Would you be worried????

[4AU4LIFE]

I am a volunteer coach of a little league baseball team of 8-9 yr olds.
Today during our game we had a GRANDMOTHER out there of one of OUR players. She is probably around 60yr old. Her grandson is #4 hitter in the line up. When he first came to bat she started her 'talking'. Then as the game progresses her talking starts getting louder and more rowdy.
Finally in the 4th inning she starts yelling and hollering foul langauge at OUR players while at the plate. The umpire finally had enough and between innings suggested that we ask her to tone it down a little.
So the head coach and I walked to the fence and extended out our hands to try and get everyones attention. They momentarily stopped being loud and we asked them 'Please refrain from the foul language since there are children everywhere'. Well, she went off the handle and it got worse.
Her brother was standing beside her and told us that we had better not get in her face again. Now keep in mind, we are on the playing field and she is probably 20-25 feet on the other side of the fence. He says that it is a good thing we are over there or else.....
Well the tempers started escalating and within minutes all the other games were halted due to the situation. There were undercover cops, AD's, and other coaches coming over to help difuse the problem.
The grandmother finally left but the brother stayed behind at the game. He kept pacing back and forth behind our dugout and keeping an eye on us. I was really beginning to get a little nervous about what might be getting ready to happen when the game is over.
Well luckily he left without further incident......BUT did make it a point of telling people that NOBODY was going to talk to his family like that and get away with it......
What would you do??????

 

[caseycarson]

If he be gettin' all up in yo' grille, you betta flex him like a skeeza.

 

[hlweyl]

Similiar situation happened at on of our little league games once. The loud mouth wouldn't shut up so they just called the game and walked off. I think that is the best thing to do rather than expose the kids to that crap.

It's a very difficult situation no doubt about it.

 

[steveny]

Wait for the kids to leave, beat the snot out of him, strip him naked and leave him in a puddle of mud. Oh yeah take his wallet and use the money to take the kids to Chuckie Cheese. :wink: :biggrin:

 

[ChrisK]

Well luckily he left without further incident......BUT did make it a point of telling people that NOBODY was going to talk to his family like that and get away with it......
What would you do??????

I'd file a police report and get those who heard him say that be a witness and put it on the report. If anything does happen in the future the police has it on their report.

 

[LJSB]

I would think it would be up to the umpire to control the situation.
He could have her grandson's team forfeit if the coach could not tone down the team members family's behavior. He could also call the Police and ask them to speak to her and her brother.

 

[ChrisK]

I would think it would be up to the umpire to control the situation.
He could have her grandson's team forfeit if the coach could not tone down the team members family's behavior. He could also call the Police and ask them to speak to her and her brother.

I'm with you. I would like to see the umpires or referees take more control of youth sports and just call the game entirely when situations get to an elevated level. It sucks for the kids, but maybe these stupid parents will start to learn that their behavior is ruining it for the kids. Also, other parents would start getting on those bad bahaving parents if enough games get called wasting everyone time. Also, another good idea is maybe everyone who is signed up should have to pay a small fee at teh begining of the season to pay for security or police protection. It should be written in the rules. It is sad that it has to get to this point, but there are too many stupid parents at kids games acting like idiots.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

I would think it would be up to the umpire to control the situation.
He could have her grandson's team forfeit if the coach could not tone down the team members family's behavior. He could also call the Police and ask them to speak to her and her brother.

The umpire did come over and tell them the same thing after we did and it didn't work. He was going to call the game if they said another word.
We spoke with a few of the park officials after the game and the said that the umpire wasn't supposed to say anything to the parents. It was up to us to control them. Problem was, we couldn't.

I'd file a police report and get those who heard him say that be a witness and put it on the report. If anything does happen in the future the police has it on their report.

That is a very good idea. I wonder how long after an incident like this happens do you have to do that?

 

[LJSB]

Who hires the umpire the league or the park?
Most of the time its the league hiring the umpire.
He probably can't make them leave the field if they refuse but has the power to forfeit if not complied with.
The umpire is supposed to be in control of the game and that includes interference from the fans. He's not a Policeman or park official but he THE game official and can call the game whenever he likes for just cause. If he feels there is a unsafe or unsuitable conditions he can pull the plug and rowdy fans are such a condition though I can well understand his concern for his and the players personal safety and threats . When that occurs Police should be called, quickly.
Most of the time a plan for such a contingency need not be in place but you may need one now.
I'd give a call to the local Police before the next game and ask them to stop by the park when you play there again, especially against that team.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

MOst of the time a paln for such a contingency need not be in place but you may need one now.
I'd give a call to the local Police before the next game and ask them to stop by the park when you play there again, especially against that team.

