Know the limits
Although high school, junior varsity and middle school baseball have been going on for some time now, when you consider that Major League Baseball officially began this week and all the other levels of summer programs have their beginning dates in sight, there is no doubt baseball is officially here.

With that declaration another thing that is imminent if it hasn't already occurred where you are, is the disagreements we all seem to have with umpires. It stands to reason that every call an umpire makes is only going to please half those participating in or watching a game at any one time.

That obviously is because in every game there are two opposing sides that are doing everything within their power to beat the other. That includes the coaches and players for both teams as well as those who support the respective teams involved. Unfortunately, sometimes those of us involved in one or more of those capacities go to an extreme in supporting our side when it comes to the relationship we have with umpires.

Some of the time we allow the heat of a moment to cloud our better judgment and cause us to act toward an umpire in a way that is at best inappropriate. Most of the time our point of view in those disagreements is based on what we perceive as a bias the umpire has for the opposing team or a level of incompetence that makes him or her incapable of umpiring any game.

I think it goes without question that there have been cases in the past where umpires have probably been biased toward a certain team and there isn't a doubt in my mind that there have always been a percentage of the umpires in every association and at every level who were and are incompetent at what they do.

Of course that is probably something we could say about every profession in our society. Just as sure as I am about those two observations, I am also sure there are some really good umpires out there who are doing their dead level best to make sure the calls they make in every situation are the appropriate one. Their understanding of the game and its flow, their knowledge of the rules, and their consistency are some of the things that set them apart and make coaches happy to have them as an umpire.

Many of them unlike some of their counter parts openly welcome dialogue from coaches and are willing to listen to their arguments if they are done properly. They even tolerate the normal bantering that fans throw their way as long as it is within reason and not belligerent. There is a point out there though where even the most competent and patient of umpires will draw a line. At that point the umpire is going to take control of the situation and usually those coaches, players and even fans that can't control themselves are going to pay a price.

In an attempt to avoid as many confrontations between umpires and officials and coaches and players as possible, the AHSAA strengthened the rules surrounding such confrontations when they passed stricter conduct rules in the spring of 2006 to go into effect with the 2006-2007 seasons.

In those rules the first ejection of a coach or player from a game will result in a minimum $300 fine. The second ejection will result in a minimum one game suspension and a $500 fine. The third such ejection will result in a minimum suspension for the remainder of the season and a $750 fine.

The AHSAA isn't the only one taking steps to prevent what sometimes comes from these confrontations, as many states and even the federal government have taken notice of the violence that sometimes evolves from those situations and are enacting laws or enforcing some already in existence to punish those who would take such arguments to an extreme.

In the end the ultimate solution to the problem still comes down to a couple of things and that is all those involved respecting each other and knowing what the limits are. By that I mean coaches, players, and fans certainly have a right to disagree with a decision an umpire makes but in lodging that disagreement must respect the umpire's position of authority and pose the disagreement in the proper manner and then accept the decision whether they agree with it or not. Of course that is a lot easier said than done. The umpire on the other hand must also realize with his authority comes the responsibility to do the job to the absolute best of his ability which should include knowing the rules of the game, constantly working to improve their skill level, and respecting the right of those involved on both teams to disagree with him sometimes.

Until next time…..be safe!

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