not wear them at the plate anymore. I guess ignorance can be bliss sometimes.

[marvin]

Originally Posted by Andy

The comments I was referring to were comments of ignorance and/or stupidity.

If any of the comments fell into the areas you mention, they would have been dealt with immediately, either by myself, or the tournament staff, or both. The AIA (state association) has a program called Victory With Honor that all member schools adhere to. Unsportsmanlike actions and/or comments, both on and off the field, are dealt with swiftly.

Thanks! That's the way it should be.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by marvin

If the comments where just a display of ignorance I can understand you walking away rather than start a confrontation.

If the comments were unsportsmanlike or in any way could be construed as an attack on the umpires then why wouldn't you deal with it as UIC? Bad behavior which is not challenged becomes acceptable behavior. Stopping such behavior before it spreads could head off an ugly scene later.

How do you all feel about doing anything about spectators who keep yelling "illegal pitch", "out of the box", "left early", etc. to the point where the players seem to start being over-cautious about those infractions?

[MD Longhorn]

I see no spectators. To whom are you referring?

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

How do you all feel about doing anything about spectators who keep yelling "illegal pitch", "out of the box", "left early", etc. to the point where the players seem to start being over-cautious about those infractions?

HTBT

But in general, I don't get paid to do anything about spectators.

[marvin]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

How do you all feel about doing anything about spectators who keep yelling "illegal pitch", "out of the box", "left early", etc. to the point where the players seem to start being over-cautious about those infractions?

For others who replied to CecilOne's post - my original comments were directed to someone who was acting as a UIC and was "outside the fence" in the spectators area.

I tend to not hear stuff from the stands - so if I do hear things it usually means it is bad.

Example: I had to speak to the site administrator at a high school game because some of the fans (a group of high school boys) were calling players on the other team names loud enough for everyone in the ball park to hear. The site admin was the Vice principal of the school and took care of it.

I have had to call the TD the the field at a summer tourney when a fan just kept yelling after a call he disagreed with, "That sucks, that sucks" over and over at the top of his lungs. This was at a 12 and under game. After the TD escorted him from the field he kept following her around calling her names until someone called the cops.

In the case that CecilOne describes at a summer tourney I would speak to the coach see if it could be handled that way and then call the TD or UIC. During a high school game I would ask the site administrator to deal with it. I don't deal with fans, there are people who have that responsibility. I mean how unsportsmanlike is it that adults intimidate children while they are playing a game?

People can be idiots - as an league officer I had to threaten to clear the stands at a t-ball game because the parents were ready to get into a fist fight.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by Andy

Derwill...I feel your pain, but from a different angle.

Saturday, I was the UIC for State Tournament games at our 6 field complex.
Umpires from all over the state coming in for games and I'm trying to watch several different crews, some games in 3 umpire, on six different fields.

There were several times I just had to walk away from a field to keep from saying something in response to stupid fan comments about the umpires, rules, calls, etc....

You hear some of the stuff when you're on the field, and you can just kind of shake your head and laugh....there is so much more that is said that the umpires don't hear that is just as, if not more, stupid!

I almost started handing out cards inviting people to sign up to umpire with our association...after all, they were already experts!

Ive been giving them your name for years....I'm sure they have it already....

[Little Jimmy]

Someone Please Remind Me Why I Umpire???

The chicks?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

The chicks?

Better be calling NCAA.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

The chicks?

I love umpire groupies!

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by Little Jimmy

The chicks?

Oh, I wish.......