Might have to use these techniques with my wife. "Honey, take the trash out" "What did you say?" "I said take the trash out" "OK, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE!!!"
Same. Really enjoyed it as well. As one who has played and coached the game but not officiated it, this video presented a great look "behind the mask". Look forward to future submissions.
I’m a 15 year old ump who threw his first parent out after 5 innings of swearing and confronting the opposing teams 12 year old girls. This video has taught me a lot thank you
I'm a 44 year-old umpire and one of the leagues I work in has young umpires like yourself. One thing I've noticed is the majority of coaches are my age, and a few of them take advantage of the age differential and try to intimidate or even bully the young umpires. This video is PERFECT. When you're the umpire, be the umpire. Don't be afraid to throw the ban hammer.
This video is pure gold. The part at the beginning regarding the intolerance of trash talking between players is vital. Baseball is a game of sportsmanship. How you play this game is as important as how well you play this game. Umpires enforce the rules and administer the game...we also encourage positive sportsmanship, too.
Talk about a RUclips rabbit hole. Watching 90’s television commercials. Then the best moments in video game speed running. Now I’m watching umpires role play situations and throw each other out.
I felt the same way. 7 coaches and 1 player in 15 years. In the association I worked many of my games for this guy wouldn't have lasted three weeks. We referred to guys like this as "Gestapos", abusing their power over a game, looking for reasons to toss someone. One umpire we had for a short time we referred to as "Miranda Mark." He actually brought out an index card (like a cop reading the Miranda rights) listing what the coach can and cannot do during the pregame meeting. I couldn't believe I was seeing this. What he thought helped him gain control of the game actually hurt him, as coaches challenged him constantly. We not only had a policy against unnecessary ejections, we had one against demonstrative ejections. We made a point of remaining calm and often didn't do a hand signal until after the coach or player left the field, when we would signal the press box that he was ejected. During the actual argument, it was usually a simple "OK, you're gone" or similar statement. This policy was enacted after a 6'6", 300 pound umpire did a crazy ejection dance over a young player and scared the hell out of him, not to mention lost composure himself.
I've ejected a few. But that's because I umpired 13u travel ball in GA mostly where kids and their hormones usually leads to at least 3 ejections every tournament (from all games). Usually a non head coach gets tossed as well. Our dizzy Dean group in my area have always been nothing from non head coaches allowed but that's been a 40+ year hard line lol. Generally it's a fluid thing you take case by case. It's still kids ball you're not an mlb umpire. If you have discussions at the beginning respectfully with people and you call good games you'll have a good reputation which is going to to keep a lot of stuff under control. Coming out like the gestapo takes away the whole point of why everyone is there in the first place. Shitty parents. Shitty coaches. And shitty umpires. That's what ruins some kids fun.
@@kevinsandford8794 It seems like he's coming from a college perspective. In college+ I think he's exactly right. Those coaches should know exactly what is and is not acceptable. In HS or travel ball? Eh, maybe a little more lee way, but still, you can't give too much or you'll have issues.
@@codinginzen8793 Coaches shouldn't have a super long leash for exactly the reasons you mentioned at the end. Never escalate, but don't be scared to get them if they're setting a bad example.
First year umpire here. Used the stern look on a parent who had an issue with my zone, didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the night. Thank you!!
I found this video very enlightening even though I do not play or umpire anything. using some of these technique can help you in in many aspects of any job. Thanks
This instructor/teacher is amazing and was an eye opener to how they teach umpires. This transparency is absolutely the best thing I have seen in a profession in a long time. This coming from a ball player. Just wow, I never would have known the amount of time and decisions umpires REALLY do to have to handle when officiating a game. Bravo and thank you.
John, thanks so much for this amazing tutorial. Watching your videos has really helped me grow as a newer official with a few years of experience. You have been really helpful on certain aspects of umpiring and I wanted to write something out to thank you for all of these videos.
Its not often a video is 20+ min long and is solid content throughout. That being said, I wish this instruction was provided when I began umpiring games when I was younger. The amount of harassment we took was beyond what this video showed and we were only told to provide the head umpire information after the game. John seems like he would be a great leader outside of umpiring.
Game management is extremely important. As an umpire for over 15 years, I've umpired up to the collegiate level. The ejection process seems sound and noteworthy. Definitely don't agree with all the scenarios that the instructor is suggesting an ejection over calming a coach down. I always try my best to keep all players and coaches in the game before resorting to ejecting anyone. Remember umpires enforce rules, coaches eject themselves by either being ignorant about rules or have problems with authority (more than likely shouldn't be on the field in the 1st place). VERY interesting video however. It was entertaining in the sense of how everyone has a different opinion on all situations. And remember these umpires may be training for higher tier play but realistically will never become an MLB umpire where every game is a "show". Theatrics are more tolerated at the MLB level .
John Gallante Actually, I sometimes did have a hard time hearing exactly what Kurt was saying. While that may be a hearing issue with me, perhaps you should put a mic on Kurt as well.
Really good video. I have been umpiring for 9+ years and I picked up a few tips after watching this...I'm always learning. One note to fellow umps, or would be umps: some of this can be dealt with at the plate meeting before the game. Set the tone early about your expectations and the proper way for a coach to question a call. That way, if they act out of line, you have the benefit of "I already told you I wouldn't accept this behavior...now, you're gone." Great video, John.
Watching a manager lose his mind has to be *so* bizarre to anyone unfamiliar with baseball. Where else can you see a man old enough to have grand kids pitch a tantrum literally kick dirt at another grown man's shins till he gets sent home... then he comes back to work the next day like it's all good. That's insane.
it's part of the game. They have a stadium full of fans, and a lot of managers are keenly aware of that. They do it to show their team that they are willing to back them up vigorously. To me, if an umpire asks someone to repeat themselves, that is almost tantamount to offering immunity to repeat what they said, granted it isn't a cut and dried ground for ejection.
