Recently, posters have recounted the outrageous behavior of some coaches and players, and I responded that I don't see trouble anywhere near what they have described.

However, this past Sunday, in men's modified, I had a player threaten me. He felt I didn't give enough respect to his claim that two runners should be called out on appeal for leaving before the outfielder got full control over a catch (they left when the ball first hit the fielder's glove, and the ball then popped up a few feet and fell back into the glove). I ejected him from the game and the premises. In the next game, another player heaved his bat and spewed an obscene tirade toward me (he left the premises, too). I've done that league for years and never had any incidents like those.

Then I drove to do the final two games of our main girls' tourney of the year (88 teams) and heard horror stories about a coach who, in an otherwise uneventful game, simply erupted and went berserk in the seventh inning, throwing equipment, refusing to leave, cursing, etc. (They're still not sure what his beef was—apparently something about a movable base.) Past that, some other coaches had to be tossed for various offenses. One guy was caught skipping over weaker batters in the hopes no one would notice (this was the 10-and-under division, where apparently it's win at all costs).

Maybe it was something in the air Sunday.

I'll bet the kids & parents noticed. Wonderful man; fine human being; just in it for the kids; yeah, right!

You know, I make it a point to stay away from the 10U divisions if I can, but I have been hearing all kinds of horror stories from the coaches at that level at the tournaments around here. Kind of makes me wonder what is going on...are they, as coaches, so new to the game that they don't know any better, or is it as fathers/mothers of younger children, they just have no patience anymore?

ASA 12U Regional Tournament this past weekend in Wilmington, DE.

To insure the schedule and avoid running over more than necessary, we impose an hour-forty time limit on all games, but the Championship and (I hate saying these words) the IF games. The official watch is the one in the umpire's pocket.

In the loser's final, the game was nearing the time limit in the 6th inning. Winning team had the hammer and was at bat. As the opponent made a few consecutive errors, this MD team figured the time limit had to have run out. The moment the opponent made the final out of the inning, the umpire went right to his watch and without hesitation indicated that he had time left, though only a minute or so (remember, the next inning starts the moment the previous inning ends).

It was like someone called for a fire drill the way one parent after the other started for the TD to demand the game be ended because their watch indicated it should have. After the third person asked the same question, none receiving any solid answer other than it was the umpire's watch that counted, the TD told the rest that if the manager wanted to talk to him, that would be fine, but he was no longer entertaining questions and demands from anyone else.

Somewhat miffed, one parent (female) turned to me (UIC) and demanded we enforce ASA's rules. I just laughed and mentioned to the umpire next to me that it wouldn't be a problem since ASA doesn't prescribe a time limit on this particular type of game.

The MD team not only won that game, but came back to win-out and take the trophy.

I know I will get some kick back here, but that is one of
the reasons I like calling on a field where the scoreboard
has the old clock a ticking. Everyone knows how much time
is left. I will admit not many of the fields in this area
do have to the clock, but it makes it nice when time limits
are utilized.

JMO

glen

No argument from me.

14-U Tournament.

The Wife had a coach who went to everyone he could find to(Including me as I was talking to the UIC and TD....Didn't know we were married.) ask what she had against him. Both the UIC and TD busted out laughing when they heard his complaint and then saw my dumbfounded look. The coach didn't see the humor.

I didn't see the game(s), but I guess she had several bangers that ALL went against him and he thought she was "Picking" on him.

While I am not completely innocent of shaving the clock in the past (hopeless situation, no point prolonging an agony, under 2 minutes left, leading team due up and such), last year I started using a count-down timer in my pocket & this year I have started hanging it on the backstop for both coaches to see.

I've had a few of those "hopeless" situations this year, too, and when given the complete picture, coaches agree to end it.

Of course, if it's not close, some umpires will clean the plate a few more times to be sure the time is used.
BTW, is it customary to inform the coaches when you think it's the probable last inning for a time limit?
And then, do you look more closely for stalling by the leading team?

You cut me to the quick, sir! I would NEVER do that! :D
I always do.
If the game is close, yes I look for it and try to keep things moving. Otherwise, however, it is better to have the coach do it than for me to suddenly become anal about a clean plate! ;)

"suddenly become anal about a clean plate"
Oh no, you paged you know who! :)

We require that each of our umpires use the countdown timer and display it on the fence. You can pick one up at WalMart for about ten bucks.

About the crazy stuff this last weekend, we had two 12u teams disqualified from a tournament for the coaches physically fighting each other on the field after a game.

It's really sad when 12 year old girls miss an opportunity because of AA.
Have any of you involved police in any of these incidents?

Mike,

Must have been a real mess. I heard the games didn't finish until late. By the way, thanks, I won money playing golf.

I normally do not inform the coaches when it's the probable
last inning. They usually do something crazy and get one of
their players hurt. On a finish the batter situtation, I wait
until the batter has completed her turn, then inform the teams
that the game has ended. This type of timed game is normally
for pool anyway. But most coaches want to "win" even when
the draw has already taken place.

glen