I think we are going to have a talk about that very thing.
The fans causing the problems were relative of OUR players, not the opponents. That is what makes it all the worse.

The umpire looked to be about 30yrs old. He was willing to call the game right then if we couldn't get them under control.

 

[KGP]

What would you do??????

Have them both banned from your games.

This year I had the pleasure (haha, not!) of being the commissioner of our basketball league and had all sorts of fun dealing with crap like that. Your league probably has specific rules in place to deal with such a similar situation, so check with your commissioner. Bottom line - anyone who donates their time for coaching, or works as an umpire/official, shouldn't have to deal with obnoxious ass holes who feel they must re-live their childhood through their children.

 

[Da Hapa]

granted, it's been a while but when I played little league the ump's spoke for the league and they had the sole discretion to remove a fan, player or coach. that shouldn't have changed.

it's your team. i'd go to the league first and explain the situation. then i'd hold a team meeting with all the parents involved and tell them that this kind of behaviour (by anyone) is unaccpetable. i'd ban the kids family from practice and games if that's what it took. heck, as bad as it sounds, i'd even ban the kid.

LL is about fun for everyone. And the truth is that this idiot and her brother don't have the right to ruin for the rest of the team. If it takes kicking this kid off the team to remove these jerks from the stands... that sucks but it isn't fair to the other kids and their families either.

It sucks. Coaching kids can be one of the most rewarding and frustrating things in the world. And it's really tough to take when it's the morons off the filed that take the spotlight and in fact, ruin it for the kids that the game is supposed to be about.

Glad you kept your cool. I know the posters above were kidding but fighting these jackasses gets you nowhere (except maybe jail or court) and doesn't set the right tone for your team or example for the kids.

That's why I think going to the league, explaining the situtation and your plans and then telling everyone together is the way to go.

Good luck.

 

[NCC-1701D]

Plant drugs in his car when he is not looking and then call the cops on him....

makes me wonder what type of home the player with the "rude" grandparent and brother comes from.....? young people are immature and deserves some slack..but older people should set an example of how to act in life...that type of behavoir is just un acceptable ..especially when young people are present...

 

[Texas91Brent]

Pull out cell phone and dial 911....

 

[minsbang]

I woulld make sure that the cops attend the game.

 

[KGP]

Coaching kids can be one of the most rewarding and frustrating things in the world.

Coaching the kids is EXTREEMLY rewarding, and frankly, has never been frustrating. But parents can be another issue. The ones that kill me are those who never are around for a practice, and could care less what is being taught, but somehow have all the answers at the game. What they fail to understand is that success is found as often or more often during practices.

 

[Cairo94507]

Keep a tape recorder handy at the games and when these idiots begin their "talk," record them. After they have been recorded enough to get the flavor of their talk, then record them being admonished to knock it off and their response.

Then call the police, make a report and turn over a copy of the tape. Then follow it up with a call to the DA's office to see what they intend to do. Insist they prosecute these idiots, with the ultimate goal being probation and community service time where they clean up the ball fields.

 

[brahtw8]

In many areas, the use of profanity in public will violate a local ordinance or state statute regarding disorderly conduct. In Wisconsin, for example, disorderly conduct is conduct that is abusive, profane, unreasonably loud or boisterous or otherwise tends to cause or provoke a disturbance. This would appear to apply to your 'fans'.

In a perfect world, you could simply walk over to that foul mouthed grandmother and slap her in the face, but I can't recommend such satisfying intervention in today's litigious society.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

Spoke with a cop today about it. He said that you really can't write up a report about it because there wasn't bodily harm threatened.
Either way, he did tell me to call them immediately if they show up and start doing it again.

 

[ChrisK]

Spoke with a cop today about it. He said that you really can't write up a report about it because there wasn't bodily harm threatened.
Either way, he did tell me to call them immediately if they show up and start doing it again.

Well, if you can't do a police report maybe at least a written letter of complaint or some sort of written statement to the league organization. Someone other than yourself should have a record of this incident.

 

[4AU4LIFE]

We spoke with the players dad today. He assured us that he talked to them and they won't be attending any more games. It is a shame that it has come to the point where grandparents can't come bacause of their own actions.
We'll find out if it holds true tomorrow night.

 

[druby]

I feel for you. I have been an assitant coach for little league on and off for 6 years and we have seen close to that situation but nit as bad as yours. I have seen a ref call a game due to parents that couldn't control themselves and afterwards the other parents made sure it wouldn't happen again. Good luck!