That’s not the way it works. In real life if I get tossed I have to go before a UIL committee in Austin, TX (I live in Houston, 3 hrs away) and beg for my job. Umpires know this so they do and say whatever they want, no questions asked.
Minnesota Fatz Most of the umpires here are not working at the Major League level. I saw that kind of behavior from a coach very rarely. And usually from coaches who had the least amount of experience and knowledge of the game. Sometimes, coaches will go into that act because they are trying to fire up their team.
I grew up playing the game and I umpired here and there as a young guy, but I hardly consider myself anything more than a fan of the game itself. This was a really fun and insightful tutorial to watch. I really appreciated the entirety of it. It provides a great look at the game from an umpires perspective and how hard it is to control and maintain the peace and keep the game going. Well done.
Interesting hearing the discussion on when one coach yells about the other one. I had a game once in which a coach and player were arguing a play and it got close, but I didn't run anyone. After calming everyone down, I walk back to the plate and put my mask on. All of a sudden, the opposing coach strolls up and says, "Come on, Brian. You can't let that happen. Someone should have been tossed there." I answered, "You're right, Pete. You're gone." "WHAT?!?" "Get back to the dugout and sit down, and you can stay. But don't you ever question my handling of a situation like that again." I umpired in that area for about 2 more years and never had another problem with him.
I did a game (high level 14 year olds) where a kid hits a monster home run then hot dogs around the bases...opposing coach is fuming. An inning later I called one of his kids out at 2nd on a bang/bang play. Coach comes out, screaming, "that kid you just called out is a great kid!!! Yet you called him out but let that piece of sh*t over there (and points in the other dugout) taunt us on his home run trot!!" I was dumbfounded. I tossed him on the spot, and told him he should never refer to another kid as a POS. He said, 'well he is! He hot dog's all the time!" I just said well, you're gone and if you're smart you'll get in your car and leave because if you said that about my son I'd strangle you in the parking lot. I'm sure that kid's father is coming after you'....So the coach calls me on the phone a week later and says, "gotta hand it to you...I was wrong and you were right to toss me. I called the other coach and told him to pass along my apology to the kid. I lost it, and I'm glad it didn't go any further." I'm certain the game was about to escalate into a beanball contest and someone would've gotten hurt if we didn't toss him.
Soccer referee here, I love listening to other officials from every sport and how they manage their game, and honestly I find some of the tactics useful, thanks for putting a few more tools in my bag! Keep up the good work!
When I was an umpire I discovered a GREAT way to avoid most arguments when it came to balls an strikes. In my 1st high school game I was assigned the plate. After every called ball in the lowest voice I would say "High" or "outside " "low " etc. the catcher would hear this and if the coach would yell where was that. The catcher would repeat what I had said. The coach not knowing what I was doing, would think his catcher was telling him where he thought the pitch was. On a side note I also refereed basketball. nothing beats the arguments in Baseball. Coaches could say some funny stuff. One of the funniest was in a championship game the home team wasn't having their best game. In the 5th inning the coach came to the plate looks at me an says hows the wife an kids .I say fine. He says the parents are on me pretty good blue can you PLEASE for the love of God eject me. My thumb went up without hesitation.
My first college game the coach was always asking the catcher where was that pitch? I knew the coach outside of the field I did look at him and I had report with the catcher by the 3rd inning no more where was that pitc.
They usually say in training never to call the location of the pitch, but I also did that for about my last 10 years, and it was very helpful. On occasion, it could get interesting if I flat out froze on a pitch (down the middle, didn't call strike, but also didn't say where it was--so it was obvious I kicked it). But yeah, usually it worked well, and if the catcher tried to frame it, I would say the location again, a little louder. "OUTSIDE." I've had a few of those phantom arguments as well--I think we all have. I was working an adult hardball game in Southern California where the first baseman started screaming at me in English, then switched to Spanish (which I do not speak), then the coach got in my face and screamed in Spanish, then the player and coach started screaming at each other in Spanish while my partner and I just looked at them. The first baseman had pulled his foot on the play and I think the coach had seen it.
@Puckman637 Agreed. As a part-time ref I always look at how other officials do their job, especially the "crisis management" part. Defusing situations rather than escalating. I've learned through hard experience that you can't box in a player or coach and leave them no alternative to getting rung up.
I am not an umpire, I don't want to be an umpire... I don't even like baseball that might, but I find these umpire training videos strangely entertaining and informative.
I think most of these are worthy of an ejection but I’m not a huge fan of using the “What was that?” line when something said was somewhat insulting but not enough for an ejection. That just seems like it is intensifying the situation just for the sake of tossing someone. But hey, that’s just my opinion as a player. Great video 👍🏻
CybeastID as a player I got tossed from that line. I got a strike called on a low inside pitch that was clearly a ball, I said “that almost hit my fucking knee, blue”, he asked what I said and I responded with a more respectful “that pitch almost hit my knee” and he saw it as worthy of ejection. I hate that line, it’s almost always a power trip
It’s a test to see if you want to be ejected. Anyone with any brains would know not to answer that question when asked by an umpire. He’s not looking for an answer. Gah people are dense these days.
Kevin B. You don’t have to be a dickhead. As we said, “What was that?” is a far more confusing phrase than “Repeat that?” or “Care to repeat that?” If an ump asked me what I said, especially if it’s not something I think is worth being tossed over, I’d probably tell him. It’s not about being dense, it’s about us wanting the umpire to be a decent communicator over an ejection machine.
