On field banter

Weird hitting reply to my own post...

Kirk, I love the direction of your last post on other topic. We all need to remember and focus on matters of true importance.

I need to go back to work or I'll need rehab again...

It's the head coaches responsibility to control his players on the field. No personal attacks on the other team. I believe that you doing your talking with your play. Enough said.

Kirk, I would also agree with your statement on the other thread. Well said!
I like competitive games and I get "loud" sometimes but getting personal banter aimed at one or two players to get it heated up should not be the goal of a team or a parent / fan. The team should focus on the game and being competitive and show sportsmanship that the other team deserves and respect their players AND parents.
As parents it is our job to teach our kids the definition of sportsmanship and enforce it. I know so many kids on the other rival teams we play I don't want anything to get out of hand between any players or parents.
The "Golden rule" comes to mind and we and the kids should all "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
Let's play ball!! The old fashioned way!!

I have been asked to copy my post from other thread to this thread.

Chatter from one team to another does not make it fun for the kids! There will be one team, one player from one team, that will be angered by the "chatter". Players should root for their teammates ONLY!

I agree with most on this thread, yapping (unacceptable behavior) is learned/tolerated at home. Then it is tolerated by the coach/es, then it is tolerated by the umpires. If parents and coaches, last line of defense, do their jobs, umpires won't have to mediate chit chat amongst players.

Parents should be held most accountable..."let he who is without sin cast the first stone"...I am as guility as anyone for tolerating/allowing this type of behavior to exsist. I have <6 months before my son goes to college. I think I will concentrate on trying to teach him to be a man who loves God first, his neighbor second and himself third.

By the way, when the player has to sit the parent down after a game and ask them to not say the things they said during the game, then the parent is part of the problem not the solution. I have been part of the problem.

As Robert S. would say, "a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then". By the way, where is Robert S, somewhere between Houstn and Dallas I suspect.

My last thoughts on this subject - all comments focus on acceptance of responsibility and accountability. In the case of baseball games the accountability buck clearly stops with the Coach.

Good coaches know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior and the true test of "character" is for a coach to establish accountability for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

I am not commenting on any particular incident(s) but rather on the overall general decline in "respect for the game and fellow man."

IMO we as parents need to do a much better job being a parent (me first)- case closed. But we as parents and a community should require our coaches to "have our back" and step in/up and enforce correct behavior on THEIR field.

JMO

Again, Players should let their bats and gloves do the talking. Parents should cheer for their team only.

I believe character is taught at home. Unfortunately, as we have seen many parents have a lack of character and common courtesy when at the game. I often wonder what will happen in the years to come, as poor sportsmanship seems to be common on the field and in the stands.

It maybe up to the coaches to squelch the problem. They are in ultimate control over who plays and who sits. One would hope that parents would back up the decision of a coach who sits a kid with a bad attitude. All to often little Johnny is bailed out by parents never realizing the consequences of his actions.

Society in general has lost it's manners and kindness! Is it Collikar that has the quote "Do the right thing, no matter what the circumstance". Maybe HS baseball should have this posted at every field as you walk in so parents, fans, and athletes are reminded.

To me bantering on the field is part of baseball.
I do not like it, but as long as it is not personal
that is part of the game.

The worst behavior I have witnessed of late is
from the stands, Parent yes, but the JV team and
Student Body are very out of control at some of
the places we have been.
I just wish that kind of behavior could be stopped.

Cheer for your team, as my mom used to say:
"if you don't have nothing nice to say then don't say nothing at all"

I would like to think if you asked my kid (son if you are ever asked we don't approve of it)what his parents thought was acceptable he would say we did not approve of "trash talk".

Has he ever "trash talked"? Of course. They are teenage boys, together they become a pack and somehow throw out all their parents have taught them and act like a pack of teenage boys. IT IS THE COACHES RESPONSIBILITY 1st.

Parents have a huge responsibility! But when was the last time you marched down to the dugout in a varsity game and told you child to hush?

IMHO...IT IS THE COACHES RESPONSIBILITY 1st.

Umpires,

What are the "official" consequences (sp?) you can impose on this kind of behavior? Have you ever?

I read a lot but don't post too much, but this topic was one that just got my attention. My son doesn't play high school ball anymore so my observations are as a previous baseball parent and a fan today. My son was fortunate to play for a HS coach in McKinney that didn't/wouldn't put up with the mouthing. Now, they were allowed to be noisy as long as it didn't get personal or disprectful (to individuals or the sport). I have seen this coach, on many occasions, shout at his dugout from his coaching spot at 3rd base to tell them to knock it off. They knew he meant business. I actually witnessed this again as recently as last week and it is nice to see this particular coach's approach to the game and his respect for it. If any of you have watched many McKinney ISD high school games, I don't think it is difficult to know who this coach is.

As I attended a rivalry game between two local schools a few weeks ago, it was amazing to me to see the difference in the two teams behavior. Win with class, lose with class was very apparent on one side of the field and non-existent on the other side. From my viewpoint as a fan, it was apparent to see the problem started and ended with the coach. Bottom line is that the coach sets the tone and the rules. If he allows the junk to occur, then he is the problem. I will add that the coach I allude to in the first paragraph was not involved in the rivalry game I am describing now.

As parents, if you are ok with this type of behavior by your coach, then you too are part of the problem. If you don't approve of it, let the coach know. It is an embarrasment to the program, the school, and the sport. I know, the fear of playing time will be affected, yada, yada, yada. I am not even going to go there on this discussion. Do what is right and it will be better for all involved.

