As an umpire, I don't have a problem with a coach requesting time to ask me to clarify a rule for him. That's different than "arguing the point" with the umpire or "confronting" the umpire.

I think that as a coach you should be able to handle this with the same cool-headed approach we're expected to use as umpires when dealing with coaches. Request time, wait until it's granted, calmly ask for clarification, state your case, then if all you have left to hang your hat on is a protest, file the protest.

Maybe you don't want to be the guy that files a protest in an 11U rec league game, but if it really concerns you that the rule be enforced correctly, it's a better route to take than being the guy that smarts off to the umpires!

A fair point. :)

Well, I'm not sure if I'm one of those "couple", but I never said anything about arguing. I suggested advising him what you know the rule to be, and why there is no problem with where your fielder is positioned, rather than retort with your comment. If he then had a problem with it, go ahead and lodge the protest, and BretMan suggested.

Spot on. I agree. He was wrong. But I think you know it could have been handled better from both sides. If he's not going to do the right thing, then you do it. It's about the kids.


Side note: I had a coach one time call time and yell at me to BACK UP away from his DD, who he thought was too close to me in "B". So after he yelled across the field, I backed up - about 40 feet. When the call at first on the next play was safe, he came out to question. I said, "sorry coach, but I did my best to see it from all the way out here. I had to back up because a coach told me where I should go on the field."

He walked away angry but he understood his mouth caused the issue to begin with.

Humorous, I guess. But I don't like to play those kinds of games with coaches. They only serve to raise the temperature on an already heated atmosphere.

I would have simply ignored him until he either came over to me in a more civilized manner, or until he crossed the line and gotten himself ejected.

Agree 100%.
Those kind of gotcha's are amusing to talk about over beers or on forums, but smart aleck responses are NEVER appropriate on the field.

We don't need to have the last word...... we have the final word.

What is a DD?

An average Hooters waitress? :D

It's Internet-cutesy speak for "dear daughter." I want to puke every time I see someone use it, too.

Not the ones I've gone to. :(

I thought it was "dearest daughter". It's pretty prevalent in the softball world, and speaks volumes about how some parents, especially parents who are also coaches, feel about their kids playing the game. I, too, want to hurl when I see it.

And all this time I thought it was "darling daughter".

"Dollar Destroyer"

Hah hah

Anyway, I'm guessing you mean those daughters who pitch illegally and you're the first one to ever call it so we're going to videotape her pitching to show everyone what a mean nasty umpire you are who won't just let the girls play and have fun?

:mad:Rita