Excellent tutorial on handling coaches and situations. Ignore, Acknowledge, Warn, Eject has helped me out so much as I start this journey to improve as an umpire. I have come back to this video several times as a refresher. My only complaint is that you stopped putting out these video's but I understand they can take a lot of time to edit and put together.
I actually used the "What was that?" in a Cal Ripken 12U tournament last summer and the coach was SHOCKED when he got tossed. This guy looked like he had no idea it was possible.
I’m a tad on the spectrum and I’ll sometimes struggle a bit with what the boundaries of confrontation are. This video helped a lot, even though you didn’t intend it. Thank you.
I think all umpires should go through a clinic relative to this one. Most states don't require high school umpires to do anything more than take a written test to get certified.
JOHN ,,KEEP ON KEEPING ON !!!!! YOUR A TOP NOTCH UMPIRE INSTUCTION TEACHER ,,,,YOU'RE THE BEST IVE EVER CAME CROSS !!!!! OUTSTANDING REAL INCIDENT ACTION ,,,
Great video. Some really great tips here that could be applied to anyone who refs any sport. I used to ref a beer hockey league, and wish I had seen this. Probably would have saved me a few headaches.
One nice thing about basketball is the technical foul. I wish we had such a thing in baseball, where you could advance a baserunner or register an out rather than ejecting. You could end an argument sooner (as the team is hurt by it) and also it takes away the all-or-nothing aspect of the ejection.
GREAT video. The guy asking about having "rabbit ears," reminds me of a 2-3 year guy who already has all of the answers and doesn't need your help. The dreaded "ya but" guy.
As a teacher, I actually find these videos really helpful in terms of managing student behavior in the classroom. Obviously I can't (under normal circumstances) eject a kid who's talking shit, but there are good and bad ways to defuse situations before they get worse.
Always have respect for officials in any sport. Use to refree basketball and my dad did football, basketball, and a little baseball. Never threw a coach or player out but gave out as few technical fouls. It shut the coach right up after that
5:25 I just used this the other day on an appeal play where the coach thought the runner missed the plate. The runner stepped a little farther than normal, but got the plate with his heel. Coach came out and says he stepped over the plate and proceeds to crouch down and show me where he thinks the cleat marks are in the dirt. I look down at where he pointed, then up at him and said, "Can you show that to me again?" His assistant calls over from the dugout, "Let it go, Dan." Dan (not his real name, obviously) was savvy enough to pick up on it and walked back to the dugout. This is some good stuff.
I umpire fast pitch softball, and found this useful. In our clinics they use the "don't have rabbit ears" phrase as well. Which is hard. I find it gets tiring with some coaches.
Good training tool. In umpire school they didn't get down like this training. If it personal toss em. That was taught at the school. We did have to write ejection reports from pre-recorded arguments.
Great content. I wish they had filmed somewhere or sometime when there wasn't all the other activity going on in the background. Would have made it easier to follow the comments of those who were not miked up. I'm going to look at his other videos.
I have been an umpire for 22 years and I have heard EVERYTHING you could imagine form coaches, players, people in the crowd. I generally do not engage with fans unless it is egregious like cussing, I had one mom tell her kid to hurt another kid, I've had fans from one side going to the other side and starting trouble, I have even gone so far as to throw out the entire fan section from one team, baseball has some crazy SH*T goes on and you have to control it. One night my wife came to the ballpark and brought me some hot chocolate and when she heard what the ladies from one side were saying about me she got into a fight with 3 other ladies and was banned from that field and 4 others, she was very protective of me and WOULD NOT tolerate it. I had one game where the coach had a spectator watching me and telling him where the ball was, I went and told him that he WILL MOVE down past the dugout or I would eject his entire coaching staff and forfeit the game. I've even been hit on purpose because the catcher didn't like my strike zone and I got hit right on the left side of the cup and my thigh, I told the coach he better get me someone who could catch cause his kid was gone, he got me another catcher and while I was on the baseline for him to warm up the new catcher called the coach over and told him it was intentional and that is why he got removed from play that day.
There is a coach in my local youth leagues that gets tossed probably 3 or 4 times per season. I've worked his league games for probably 15 years. Before a game one day about ten years ago, I went to him and said, "Hey, if you have an issue, come to me, and we can discuss it." Since that day, he still gets tossed 3 or 4 times a season, but I haven't had to toss him once. A few times I could see that he was totally steaming as he walked over, but he always comes to me, and without yelling or being disrespectful tells me the problem. We discuss it and move on. A couple seasons ago a couple younger umpires asked me if I have "had to work his games." I said, "all the time." They asked me how I deal with him. I said, "I never have problems with him." They looked at me like I was from another planet.
This video has some useful information and is entertaining as well.. After watching the video and reading the comments, I think it is important for people to understand that the level you are umpiring, somewhat dictates how I address coaches. For example, a 7yr old manager is probably in his first year of coaching and does not have enough experience to necessarily know what the stare over means. That being said, a high school coach should know what is tolerated and what is not. Every year I invite managers and coaches to our umpire clinic so they will understand the different umpire responsibilities and positioning on the field and they hear exactly what the umpires are told from the instructor. Sadly, very few take advantage of this. I will say becoming an umpire made me a better manager because it forced me to know the rules better as well as, what I could question, who and how to ask the right questions. During managers meetings, at the beginning of the season, I tell managers what is acceptable to question and what is not and which umpire they need to approach after requesting time. Perhaps next season I will train them on what the look over means as well as the " What was that?", to speed up their "experience" with umpires. . Ignore, acknowledge, warn and eject. I think, subconsciously, I have always gone through this progression, just never put it into words.