My 2 cents worth.

NTXFan - you nailed it,"it starts and ends with the coach." Either he has control of his team or he doesn't, it really is that simple. My 2 cents.

NTXFan,

I've been called a fair share of things, most memorable by a pretty popular school on this message board. The fans, and players roasted me a good one as a soph. (I must admit all the "disses" and insults were actually original... I was impressed) and I was able to pull out a tough win.

As a player, I can either take what they are saying and try to prove them wrong, or I can fire back. Who is more guilty in this situation? The instigator or the kid who can't hold back? I'd say both, but usually a kid firing back either 1) get's noticed easier or 2) does something extreme. I like to think that the best players that respect the game use any chatter as motivation. I also like to think that any kid throwing insults at me as a pitcher, hitter, or player is doing it because it's baseball and I would like to think that outside of the game they would not feel that way. Obviously things can get more personal, but my approach to smack talk has allowed me to never really give in to an opposing team's talk. Giving in is letting them win the mental side of the game... and how much of the game is mental again?

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
Umpires,

What are the "official" consequences (sp?) you can impose on this kind of behavior? Have you ever?

Sandy
If you are asking about parents each school must have an administor at the game so if parents get out of hand the umpire can spreak with them about calming the parent down or have them removed.
First option for coaches and players is restricted to the bench and dont get up.
Second option is thrown out of the game and head to the club house.
I personally have not had to do either one and i hope that in the games i call i can control it on the field.
Hope this helps

For those who are fortunate to make it to the next level beware of what to look forward to, especially at Div I and Div II schools.

I attended a college ballgame recently. At the start of a game, the school’s public address announcer designates and announces the name of a hitter from the opposing team. Every time that hitter is up to bat the announcer reminds the crowd that if so-and-so strikes out, all popcorn is free for the next 10 minutes. If the unfortunate hitter strikes out the crowd empties the stands and rushes to the concession stand.

Thanks Change-up.

I have never seen a player restricted to the bench or ejected for their heckling/bantering (whatever you want to call it)of the other team in the 13 years we have been playing ball.

quote:

Originally posted by RHP'er:

I attended a college ballgame recently. At the start of a game, the school’s public address announcer designates and announces the name of a hitter from the opposing team. Every time that hitter is up to bat the announcer reminds the crowd that if so-and-so strikes out, all popcorn is free for the next 10 minutes. If the unfortunate hitter strikes out the crowd empties the stands and rushes to the concession stand.

Yeah, my son called me the other day from a game in Abilene. He said he was designated the "popcorn guy." 1 for 3, but no K's!

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
Umpires,

What are the "official" consequences (sp?) you can impose on this kind of behavior? Have you ever?

It's the umpires responsibility to keep control of the game. As an umpire, when the "trash talk" gets out of hand, I usually call the coaches out, explain the situation, issue a bench warning, and move on. If its a specific player giving me trouble, I like to handle him myself with a sincere threat. I've never had significant problems after I've done either of these things, but then again I've never umped above the 6th grade level.

If a kid goes too far with what he says, he's gone. I've never run into that situation, but I won't hesitate if it ever arises.

IMHO, keep it civil. Talk, but don't get out of hand.

quote:

Originally posted by RHP'er:
For those who are fortunate to make it to the next level beware of what to look forward to, especially at Div I and Div II schools.

I attended a college ballgame recently. At the start of a game, the school’s public address announcer designates and announces the name of a hitter from the opposing team. Every time that hitter is up to bat the announcer reminds the crowd that if so-and-so strikes out, all popcorn is free for the next 10 minutes. If the unfortunate hitter strikes out the crowd empties the stands and rushes to the concession stand.

RHP'er college baseball is an entirely different animal. We are talking about 15 - 18 year old kids still wet behind the ears.

If you want to see bantering done the correct way go see a El Paso Socorro game.

When things get out of hand, or before........put everyone outside the dugout and bring them in one at a time as you need them. That's what someone I knew would've done. He kind looked like this.........

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey Mantle World Series:
When things get out of hand, or before........put everyone outside the dugout and bring them in one at a time as you need them. That's what someone I knew would've done. He kind looked like this.........

MMWS....I've seem him too! Big A Little L would often say to the head coach, "If this continues we're going to start a parade and you're leading it!".

Bottom line, it's in the game, (as I can personally attest to being yelled at by 2000 Georgia Southern fans "Lance is a ****" over and over my freshman year in college) and yes the coaches must have control of their players to stop it. If they don't stop, then playing time should stop or in some severe cases removal from the team. In fact just yesterday I took one of my starters out for making a comment during a game we were playing and then I made him apologize to the team for his actions. I won't tolerate it when my team is on the field.

L.A. ---- where did you play your college ball that you were playing SOCON team Georgia Southern?

quote:

Originally posted by Natural:
L.A. ---- where did you play your college ball that you were playing SOCON team Georgia Southern?

It was 1985, (which doesn't seem so long ago, but it is), when I was at Hardin-Simmons in Abilene. We were a dual membership school, D-1 and NAIA. We played in the Trans American Athletic Conference which spread from Statesboro, GA to Abilene, TX. We had won the Western Division of the TAAC and played them 2 out of 3 at their place for the conference championship. The atmosphere there was a lot like it is at Tech now.

I think you guys have covered every side of this so I don't have much to comment on other than to say this has been a good thread to read. This is the kind of thing I came to the site for.

Thanks.