Umpire accountability - use of profanity on the field

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I'm lost as to why a few abusive coaches or a few loud mouth parents or a few teenagers who use bad language or a few players who abide by some unwritten rule in any way shape or form makes it even slightly okay for an umpire to talk or scream foul language at a kids game they are paid to ump. Seems to me those are separate issues that need to be addressed and shouldn't slow us down in addressing this ump issue. We just slowly get numb to these things until they become acceptable. Doesn't sound like that game was a family fun atmosphere.

 

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I'm lost as to why a few abusive coaches or a few loud mouth parents or a few teenagers who use bad language or a few players who abide by some unwritten rule in any way shape or form makes it even slightly okay for an umpire to talk or scream foul language at a kids game they are paid to ump. Seems to me those are separate issues that need to be addressed and shouldn't slow us down in addressing this ump issue. We just slowly get numb to these things until they become acceptable. Doesn't sound like that game was a family fun atmosphere.

There is no excuse for the language!

Would you call out a coach or parent, player as fast as you have the umpire? What have you done to keep the parents, players and coaches in check or this the sole job of the umpires and you have no accountability?

Whenever a tragedy happens we always go back and second guess how did this happen why did not some see this coming? Why, why, why, why,why?

Usually in business you ask why x five and listen for the answer!

Is this the first time this umpire has displayed this type of behavior?

Is this the first time a coach has displayed this type of behavior?

Is this the first time the player, possibly your own daughter has displayed this type of behavior?

Is this the first time the fans have displayed this type of behavior?

Probably not!

I do not condone the umpires actions....I question and hear me loud and clear...I question some of your peoples motives as you live with a double standard.

The basket of stones is at your feet, so cast it!

Then hold your standards to the new level every day and every game!

You might also want to buy some duct tape to use when your parents daughters, coaches seem to get out of control as it will be on sale next to the walking tacos at the concession booth. :lmao:

 

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Hitter: I wish we HAD the right to throw a fan out.. but there is no rule for an umpire to do so. We, as umpires, look to the tournament directors to do the montioring of the fans... or if a TD is smart enough.. to put in the tournament rules for the coaches the fact that... if a fan is thrown out.. the coach goes too.

The first TD I ever saw have that in their rules was the Outcast Organization out of Dayton.. TD Bob Deen. His tournaments are so nice for the umpires... as coaches take this rule very seriously. I then asked Pastime Park in Harrison to put it in their rules and the events there was so nice from that standpoint.

But, Bretman will tell you as well.... there is no rules making it possible for an umpire to throw out a fan. None in any association. It is up to the TD to put that in their rules.

A few years ago, I went off in the OFC about a parent in Beavercreek who was F this and MF that... for two games over a close call at first base on his DD in an 8-5 eight inning game. The call was the last out and made by my partner. My partner went over to the parent ( after hearing this for two more games ) and told him that was enough around these young kids and the guy went after him and someone stepped in.. lucky for the parent as my partner is a black belt. I got black-balled from doing a tournament because the team whinned to the TD as they knew I was going to be there to ump. NSA refused to give me a license based on it. I still have that letter actually. I kept it to remind me.

The discussion was brought up about orgs having a paper for the parents to sign about conduct, etc... the orgs that didn't have it.. asked the ones who did for a copy. The discussion was finally out there.

People forget sometimes about the past issues that have been brought up on here, the OFC. Today, seems to be a good day to have them reminded of this "Code of Conduct".

 

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In my 5th year of fastpitch I have never heard foul language yelled at a game. Not by a ump, coach or parent. HeII yea I would call out my coach if they acted that way and I think most parents would. I rightfully do hold an ump or coach to a higher standard. We parents are entrusting our kids to our coaches and expect them to act in a responsible manner. We pay umpires to officiate at our KIDS GAME and yes they are expected to act responsibly or shouldn't be allowed back. I have no control over a spectator parent. If it was a parent from our team I would expect our coach to handle the parent and would demand that they do so. I know on the teams we have been on the parents would have yanked their kids in a heart beat if the coach acted that way. I can't imagine what teams you have been around where the coaches act that way and the parents put up with it.

You are going too have to explain the double standard and do YOU KNOW does it. What coaches get "out of control"? You make it sound like it's all or most of them. Do you really feel that way and have you seen it? Hope not, that would be sad.

 

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Agree with Musty that bad language and behavior is the exception and not the rule. I have been to probably 2000 youth games over the last 25 years and, while I know some bad stuff goes on behind the scenes, I can count on one hand the number of times I have actually heard anyone swear, and never an umpire ... there is no excuse though I think Hitter's point about double standards is more about what goes on behind the scenes and off the fields and in the homes and schools.