I could be wrong here, lol, but this seems like what an NJ umpire would do, they don't take crap from anyone, after having played and watched baseball there for much my life, I always notice a difference in how things are handled in other parts of the country if you catch my drift
I like the idea behind the "what was that?" approach but if I tossed someone for saying what the "coach" said at 15:15, that would not sit well with most of the commissioners I work with. I simply wouldn't grant time, tell the coach to knock it off, and I would put the ball in play. If we're dumping coaches just for repeating themselves, "What was that?" should only be used if coach starts addressing you directly. If they're talking to the catcher, my only concern is that the coach is preventing the game from progressing for no good reason. If he continues to try to do that, I'm going to pull him aside and have a conversation with him, which always ends with a verbal warning. Saves me a hell of a lot of paperwork most of the time.
John, I wish I could make it tonight to your program! Hopefully you’ll do it again in the near future and I can be apart. I’m very interested and eager to get involved! Thank you for the educational video!
I’d like to see some interim steps at de-escalation. It starts before the game at the pre-game Manager’s meeting, particularly if there are any atmospherics-one or both Managers have reputations for chirping; teams are “rivals”; it’s a playoff game; etc.
Now approaching the plate for the first pitch of the game is Jon Blindman and WHAT’S THIS? The umpire just tossed him before the first pitch. Apparently he audibly sighed loud enough the umpire interpreted it as abuse towards the officials.
I got ejected from a game one time in high school where the home plate umpire wasn't calling balls and strikes all that effectively for our team and I yelled out "RAY CHARLES CAN CALL A BETTER GAME THAN YOU!" Boom, I got tossed, my team came back to win in extra innings and it was worth it.
Exactly. This guy is trash as an umpire. The next Angel Herrera or Joe West. Thankfully he probably won't get that far because he clearly cares more about making the game about himself than he does about the game itself.
@@rockyfeola This is extremely difficult because like you said- you cant make the game about yourself as the umpire. But like he said- youre also responsible for the control (and integrity) of the game. i mainly disagree with his stance on balls and strikes complaints. the leash should be a bit longer. also- rarely do you have such open hostility. usually games include far more passive aggressive behavior by coaches/parents and can be an extremely fine line to walk. Esp considering we're out there making not much money in a thankless job. we dont really deserve to be verbally abused on top for doing the best we can.
I am a soccer referee at a decently high level, I feel like a lot of confrontations, cringe arguments, and ejections could be avoided by not being a negative presence. Not in a softy kind of way, but once you put the mask on, they can't see your face. Looking over at the dugout when they start making divisive comments I feel can start to escalate the situation. All the times I have decided to take an early situation with a low demeanor it really doesn't develop into a two way conclusion. I feel like once you think comments are becoming out of hand, you could go over to the dugout and just ask "Hey, I know you don't like what you see, and I hear your disagreement, lets move forward and I will call the game". Maybe I don't have a great understanding of the Baseball environment between Umpires and teams, but what has almost always worked has been treating as many situations as I can with a good attitude and being someone they are ok with both trusting with calls, and being able to ask questions and not yell comments. As an official, you create the environment and you also change it too.
Might have to use these techniques with my wife.
"Honey, take the trash out"
"What did you say?"
"I said take the trash out"
"OK, YOU'RE OUT OF HERE!!!"
silverback1017 hahahahahaha this comment is fuckin gold😂😂😂
Boom there it is 😂
silverback1017 😭😂😭
Or give her the full blown glare 😂😂😂
Laughed out loud at this!
I'm pretty sure Kurt is the best shit-talker I've ever seen
Kurt is the best in the business
How about we do your job
What did you say?
@@briancrigger9479 I said, how about we do your job!
Trent You're out of here.... *Slowly walks away
That Kurt guy is an amazing a-hole. Nice work.
Probably because he was a coach at some point so he knows what's good 😂😂
AAA He really is. This is just acting and he pissed me off. That’s how I know this dude is legit. Lol
@@jordanhoward347: If I were the ump listening to Kurt, I'd be doubled over laughing when I should be ejecting.
Coach: “It’s a great day for bas.........”
Ump: “Your gone!!”
😂
Came across this video as a random recommendation on RUclips and really enjoyed it. John's quite smart and articulate!
I appreciate it!
John Gallante Great job! Thank you for making me less ignorant. They should have this as a segment on MLB Network
Same. Really enjoyed it as well. As one who has played and coached the game but not officiated it, this video presented a great look "behind the mask". Look forward to future submissions.
Same! This was super interesting and quite enjoyable.
Same!
I’m a 15 year old ump who threw his first parent out after 5 innings of swearing and confronting the opposing teams 12 year old girls. This video has taught me a lot thank you
I'm a 44 year-old umpire and one of the leagues I work in has young umpires like yourself. One thing I've noticed is the majority of coaches are my age, and a few of them take advantage of the age differential and try to intimidate or even bully the young umpires. This video is PERFECT. When you're the umpire, be the umpire. Don't be afraid to throw the ban hammer.
This video is pure gold. The part at the beginning regarding the intolerance of trash talking between players is vital. Baseball is a game of sportsmanship. How you play this game is as important as how well you play this game. Umpires enforce the rules and administer the game...we also encourage positive sportsmanship, too.
Thanks Robert! Appreciate your support
I will use this tactic in my office tomorrow
Karen, you’re outta here. 👉🏼
I'd love to see people get fired this way
Talk about a RUclips rabbit hole.
Watching 90’s television commercials. Then the best moments in video game speed running. Now I’m watching umpires role play situations and throw each other out.
in 13 years I have never ejected a coach....after watching this...I should have about 3 or 4 a year.
I felt the same way. 7 coaches and 1 player in 15 years. In the association I worked many of my games for this guy wouldn't have lasted three weeks. We referred to guys like this as "Gestapos", abusing their power over a game, looking for reasons to toss someone.
