I was the PU for 12 YO Little League game. The vistors had the start time wrong and came to the field about an how too early. I arrived and they said since the arrived early, they had enough warmup and did not need to take infield. The start time was 6:00PM. The home started to take infield at about 5:40. I was doing some pre-game prelims (talked to the offical score keeper, etc.) and frankly, looking at my watch, and not the field. I figured that a couple minutes before 6:00 I would get things going. Well I didn't notice the home team finished infield and the pitcher was warming up. At about 5:50, the visting coach come over and is upset because the pithcer has taken too many warmup pithces and is on my case about it. I'm not sure what he wanted me to do, but he kept saying it wasn't fair because his pitcher would only get 8 pitches before the bottom of the first. He was being a jerk about it. (this was liitle league). I said since we had 5 minutes, he could have his pitcher warm up and I could take the home team pitcher off the field and have her warm up off the field. Or if the teams are ready early, we can get going. Both managers then agreed we were ready we started the game about 5:55. Granted, my timing and pregame prep was distrupted since the vistors didn't take and infield and this caused me to lose focus on what the home team was doing, but for cripes sake, it's not like the kid was warming up in the circle for 15 minutes. What should I have done at that point? Is this guy a jerk I though he was? If he wanted to be a jerk and pick nits, I could of asked his coach to leave for wearing a baseball uniform - not allowed in LL Softball at that level. Of course I didn't do that.

So that set the tone for this guy, he commeted indirectly on a lot of my called balls and strikes, he came on the field to argue an interfernce call (in my judgment, no interfernece occured), he asked me if I have been to the ditrtict rules clincs and mechanics clinics (I had been)and he made it clear that he had as well as been to an week long umpire camp). He was upset because I didn't call a dead ball loud enough when a batter was hit by a batted ball in the batters box...there were various other comments.

BTW - his team lost. The home team manager had no companints, accepted all my calls, and thanked me for a good job after the game.

response:
1) read your "handle"
2) forget him, go forward

This isn't the last coach you'll run into that is going to act like this. Just ignore as much as you can, and if he comes out on the field and questions another judgement call, send him home. It will only take 1 or 2 times being ejected and he'll leave you alone.

Now then you take his grief for about an inning or 2. Then ..............Please repeat after me in strong voice after taking your mask off and holding up your hand in STOP type fashion..... "COACH...I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH FROM YOU!!!". If he continues to chirp, then he "Hears" about the game from one of his parents.

Keep on "Learning the Ropes".

Remember "COACH, I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH!!!!".

It's better to earn respect than force it.

I really believe we have to de-personalize situations and just say "COACH, no more (no "I")" gently first, then strongly. In other words, his behavior has reached a limit for the good of game, not your personal feelings.

You're not gonna earn anybody's respect by letting the coach chirp the entire game and question your judgement calls.

<b>I really believe we have to de-personalize situations and just say "COACH, no more (no "I")" gently first, then strongly. In other words, his behavior has reached a limit for the good of game, not your personal feelings.</b>

I see your point and agree with it. However, I don't believe in this situation I am personalizing it. My personal feelings have not entered into this at all, if they had, they I would have sent him packing already.

By stating "I Have heard enough!!!", is not a personal attack, it is a simple statement coming from the person who is in charge of the game.

Gotcha!

I didn't say anything about "letting the coach chirp the entire game and question your judgement", just a preference for communicating and basing respect on mutual understanding instead of fear of ejection. Actually, some coaches do learn and develop respect after chirping and questioning when the umpire is consistent and accepts the coach's point of view.

Any coach who tries to weasel more warmup pitches out of you at the start of the game is testing how far he can push you, trying to establish his dominance. Do you think this guy really believes that his pitcher will gain an advantage for every warmup pitch thrown past 8?

You will run into many of these coaches. Usually they are armchair "experts" who never played past youth leagues but watch TV and think they know the game. They try to tell you where you should have positioned yourself for a call. They try to throw rulebook technicalities at you. They nit-pick some faintly illegal motion of the opposing pitcher.

I had one of these types last night. Guy thinks a trapped third strike is caught. Also has no idea uncaught third strike doesn't apply with 1B occupied and less than 2 out. Tells me I should be running down the 1B line to call a play at 1B (one-man game). Whines about a girl who didn't slide, though she slowed considerably and barely bumped his catcher, who was standing square on the plate <i>after</i> the throw got past to the backstop. He also tried to claim that batters hit by pitches were not awarded 1B in that league—until the other coach brought out the league rules.

Don't try to accommodate these types in any way. They're not looking for fair play, they're looking to control you and the game.

Minor side note here....No matter how bullheaded the idiot coach in qustion is, you must maintain a professional attitude at all times. Maintain a non-judgemental body posture(I have always been taught hands clasped behind the back), take off your sunglasses, don't interrupt them, and maintain normal eye contact. I never speak until they have finished and then I will only address their concern in a consise even toned matter...Nothing Else.

By maintaining a professional attitude and appearance you will APPEAR to be more in control without ever having to say a word. Be polite, be professional and watch the coaches melt.

Just some more food for thought.

Yes, I like that, but I don't think it's a minor side note!

Sorry about your game last night and that is more nonsense than I was talking about. However, you didn't say anything about direct insults or obscenities so I guess that's why he stayed for the entire game.

competitive immaturity
 

May I suggest reading Jenni Maslam's article on page 16 of the latest NFHS Officials Quarterly?