 

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Thanks everyone so far for your thoughts and participation. I am not sure how this is going to play out, but in this particular situation the OHSAA treats coaches differently than umpires and that is not fair. This coach gets an immediate and unappealable suspension of two games. He can respond in writing to the OHSAA about the umpire's allegations and perhaps the OHSAA may or may not waive the $100 fine and/or the mandatory on-line good behavior seminar. However, by the time the coach has had the chance to present his side of the story and respond to the OHSAA he has already served the two game suspension. It is not like he has the chance to continue coaching until the OHSAA has heard both sides of the story and rendered a decision. In this case, the coach must sit two games NOW. There is NO ACCOUNTABILITY for the umpire. Since he threw the coach out of the game AFTER he told the coach to "shut his GD mouth", the coach must sit two games. Period. What does the umpire get? Nothing. He simply plays chicken and trades the game he was supposed to umpire tonight so he does not have to show his face in front of these two sets of fans, coaches and players. This whole situation is wrong and the OHSAA needs to do something to make it right. If after they review all of the facts they decide that the coach must sit out two games, that's fine, but an immediate suspension based on one person's (the umpire) story is WRONG.

 

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Certainly doesn't seem right in this case based on what has been shared here, but I can see the reasons for an immediate suspension in most other cases, and I do believe the umpire needs to have this kind of power to ensure order on the field. I have to believe once this situation is fully surfaced, that the fine will be waived and the umpire somehow disciplined for his language and contribution to what occurred. Please let us know what happens.

 

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While the profanity in umpires is uncalled for, at a HS game a couple of weeks ago, the 3rd base coach questioned a call at third. I believe all he did was ask the base ump to check with plate ump to confirm the call. Coach was not belligerent or out of line in any way. This umpire yelled for the coach to "come here" - out onto the playing field - coach went. Umpire then grabbed coach by the shirt with one hand and started yelling and sticking his finger in the coaches face. Fortunately for that umpire, the coach had an enormous amount of self control and didn't respond to the umpires behavior. Plate ump ran down and basically told base ump to knock it off and get back in position. Coach went back and game resumed.
I would assume that because of this (and other issues with the same umpire who the girls refer to as "creeper" - they are very, very uncomfortable with him), I don't believe he has been on their field since.
While the majority of umpires are there to call a good game, there are a few bad apples out there that something needs to be done with as they want to become a bigger part of the game than they should be.

 

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Certainly doesn't seem right in this case based on what has been shared here, but I can see the reasons for an immediate suspension in most other cases, and I do believe the umpire needs to have this kind of power to ensure order on the field. I have to believe once this situation is fully surfaced, that the fine will be waived and the umpire somehow disciplined for his language and contribution to what occurred. Please let us know what happens.

I hope you're right that in the end the coach isn't out $100, but the problem with simply waiving a fine is that it is too late and there is no justice. By the time the fine is waived the coach has already missed two games with his team because the OHSAA suspension is immediate. That's the part that stinks. The OHSAA unconditionally backs the umpire and accepts his word as gospel without hearing any other sides of the story. There is no due process for the coach. They need to at least hear from all parties involved before the coach has to serve the two game suspension. That is not too much to ask.

 

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Umpire then grabbed coach by the shirt with one hand and started yelling and sticking his finger in the coaches face.

At this point, as the plate umpire, I would have ejected my partner from the game! Seriously, I would have told him we didn't need him anymore and to hit the parking lot.

Just from the description of the guy, I might know who you're talking about. I was working a tournament last summer with another umpire that tried pulling this kind of stuff with me when I questioned one of his calls. He didn't lay a hand on me, but got in my face and was belligerant in the middle of the field. It was one of the worst displays of umpire behavior I ever witnessed.

We got the game going again, but after the game I calmly asked him why he made the ruling he did. This was on a field where we had to exit through a gate in the outfield, so we were in the middle of centerfield at the time. The guy pulls the same routine! Jumps up in my face and starts screaming and waving his hands around, telling me he's been umpiring for so many years and I don't know what I'm talking about.

Finally, I had enough. I basically read this guy the riot act- just laid into him. I'm poking my finger in his chest and telling him if he ever pulls anything like that with me again he can get his...hind end...off the field.

Now that must have been a good show for the players and fans around the field!

Some folks just don't have the temperment or people skills to handle conflict, or a good sense of what constitutes a professional attitude or appearance. Those are the guys that I wish would take up another hobby besides umpiring.

 

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LOL .. no doubt.. please take up another hobby is correct...

 

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Which brings us full circle back to what the original post was about...Umpire Accountability. Be nice if there was a process that weeded these types out. They are few but they give the whole lot a black eye. Of course if there was a process, I would miss Tim. LOL

 

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LOL.. I never went off on anyone yet... or at least I don't remember. Just after the tournament on the OFC !!!!

I did tell a fan one time in a 16u game ( down along the third base side ) in a free tournament with ONE umpire... to "shut the heck up" so that he could hear me and maybe a couple others. One umpire folks doing a 16u game at a free tournament.. come on.

I was wrong, I aplogized and he and I talked softball at the next tournament we saw each other at the folllowing weekend.

I hope to see him this year, too !!!!!!