One umpire we had for a short time we referred to as "Miranda Mark." He actually brought out an index card (like a cop reading the Miranda rights) listing what the coach can and cannot do during the pregame meeting. I couldn't believe I was seeing this. What he thought helped him gain control of the game actually hurt him, as coaches challenged him constantly.
We not only had a policy against unnecessary ejections, we had one against demonstrative ejections. We made a point of remaining calm and often didn't do a hand signal until after the coach or player left the field, when we would signal the press box that he was ejected. During the actual argument, it was usually a simple "OK, you're gone" or similar statement.
This policy was enacted after a 6'6", 300 pound umpire did a crazy ejection dance over a young player and scared the hell out of him, not to mention lost composure himself.
I am thinking the same, that guy is way too quick to eject. Use the warning, save the paperwork!!!!
I've ejected a few. But that's because I umpired 13u travel ball in GA mostly where kids and their hormones usually leads to at least 3 ejections every tournament (from all games). Usually a non head coach gets tossed as well. Our dizzy Dean group in my area have always been nothing from non head coaches allowed but that's been a 40+ year hard line lol.
Generally it's a fluid thing you take case by case. It's still kids ball you're not an mlb umpire. If you have discussions at the beginning respectfully with people and you call good games you'll have a good reputation which is going to to keep a lot of stuff under control.
Coming out like the gestapo takes away the whole point of why everyone is there in the first place. Shitty parents. Shitty coaches. And shitty umpires. That's what ruins some kids fun.
@@kevinsandford8794 It seems like he's coming from a college perspective. In college+ I think he's exactly right. Those coaches should know exactly what is and is not acceptable. In HS or travel ball? Eh, maybe a little more lee way, but still, you can't give too much or you'll have issues.
@@codinginzen8793 Coaches shouldn't have a super long leash for exactly the reasons you mentioned at the end. Never escalate, but don't be scared to get them if they're setting a bad example.
COACH: "Hi, Blue. I'm Coach Johnson. Nice to meet you."
Blue: "YOU'RE GONE!!!"
First year umpire here. Used the stern look on a parent who had an issue with my zone, didn't hear a peep out of him the rest of the night. Thank you!!
Work on your zone.
I found this video very enlightening even though I do not play or umpire anything. using some of these technique can help you in in many aspects of any job. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
This instructor/teacher is amazing and was an eye opener to how they teach umpires. This transparency is absolutely the best thing I have seen in a profession in a long time. This coming from a ball player. Just wow, I never would have known the amount of time and decisions umpires REALLY do to have to handle when officiating a game. Bravo and thank you.
Outstanding video. Kurt and John should get Oscars for their performance.
Thanks Bernie!
Lloyd Bonafide you’re a bonafide idiot.
This guy just throws everyone out lol
LOL
This was funny
"What was that?"
It's an ejection tutorial video. Idiot.
Someone is having a bad day
This was really Interesting. I could feel the adrenaline of a physical altercation right before he would "eject" someone. Tough job.
John, thanks so much for this amazing tutorial. Watching your videos has really helped me grow as a newer official with a few years of experience. You have been really helpful on certain aspects of umpiring and I wanted to write something out to thank you for all of these videos.
I have zero interest in baseball and I watched this whole thing
Perhaps you have more interest in baseball than you think.
I’m the same haha
I’m driving 7 hours and this popped up on my “videos you might like” feed. For some reason, I just want to start ejecting people in everyday life now
4:15 kid playing catcher hits the juul
I’m surprised dude didn’t wig out on him for it
As a new umpire with 3 years experience I've always had trouble with this subject. Now I can't wait to get back on the field and try these out.
Thanks Andy! Glad it helped!
Its not often a video is 20+ min long and is solid content throughout. That being said, I wish this instruction was provided when I began umpiring games when I was younger. The amount of harassment we took was beyond what this video showed and we were only told to provide the head umpire information after the game. John seems like he would be a great leader outside of umpiring.
Game management is extremely important. As an umpire for over 15 years, I've umpired up to the collegiate level. The ejection process seems sound and noteworthy. Definitely don't agree with all the scenarios that the instructor is suggesting an ejection over calming a coach down. I always try my best to keep all players and coaches in the game before resorting to ejecting anyone. Remember umpires enforce rules, coaches eject themselves by either being ignorant about rules or have problems with authority (more than likely shouldn't be on the field in the 1st place). VERY interesting video however. It was entertaining in the sense of how everyone has a different opinion on all situations. And remember these umpires may be training for higher tier play but realistically will never become an MLB umpire where every game is a "show". Theatrics are more tolerated at the MLB level .
Thanks for your thoughts, Denny. Appreciate it.
@@JohnGallante What did you say?
we are moving on
John Gallante Actually, I sometimes did have a hard time hearing exactly what Kurt was saying. While that may be a hearing issue with me, perhaps you should put a mic on Kurt as well.
@@JohnGallante what was that
Really good video. I have been umpiring for 9+ years and I picked up a few tips after watching this...I'm always learning. One note to fellow umps, or would be umps: some of this can be dealt with at the plate meeting before the game. Set the tone early about your expectations and the proper way for a coach to question a call. That way, if they act out of line, you have the benefit of "I already told you I wouldn't accept this behavior...now, you're gone." Great video, John.
Thanks Rich! Appreciate it!
Watching a manager lose his mind has to be *so* bizarre to anyone unfamiliar with baseball. Where else can you see a man old enough to have grand kids pitch a tantrum literally kick dirt at another grown man's shins till he gets sent home... then he comes back to work the next day like it's all good.
