Controversial Call (No Call)?

[CecilOne]

TD is wrong (if they are allowed to be). That blatant and VISBLE act needs to be VISIBLY handled. Not to say over kill on a signal and not rubbing it in incitefully, just immediate and visible, then quietly being sure the coach gets the notice and the message.

As far as the above about NCAA on TV, not a good example for us or good precedent. Those cases have been beaten up and down in other topics, but seem to have more to do with where they are, high level coaches, umpires with too much concern about the status of the games, etc. Not instructional for us on MC, UC, OBS, INT, etc.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

After the game we were discussing the game with the UIC in the umpires room when the tournament director interjected he prefers player ejections to be kept private and not public. He said I should have just called time, called the coach over and told her we needed a sub because #5 is being ejected, there is no need to embarass the girls with a public ejection.

That's idiotic. The action you described MUST be handled publicly.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by RKBUmp

Sometimes I wonder if it may actually be better to be a little stricter on the younger ages regarding conduct. That way they are getting the message earlier rough play wont be tolerated, and then maybe we wont be dealing with it at 18G level.

Now that you have brought up this subject, I had my first ever ejection of a player last week. This also was a qualifying tournament, 14U and the home team was being handled by the visitors. Things had been getting a little more chippy as the game progressed and I had just warned F1 of the home team about hard tags on runners. In the bottom of the last inning, the batter cue balled a grounder up the 1st base line which was spinning wildly just along the foul side of the line and rolled about 40' toward 1st. F3 moved up, straddled the line and just as the ball got to her it spun across the line into fair territory. F3 picked up the ball, was standing completely stationary just holding the ball waiting to tag the batter/runner. Initially the batter hadnt run because the ball hit well foul, but now is trucking down the line obviously disgusted. F3 did nothing, just stood there holding the ball about a foot from her body waiting to tag the B/R. Just as she got there, the B/R raised her fists up into her chest, stuck her elbows out and just blasted F3. I clearly saw the look of pure anger on her face as she did it and I immediately tossed her on the spot.

This was an instentanious decision on my part and was based as much on the look I saw on the girls face as well as the physical hit. I truly believe this girl intended to do physical harm. It was a very publicly displayed action, and as I said I immediately tossed her on the spot. After the game we were discussing the game with the UIC in the umpires room when the tournament director interjected he prefers player ejections to be kept private and not public. He said I should have just called time, called the coach over and told her we needed a sub because #5 is being ejected, there is no need to embarass the girls with a public ejection.

My question is, public or private ejection? I would tend to agree if the girl had done something that was not public, such as mouthing off or cussing at me where no one else really heard it. In those instances no one else is really aware of what has happened. However, in my situation it was a very out in the open and public display of aggression and I believed it warranted an immediate and public reaction from me. Opinions?

Was this the game on Saturday night that was really chippy? I didn't realize that you had an ejection in that game.

You absolutely did the right thing...in that case, everybody needs to know that the player has been ejected because everybody saw what she did.

Tournament UIC and I had a discussion about Mr. TD and his interactions with the umpires.....we will be requesting a few changes in his involvement going forward.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

Championship Game 10-U Qualifier. I am PU.

R1 on 3B with 1 out.
B3 taps grounder to F5.
R1 coming home and slides under the tag at the plate. SAFE!
Not only under the tag, but under F2.

F2 holds the tag for an extended period of time. Why? I don’t know.
R1 was under F2, but not what I would consider “pinned”.
There was “space” between them, she could gotten out of there by crawling backwards towards 3B.

Here is where it gets interesting:
R1 gets impatient, takes both hands, puts them on F2’s chest, and “shoves” F2 off of her with significant force, basically knocking F2 on her fanny.
I throw both hands up and loudly declared “TIME" and just paused.

Of course my mind is racing.
I stood there for a good three seconds just looking down at the 2 players with my hands up (I think they were still up).
Came “this close” to ejecting a 10 y/o.

Instead, I walked towards 3B dugout and beckoned the OC.
Since the moment I declared TIME, I was “down-shifting” about 15 lower gears in my mind.

By the time coach came over, I calmly asked, “Coach, can you give me one good reason why I shouldn’t eject your player?”
Coach was contrite.
DC came over and he said that he had no problem with what just happened.

Took a deep breathe and I said to both coaches, “OK look, this is the Championship Game, emotions are running high, let me just take this opportunity to issue a warning to both teams, that if anything else happens, I will have no choice.”

They both agreed and we finished the game without further incident.

So far, I have gotten some support for this, but open to discussion.


I am especially interested to hear what your guidelines are for MC and USC. I know the old saying, "You will know it when you see it", but last night, I saw it and didn't know what I saw. Especially in light of what has been going on in these college games over the past couple weeks.


What say ye?

Honestly, sounds like very good game management at ANY level to me.