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26 replies

"Fan" Behavior at a HS baseball game

G GaDad100+ posts
Last week I had an experience at a game that I found very troubling. My son's team played a doubleheader at a HS I had not been to before. This school has a tradition called the "Box Boys."

The Box Boys are students that stand in an elevated Box along the third base line over the home team dugout. They have large megaphones which they use to support their team, which I think is fine. However, they also hurl insults and taunts at the Visiting team. This went on between almost every pitch. In addition, another student started to aim a laser light towards our Pitchers eyes in the second game, which stopped after an inning or two. I have never seen anything like it.

What I think is doubly amazing is that the Coaches, Umpires, Parents, and no one else from the school did anything about the Box Boys. Our parents asked that it stop, but were totally ignored. Many of our parents were very upset after 16 innings of this (one game went into extra innings). I am happy to say that it didn't seem to get to our players at all.

After the game, we learned that the Box Boys are always at their games. Their behavior is apparently ok with the High School administration, the Coaches, and people in that community.

I think that the atmosphere at their games is creating a disaster just waiting to happen. It is only a matter of time before someone, a parent or member of a visiting team loses it and some type of violence occurs. In these times when there have been so many negative incidents at HS Sports games, I can't understand how a community or a school administration can allow this to continue. If someone even remotely connected with the school reads this, PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO STOP IT, before a disaster happens.

Thank goodness, they come to our field next year, which will be my son's last in HS. I don't ever want to go to this community again!
Steve "It might be, it could be, it is.........
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D denise100+ posts
Steve,
I find that kind of behavior horrible. I can't believe any school would allowed it. I don't blame you for never wanting to return to that school. Is this team in your high school district? Is this a team you are required to play? If not your coach should not agree to play them. If it is i would definitly have to talk to someone about the way these kids act.
B BeenthereILHSBBWeb Old Timer
GaDad...Your coach should take his team off of the field and protest the game with the Georgia High School Athletic Association.

It is his fault. Can't blame the umpires because they want to work at that school for their $50-$75/game...or they would have stopped it by now.

Simple solution to this kind of problem. Get the newspapers; the GAA; the principals; the AD's; the Deans; etc., involved and embarrass everyone.

Would take me 5 minutes of phone calls and that would be an end to the "Box Boys"...They would be packaged in a box and be GONE!
piaa_umppiaa_ump5,000+ posts
After thinking a bit on this question, I am trying to put myself into this situation. I am going to address this as if you are asking if there is anything an umpire can do to stop this.

Well, yes......and no....to some degree. How is that for a postive answer. Let me take it in parts. No, there is nothing an umpire can do about organized cheering, use of megaphones or general fan chatter...HOWEVER, Once the directed insults and taunts enter the arena, I have a problem with it.

NFHS rules disapproves of any form of taunting that is intended or designed to embarass, ridicule, demean others under circumstances including race, religon, gender, national origin.

I know this type of cheering/taunting is common in colleges, but I would not permit it at the HS level.

If I saw anyone using a laser light directed at an opposing player, I would immediately halt the game until the offender was ejected. I would hold the home team responsible for his fans actions. This is a safety issue and no one will harm a player on my watch.

My authority for this would come from NFHS rule 10-1 article 2&3h:
The Umpire in Chief has sole authority to forfiet a game and has jurisdiction over any rules matters.
H: forfiet the game for prescribed infractions by spectators, coaches, players or attendants.

This is just my opinion and Im sure you will hear others. But I take the NFHS rules about sportsmanship and the NFHS mission statement to heart.
Last edited by piaa_ump
CallawayCallaway500+ posts
TARatko
quote:
This behvior is again symbolic of what has gone wrong with America.
I think that is a stretch. I remember playing HS football in PA in the mid-70's where whole communities behaved similar to what was described. In one small coal mining town we played every year we had to drive up main street to get to the football stadium. Townspeople would line the street and shout profanities at us. Many would even throw rocks and cans at the bus. It was amazing to see these people come out of the stores and buildings to vent their wrath at visiting teams. It was almost surreal watching grizzled old men with 3-day beards, missing teeth and greying and tattered t-shirts running after the buses yelling and throwing things. As testosterone filled football players, it was one of our favorite road trips! biglaugh

My point is that different communities have different behavior patterns. What is right and accepted for one area would be completely tastless in another. I don't think this is a reflection on what American society is becoming. This has been going on for a long time.

As far as the behavior of these "Box Boys" is concerned. I only have a problem with the laser light. I think that is over-the-top and should be stopped immediately. As far as giving my team the "business", as long as it is just noise, I say bring it on! It's an experience that they can learn from.

R.
Last edited by Callaway
FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
quote:
I know this type of cheering/taunting is common in colleges, but I would not permit it at the HS level.


I think piaa_ump has the right idea.

We have seen this kind of thing at the college level, except I don't think anybody has brought megaphones and absolutely NO ONE would use a laser light ... heck, I find the flash cameras a distraction, and I am just a spectator. One school in our conference is notorious for their centerfield fans ... they even research info on the opposing players in the media guides and use those "facts" when taunting the fielders. It is annoying, but part of college baseball life.