That's insane.
it's part of the game. They have a stadium full of fans, and a lot of managers are keenly aware of that. They do it to show their team that they are willing to back them up vigorously. To me, if an umpire asks someone to repeat themselves, that is almost tantamount to offering immunity to repeat what they said, granted it isn't a cut and dried ground for ejection.
You’ll see this all the time if you work in a prison. Inmates never grow up.
Lou Piniella was a savage for that
That’s not the way it works. In real life if I get tossed I have to go before a UIL committee in Austin, TX (I live in Houston, 3 hrs away) and beg for my job. Umpires know this so they do and say whatever they want, no questions asked.
Minnesota Fatz Most of the umpires here are not working at the Major League level. I saw that kind of behavior from a coach very rarely. And usually from coaches who had the least amount of experience and knowledge of the game.
Sometimes, coaches will go into that act because they are trying to fire up their team.
I grew up playing the game and I umpired here and there as a young guy, but I hardly consider myself anything more than a fan of the game itself. This was a really fun and insightful tutorial to watch. I really appreciated the entirety of it. It provides a great look at the game from an umpires perspective and how hard it is to control and maintain the peace and keep the game going. Well done.
Thanks Shaun! Glad you enjoyed it!
Kurt is my spirit animal...
Best material I’ve seen on this subject. Excellent!
No idea how I got here but this is a really cool training vid
This was actually really insightful to see what an umpire has to actually go through during a game.
Interesting hearing the discussion on when one coach yells about the other one. I had a game once in which a coach and player were arguing a play and it got close, but I didn't run anyone. After calming everyone down, I walk back to the plate and put my mask on.
All of a sudden, the opposing coach strolls up and says, "Come on, Brian. You can't let that happen. Someone should have been tossed there."
I answered, "You're right, Pete. You're gone."
"WHAT?!?"
"Get back to the dugout and sit down, and you can stay. But don't you ever question my handling of a situation like that again."
I umpired in that area for about 2 more years and never had another problem with him.
That's funny
STDno he didn't throw him. He made him think he threw him.
I did a game (high level 14 year olds) where a kid hits a monster home run then hot dogs around the bases...opposing coach is fuming. An inning later I called one of his kids out at 2nd on a bang/bang play. Coach comes out, screaming, "that kid you just called out is a great kid!!! Yet you called him out but let that piece of sh*t over there (and points in the other dugout) taunt us on his home run trot!!" I was dumbfounded. I tossed him on the spot, and told him he should never refer to another kid as a POS. He said, 'well he is! He hot dog's all the time!" I just said well, you're gone and if you're smart you'll get in your car and leave because if you said that about my son I'd strangle you in the parking lot. I'm sure that kid's father is coming after you'....So the coach calls me on the phone a week later and says, "gotta hand it to you...I was wrong and you were right to toss me. I called the other coach and told him to pass along my apology to the kid. I lost it, and I'm glad it didn't go any further." I'm certain the game was about to escalate into a beanball contest and someone would've gotten hurt if we didn't toss him.
Soccer referee here, I love listening to other officials from every sport and how they manage their game, and honestly I find some of the tactics useful, thanks for putting a few more tools in my bag! Keep up the good work!
mlinder13655 Hey, I’m a soccer referee here in MN! I found this very helpful for my upcoming season - wish there was a soccer version of this.
Thank you! Im glad it helped. Appreciate the support
@@CHSToday John is my assignor…and I officiate multiple sports….you may have just gave me an idea
I think that Greg Gibson, the home plate umpire, should teach this course. Because he will always motion to both players
Mike S wouldn’t work. The umpires he’s teaching would never leave the field.
This comment is so fucking underappreciated.... gold sir, gold
13:37 - the "Rope" analogy is what I struggled with as an umpire. This is an incredible video.
When I was an umpire I discovered a GREAT way to avoid most arguments when it came to balls an strikes. In my 1st high school game I was assigned the plate. After every called ball in the lowest voice I would say "High" or "outside " "low " etc. the catcher would hear this and if the coach would yell where was that. The catcher would repeat what I had said. The coach not knowing what I was doing, would think his catcher was telling him where he thought the pitch was. On a side note I also refereed basketball. nothing beats the arguments in Baseball. Coaches could say some funny stuff. One of the funniest was in a championship game the home team wasn't having their best game. In the 5th inning the coach came to the plate looks at me an says hows the wife an kids .I say fine. He says the parents are on me pretty good blue can you PLEASE for the love of God eject me. My thumb went up without hesitation.
My first college game the coach was always asking the catcher where was that pitch? I knew the coach outside of the field I did look at him and I had report with the catcher by the 3rd inning no more where was that pitc.
They usually say in training never to call the location of the pitch, but I also did that for about my last 10 years, and it was very helpful. On occasion, it could get interesting if I flat out froze on a pitch (down the middle, didn't call strike, but also didn't say where it was--so it was obvious I kicked it). But yeah, usually it worked well, and if the catcher tried to frame it, I would say the location again, a little louder. "OUTSIDE."
I've had a few of those phantom arguments as well--I think we all have. I was working an adult hardball game in Southern California where the first baseman started screaming at me in English, then switched to Spanish (which I do not speak), then the coach got in my face and screamed in Spanish, then the player and coach started screaming at each other in Spanish while my partner and I just looked at them. The first baseman had pulled his foot on the play and I think the coach had seen it.
Tell him if you have to watch this crap game, so does he....hahahah
Call um, dont explain um
@Puckman637 Agreed. As a part-time ref I always look at how other officials do their job, especially the "crisis management" part. Defusing situations rather than escalating. I've learned through hard experience that you can't box in a player or coach and leave them no alternative to getting rung up.
This was a random recommendation and man I am enjoying this as a baseball player. Umpire training is so interesting
I am not an umpire, I don't want to be an umpire... I don't even like baseball that might, but I find these umpire training videos strangely entertaining and informative.
