How NOT to coach a Youth League team – Part II

Actually, it was a pretty low-profile appearance on the part of the police. A Mom sitting on our side had called it in (probably about the time Dad had to be restrained) and two officers showed up almost immediately but maintained the appearance that they were just strolling by. There was some serious discussion on the field among all parties until it became clear that no one at this point in time was going to injure any one, and the BC did in fact finally leave the field, whereupon the Ump called the game. Now all the remaining coaches got upset at the Ump! Just because there had been a near-brawl, two ejections and cops called to the scene? You’ve got to be kidding?

At this point in time, a man who had been sitting quietly in our section called the Ump over and said quietly to him, “You may want to rethink that decision.” Turns out he was the umpire’s father and undoubtedly the most controlled man on the field to have sat quietly through all that. I couldn’t help but contrast his behavior to Dads when his child was being threatened. They talked it over; the volunteer coaches were OK with continuing in the BCs absence – Play Ball!

But the BC wasn’t actually absent. He made his way to a picnic table located behind right field and sat out there, following the game. In a minute we noticed that he was on the phone, and then saw one of his volunteers – phone in his ear – go over to make a line-up change. The BC was calling in instructions from afar! We really expected the volunteer to take the phone out to the pitcher at some point.

Well, to wrap this saga up, Jericho’s team – several runs down when all this took place – rallied furiously in the last inning and made it an exciting, competitive ball game, losing only by a couple. Game over, the BC returned to the field; there were a couple more displays of poor sportsmanship, and we all went home shaking our heads at the lessons that had been taught that evening.

Later, the word was that the BC (who by the way is the individual with overall responsibility for that league) was going to apologize at the next game. We had to come home before that happened, if it did. And to think – the worst thing that ever happened while our kids were playing ball was Mom having to sit behind the outfield fence so the Umpires couldn’t hear her yell!