ETHICS AND MORALS IN TODAYS GAME

That's the problem. The coaches should be just as accountable for maintaining control of their parents as they are for controling their players and themselves. I can tell you, whatever the behaviour of the parents was, it was no surprise to the coaches. The entire parental contingent didn't simply trip off line at the same time. I'll guarantee this has been done before and the coaches, by taking no action to control it, only serve to foster it. If the parent can't behave, then they have to go, no matter how talented or victimized the player is. The organization and the sport can not condone these actions all for the sake of the girls.

 

Travelball should handle it the same way the NCAA does.
Umpires go to the head coach, it either gets handled, or the
coach gets ejected and the team forfeits.

 

Umpire in Control or NOT ?????

Got To Love The Game...........but putting up with hollering parents is not kosher, and especially when the umpires seem not to be in control of the game...:imagestor.....I think if an official is not handling the situation,he or she should not be allowed to umpire.........yes,I agree the coach must be in control first of his team, but the umpire is the police on the field,and must follow guidelines to keep harmony on the field.....


Softball Guru

 

I think I know where you are coming from. But the Umpire should not have to confront the parents of a given team. He should inform the coach of an unacceptable situation. If it is not promtly resolved, the Umpire should then take control. Not by addressing the crowd. But by pulling the plug on a game gone wrong. Let the spineless coach have to adress the why's with his spoiled parents who can then explain why their kid's hard work was for nothing but a long ride home.

 

The issue has become the disrespectful behaivor of parents. The kids will then follow what they see !!! I dont think there is anything wrong with parents chearing loudly for their DD or DD's team. The issue as become the parents getting nasty and very loud to the kids on the opposite team. I have witnesed over the past several months parents of the opposing team becoming very loud, negative and spiteful directly to the kids on our team !! Where is the maturity of the parents ????

 

What's acceptable behavior from parents towards umpires?

Good post. I have been wanting to write up a post about parents behavior towards umpires (just have not gotten around to it). Parents saying things towards an opposing team is unacceptable.

But what is considered unacceptable behavior towards an umpire with an attitude that continues to make bad calls during a game? Should parents yell & holler at umpires during a game. Where is the line drawn?

I know this reply may not be exactly a tie-in with the original post but I thought the question about parent's/fans in the stands behavior towards umpires may fit in.

Including myself, it amazes me how perfectly normal people, during the work week, can turn into subhuman enraged species, during the weekend, sitting under the sun watching their DD's play ball. Is it okay to yell stuff like "your missing a good game blue", or "you can't make that call, from where your standing", or "Blue, the corners are part of the strike zone too"....is it okay to continue to say these things to an umpire over and over? Just wondering.

 

I don't believe it is wrong to question an umpires call if done properly..badgering is another issue...I've had umpires come up to me after the inning and say " Man I missed that call ", hey they are human and they are more human when they omit it...questioning an umpires call is out of line when you are doing it to belittle him or her or like I've mentioned before continueing to badger him or her to the point where the official can not concentrate on his or her job. Sometimes when questioning a call it makes the official see that maybe, just maybe his strike zone is too tight,and forces the batter to work for a hit instead of giving her a walk. I do caution you that some umpires have a no tolerance level toward the fans,so learn your umpires ,and find out what are their limits. It might just save you from having a short day at the park.....................


Softball Guru

 

Who should handle off-field problems?

OK, I've read everyone's comments on who should take control of situations on and off of the field. First of all, in an NCAA contest, the host school MUST have an "on-site" administratrator to handle the crowd an any disruptions that pop up. Yes the umpire, when the situation warrants, will go to the game administrator if he/she feels that a fans behavior meets the standards set forth by the NCAA, from that point it is up to the host school to handle the situation. You will NEVER see an on-field officials forfeit an NCAA game, we might delay, but we will not forfeit. As for actions of team personnel, that does fall under the jurisdiction of the umpires and should be handled before if escalates. But now when you are talking about these summer travel tournaments, the on-filed umpire, after noticing threatening or behavior that should not be tolerated, they should stop the game long enough to get the tournament directors and let them handle the situations. They should NEVER penalize a team, for the actions of their fans. The T/D can bring in law enforcement, just like would happen at an NCAA contest, to have the offenders removed. Umpires should only rule on actions on the field, it's when they keep their ears to the stands, that MAJOR problems happen. Remember, the umpires should be the calming factor in the otherwise caotic situations. The games at all levels are hard enough to officiate for these people, please don't put anymore responsibilty on their shoulders.

 

Of all my years following Travel Ball, I witnessed for the first time an experience described above. A fan was being very, very aggressive in his shouting at opposing players. The umpire called time, discussed with the coach the consequences to not controlling his parents; the coach futilly tried to talk to the parent involved..to no avail. Wasn't long after, the umpire forfeited the game to the other team.

NCAA is a different animal. I don't think the umpires hear most of the things shouted at the players. Most of it comes while the player is in the On Deck circle...or in the outfield. One time I had chicken bones thrown at me. I went to the umpire after the inning to inform him that I was upset...not because they threw chicken bones, but because they threw chicken bones that were already eaten. That ain't right :imagestor

Go to Mississippi State for a game...those people are nuts!!!!