Unruly Coach or Player Policy

No coach can question a judgment call (balls, strikes, fair, foul, safe or out - exception below). Remember that a coach may not agree with your call, and that is OK, but the way in which they may demonstrate or voice their opinion should be minimized. If you let a coach be loud or demonstrative, or go on and on, it can affect the attitude and actions of the other coaches, players and fans. The best way to handle this is to call time and go up to the coach (do not show him up) and calmly have a very quick discussion about the play and/or maybe his actions (based on the situation, you can listen to his position or not), typically saying, coach, that is how I saw the play [or, I did not see that(play)], that is my final call - turn and walk back to you position (remember, if his position is such that you should check with the other umpire, then do so; conference and decide the final call, repeat it to each other, and then inform the head coach and the other head coach). If he continues, tell him that the play is over and you do not want to hear any more (this is his warning), if he continues, you may tell him that you will restrict him to the bench or eject him - or, based on the situation, you may restrict him to the bench or eject him. Try to be as lenient as possible, but you must maintain control of the game. If this is a situation where the coach is making comments, especially continued comments, about balls and strikes or even a ruling, stop this immediately (example - after a call has been made by one umpire that the coach did not agree with, and on a subsequent play the call went his way, and the coach yells out something like, "It's a good thing you had the call!" - the coach is showing you up, walk over and tell the coach to knock it off)

ONLY the head coach can question a ruling. Do not allow an assistant coach to come on to the field or make a scene - quickly end the situation and warn him that only a head coach may discuss things with the umpire. The head coach should call time out and approach you in a non- threatening manner and speak to you calmly from about five feet. He may ask you about a ruling call and may ask you for help in making the call from the other umpire. Do not be afraid to ask for help. It does not make you look bad and it will help calm the coach/team. The head coach may even ask you to get help on a checked swing, fair or foul or out or safe if you may have been out of position (ie., pulled foot off the bag, or interference call, etc.). Try to accommodate the coach. If either coach continues, handle the situation as described above.

PLAYERS shall not argue calls or make comments or make threatening gestures concerning the calls, judgment or ruling. Players also may not rudely converse or otherwise incite violence with the opposing team. If this occurs, warn them, and if it continues, restrict them to the bench (effectively taking them out of the game) or eject them. If the original comments or gestures are particularly rude, of a personal nature, or cussing, based on the severity, an ejection is probably warranted.

You may even find yourself in a position in which you might have been wrong. Always be open to discussing the situation with your partner - if you didn't see the call, then you can not make the call (Coach, I/we did not see the play). If you called the wrong thing, you may be able to fix it, but then again, you may not (simply tell the coach, sorry, I/we missed the call - he won't be happy, but at least he will respect that).

Remember, no one may call out anything that could make the pitcher balk. Call time and warn. And if the coach yells out,"that's a balk" and then the pitcher balks because of it, negate the play. Whether the pitcher balked or not, warn him to not say that again, and that you will call the game.

Unruly Fan Policy

Remember, a fan has the right to disagree with your call(s). They can say many different things - you must have thick skin. However, when they use cuss words, questions your integrity, speak directly to you (example - You are horrible - in other words use the "you" word), show you the rule book at the fence and rag on you, etc., and more, or otherwise incite the crowd - call time and go over to the head coach of that team and tell him to quite his parent/fan or the parent/fan will be removed from the game (have it noted in the scorebook - try to get their name). Inform the coach that the next ejection will be him, and the following action will be a forfeit. So he had better get control of it immediately.