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!
I think most of these are worthy of an ejection but I’m not a huge fan of using the “What was that?” line when something said was somewhat insulting but not enough for an ejection. That just seems like it is intensifying the situation just for the sake of tossing someone. But hey, that’s just my opinion as a player. Great video 👍🏻
I feel the "what was that" line is a bit misleading as well. The one I personally thought might get the same point across is "Repeat that?"
CybeastID as a player I got tossed from that line. I got a strike called on a low inside pitch that was clearly a ball, I said “that almost hit my fucking knee, blue”, he asked what I said and I responded with a more respectful “that pitch almost hit my knee” and he saw it as worthy of ejection. I hate that line, it’s almost always a power trip
It’s a test to see if you want to be ejected. Anyone with any brains would know not to answer that question when asked by an umpire. He’s not looking for an answer. Gah people are dense these days.
Kevin B. You don’t have to be a dickhead. As we said, “What was that?” is a far more confusing phrase than “Repeat that?” or “Care to repeat that?”
If an ump asked me what I said, especially if it’s not something I think is worth being tossed over, I’d probably tell him.
It’s not about being dense, it’s about us wanting the umpire to be a decent communicator over an ejection machine.
Exactly. That line is just as combative, but he thinks because he's the big bad umpire that he's justified and nobody else is. Sad.
This was fascinating. It came up in my recommended feed and I couldn't stop watching it. Really well done!
Thanks Malcolm!
Excellent tutorial on handling coaches and situations. Ignore, Acknowledge, Warn, Eject has helped me out so much as I start this journey to improve as an umpire.
I have come back to this video several times as a refresher.
My only complaint is that you stopped putting out these video's but I understand they can take a lot of time to edit and put together.
I actually used the "What was that?" in a Cal Ripken 12U tournament last summer and the coach was SHOCKED when he got tossed. This guy looked like he had no idea it was possible.
I’m a tad on the spectrum and I’ll sometimes struggle a bit with what the boundaries of confrontation are. This video helped a lot, even though you didn’t intend it. Thank you.
Glad to it helped!
but I did intend to help.
This is pure gold. This dude is tossing everyone.
I think all umpires should go through a clinic relative to this one. Most states don't require high school umpires to do anything more than take a written test to get certified.
Good instruction, good information. This happens more than what most guys will admit.
Thanks Mike!
JOHN ,,KEEP ON KEEPING ON !!!!! YOUR A TOP NOTCH UMPIRE INSTUCTION TEACHER ,,,,YOU'RE THE BEST IVE EVER CAME CROSS !!!!! OUTSTANDING REAL INCIDENT ACTION ,,,
Thanks Racks! Appreciate it
Great video. Some really great tips here that could be applied to anyone who refs any sport. I used to ref a beer hockey league, and wish I had seen this. Probably would have saved me a few headaches.
Thanks JD! Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks to all umpires who allow us to play the game we love 💓💓
Great stuff. As a basketball official, there's still plenty I can take from this.
One nice thing about basketball is the technical foul. I wish we had such a thing in baseball, where you could advance a baserunner or register an out rather than ejecting. You could end an argument sooner (as the team is hurt by it) and also it takes away the all-or-nothing aspect of the ejection.
@@eauhomme Good point. We don't have the luxury of an intermediate penalty. Certainly would help
Thats awesome Andrew. Glad you got something out of it
Kurt is an absolute legend with the shit talk!
GREAT video. The guy asking about having "rabbit ears," reminds me of a 2-3 year guy who already has all of the answers and doesn't need your help. The dreaded "ya but" guy.
Thanks so much Charlie! Appreciate the support!
I'm gonna share this with my rookies. Great video.
As a teacher, I actually find these videos really helpful in terms of managing student behavior in the classroom. Obviously I can't (under normal circumstances) eject a kid who's talking shit, but there are good and bad ways to defuse situations before they get worse.
Very informative. Especially since I’m the guy that will take a lot of crap but am very firm with my line and keep the game very much under control.
Awesome! Glad it helped!
Kurt got tossed so much, he'd be banned for life lol!
Always have respect for officials in any sport. Use to refree basketball and my dad did football, basketball, and a little baseball. Never threw a coach or player out but gave out as few technical fouls. It shut the coach right up after that
This clinic might turn out to be how to call a horrible call and eject more than a thousand people.
This is fantastic. I have one thing I usually say to diffuse situations for anything in life. I’m not making it on TV today. If we’re not on tv.
Great video. I do not umpire but offical other sports and found this valuable.
Awesome! Glad you found this helpful!
All kidding aside, thank you for sharing this peek behind the scenes.
Old guy at 13:00 is correct. It’s not about the umpires. This instructor teaches conflict instead of communication
this is an ejection clinic, not how you handle everything situation.
The best umpires are the ones you don’t even notice
coach - nice glass
ump - what did you say?
coach - nice g..
ump - ok, you're out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very interesting, gives an insight as to what umpires tolerate.
zxvb9827 I mean, they do have to deal with dugout chatter. But very rarely toss people out
5:25 I just used this the other day on an appeal play where the coach thought the runner missed the plate. The runner stepped a little farther than normal, but got the plate with his heel. Coach came out and says he stepped over the plate and proceeds to crouch down and show me where he thinks the cleat marks are in the dirt. I look down at where he pointed, then up at him and said, "Can you show that to me again?" His assistant calls over from the dugout, "Let it go, Dan." Dan (not his real name, obviously) was savvy enough to pick up on it and walked back to the dugout. This is some good stuff.
Glad it worked for you Mike!