At the high school level, tho, I think it is different. For one thing, the spectators are closer to the field than at most college fields. And someone needs to send a message to the other team that the fan behavior is not acceptable. We had a situation once where our high school coaches complained to the umpire because the "music director" in the PA booth wouldn't stop the music at the appropriate times ... 'nough said. It stopped as soon as the umpire spoke with the coach. And I have always respected the umpires who take charge like that.

Anyway, I think coaches who find this behavior unacceptable need to send a message to the coach of the other team ... cease and desist or ... no competition.
P Pitchinside100+ posts
Megaphones? Lasers?

Good school spirit is one thing, but this is just "BUSH" (not George,but...)!

GaDad has a point, sooner or later, it will lead to a physical confrontation!

BeenthereIL said it all. A phone call to my AD about this classless %$&*^^@ would just be the beginning!

Lamber, your posts are so... insightful! It's baseball you idiot, not WWF!
P P-Dog500+ posts
I've seen this spill over from college "6th man" groups at basketball games, to high school "6th man" groups, and I'm not surprised to see it spill over to HS baseball, where the stands are typically pretty close to the field. It's basically a social issue: if the "community" thinks it's appropriate, it'll happen. If not, it won't. Think about the difference between fan behavior at a golf match and at a basketball game. Heckling has always been a part of baseball. It still is big at pro games. Back in the day, it used to be done in Little League (Hey batter...swing! - remember?) I don't like it, but if it's on the upswing it's just something to get used to.
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
Other than the lasers, I see no problem with it from a player's perspective. Heckling is actually pretty funny sometimes. Just take care of business on the field and ignore them.

There is a reason they are the "Box Boys"...they weren't good enough to wear a uniform. Just play baseball and ignore the other ****.
G GaDad100+ posts
Denise: This team is in our Region-probably same as a "district" by you. This is the second year they have been in our Region so first time we have experienced playing up there.

All: Our kids dealt with it fine. My son pitched four innings and it did not effect him one bit. I agree that it is good training for potential future situations and I am proud that he and his teammates are mentally tough enough to concentrate on the game with all of this going on around them.

I do think the Home Head Coach and Umpires should deal with this and put it to an end. If this was going on at our field, I can guarantee our Head Coach would end it very directly if our parents didn't get there first.

My biggest concern is the explosive potential of the environment that is being created at this team's games. This game was an early season game but attracted a crowd of probably 300-400 people. If this was going on with a potential Region Title or advancing in the State tournament on the line, the chances of physical violence will be great as tempers flare. The host team is a very good team that will likely be among the frontrunners in our Region and potentially advance well into the State tournament.

I agree somewhat with TA's comments that the Box Boys should be taken out back. I just think it needs to be done by THEIR PARENTS, cause if they are taken out back by parents from the other team, the situation is likely to get very ugly.
Last edited by GaDad
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
I understand getting upset with a game but if you are concerned with physical violence over a baseball game, your kids need some coaching for other things besides baseball.

Don't get me wrong...you can get heated up...but to fight with some losers who heckle you from a birds nest over a baseball game?!? That makes no sense at all.
G GaDad100+ posts
Redbird:

I don't know what life is like in Virginia. Let me tell you about Georgia.

There was an article about the State final four in basketball about how fights continuously were breaking out in the stands during the games as fans were taunting fans from the other teams.

In the county next to ours, there was a brawl at a girls T-Ball game where two mothers wound up getting arrested after a fight that disrupted the whole game.

I really don't think incidents like these are unique to our part of the country. They are happening in many places.

The players will be fine. But, it is environments like this that make the odds much greater that something bad will happen, and generally that something involves "fans" or parents who get upset during the course of a game. Why would a responsible school official allow an environment like this?
itsinthegameitsinthegame5,000+ posts
Heckling and taunting have always been part of the game. All the players have to do is keep their focus and play. If folks in the stands want to act like ignorant animals - so be it.

As for laser pointers, or any other device intended to interfere with the players physically, (and in so doing jeopardize the safety of the players) - you as the perpetrator should be prepared - at all times - to take a horrific physical beating.
Either that - or buy some a suit of armor and a bazooka for self-defense.
N 2ndbasemom100+ posts
We had an instance with a couple of "FANS" in one of our first games, at first it was funny, but then he started swearing and I don't think his words hit the outfield fence and he was told to leave by both the ump and the coach of the other team. But heres a twist, we have a head coach that SCREAMS across to his first base coach every time our pitcher goes into his windup. The kid said it didn't bother him but it sure was bush league to me.
S sorearm10+ posts
While at a game in north metro Atlanta, I witnessed the worse heckling and noise interference I have ever seen at a game. And the principal was in the large group as they sat on a ridge behind the visitors' dugout. Not only was the heckling particularly venomous, but the use of air horns while our pitcher was in his windup was also distracting. I was also shocked to hear their insensitive comments as our first baseman lay prone on the field after being hit in the head by the ball. The first baseman's father was ready to kick some rear when he heard them.

This is an affluent school with most of those kids driving luxury cars. I know that if I complain to the county administrators or the principal, it will be seen as sour grapes by our team. My son was brought up to respect other people, their property, and their talent. I guess that other families don't raise their kids that way if they have lots of money.
G GaDad100+ posts
I agree with TR on that point. The community where the Box Boys are from is rural and at the other end of the economic spectrum from the North Atlanta team.

It has a lot to do with how some kids are being raised these days and the type of behavior that is allowed, and in some cases maybe encouraged, by adults associated with programs like these.

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