I umpire fast pitch softball, and found this useful. In our clinics they use the "don't have rabbit ears" phrase as well. Which is hard. I find it gets tiring with some coaches.
I'd like to attend this clinic, I really like how he addressed this issue.
Passed 100K views. I hope more people also watch you other videos. It will make for better umpires and coaches alike. Keep it up.
Thanks man! Appreciate it
certainly will, Marvin,
Good training tool. In umpire school they didn't get down like this training. If it personal toss em. That was taught at the school. We did have to write ejection reports from pre-recorded arguments.
Great content. I wish they had filmed somewhere or sometime when there wasn't all the other activity going on in the background. Would have made it easier to follow the comments of those who were not miked up. I'm going to look at his other videos.
Good point! We will work on that for next time
I have been an umpire for 22 years and I have heard EVERYTHING you could imagine form coaches, players, people in the crowd. I generally do not engage with fans unless it is egregious like cussing, I had one mom tell her kid to hurt another kid, I've had fans from one side going to the other side and starting trouble, I have even gone so far as to throw out the entire fan section from one team, baseball has some crazy SH*T goes on and you have to control it. One night my wife came to the ballpark and brought me some hot chocolate and when she heard what the ladies from one side were saying about me she got into a fight with 3 other ladies and was banned from that field and 4 others, she was very protective of me and WOULD NOT tolerate it. I had one game where the coach had a spectator watching me and telling him where the ball was, I went and told him that he WILL MOVE down past the dugout or I would eject his entire coaching staff and forfeit the game. I've even been hit on purpose because the catcher didn't like my strike zone and I got hit right on the left side of the cup and my thigh, I told the coach he better get me someone who could catch cause his kid was gone, he got me another catcher and while I was on the baseline for him to warm up the new catcher called the coach over and told him it was intentional and that is why he got removed from play that day.
There is a coach in my local youth leagues that gets tossed probably 3 or 4 times per season. I've worked his league games for probably 15 years. Before a game one day about ten years ago, I went to him and said, "Hey, if you have an issue, come to me, and we can discuss it." Since that day, he still gets tossed 3 or 4 times a season, but I haven't had to toss him once. A few times I could see that he was totally steaming as he walked over, but he always comes to me, and without yelling or being disrespectful tells me the problem. We discuss it and move on. A couple seasons ago a couple younger umpires asked me if I have "had to work his games." I said, "all the time." They asked me how I deal with him. I said, "I never have problems with him." They looked at me like I was from another planet.
This video has some useful information and is entertaining as well.. After watching the video and reading the comments, I think it is important for people to understand that the level you are umpiring, somewhat dictates how I address coaches. For example, a 7yr old manager is probably in his first year of coaching and does not have enough experience to necessarily know what the stare over means. That being said, a high school coach should know what is tolerated and what is not. Every year I invite managers and coaches to our umpire clinic so they will understand the different umpire responsibilities and positioning on the field and they hear exactly what the umpires are told from the instructor. Sadly, very few take advantage of this. I will say becoming an umpire made me a better manager because it forced me to know the rules better as well as, what I could question, who and how to ask the right questions. During managers meetings, at the beginning of the season, I tell managers what is acceptable to question and what is not and which umpire they need to approach after requesting time. Perhaps next season I will train them on what the look over means as well as the " What was that?", to speed up their "experience" with umpires. . Ignore, acknowledge, warn and eject. I think, subconsciously, I have always gone through this progression, just never put it into words.
Great video John. Confirm some things I already thought and I learned a few new things.
Thanks Bob!
I could be wrong here, lol, but this seems like what an NJ umpire would do, they don't take crap from anyone, after having played and watched baseball there for much my life, I always notice a difference in how things are handled in other parts of the country if you catch my drift
Not even into baseball but this was very fun to watch
Thanks Eric! Appreciate it
You can see these guys are so giddy imagining they have power😂😂
I like the idea behind the "what was that?" approach but if I tossed someone for saying what the "coach" said at 15:15, that would not sit well with most of the commissioners I work with. I simply wouldn't grant time, tell the coach to knock it off, and I would put the ball in play. If we're dumping coaches just for repeating themselves, "What was that?" should only be used if coach starts addressing you directly. If they're talking to the catcher, my only concern is that the coach is preventing the game from progressing for no good reason. If he continues to try to do that, I'm going to pull him aside and have a conversation with him, which always ends with a verbal warning. Saves me a hell of a lot of paperwork most of the time.
Think about the meaning behind the phrase. Was Kurt genuinely concerned about the umpires well being? No. He is mocking him.
I think you are best (bleep) person. The (bleep) trash talk and the cussing is just (bleep) haliarious!
Thanks Ben! Appreciate it
"I umpire too... I'm not doing it again."
"You looked over there (now I got you in a bunch of shit" LOL
12:45 the umpire couldnt be more right. Angel Hernandez types are taking over the game
Matthew Riggle agreed.
John, I wish I could make it tonight to your program! Hopefully you’ll do it again in the near future and I can be apart. I’m very interested and eager to get involved! Thank you for the educational video!
I’d like to see some interim steps at de-escalation. It starts before the game at the pre-game Manager’s meeting, particularly if there are any atmospherics-one or both Managers have reputations for chirping; teams are “rivals”; it’s a playoff game; etc.
Now approaching the plate for the first pitch of the game is Jon Blindman and WHAT’S THIS?
The umpire just tossed him before the first pitch. Apparently he audibly sighed loud enough the umpire interpreted it as abuse towards the officials.
This was so interesting! Thanks for uploading
Thanks Josh!
I really like this video, as hitter this helped a bit. I do want to know how much you take from hitters? What can a hitter say or do?
Thanks John! We will be filming a video on this in the coming weeks. Thanks for the idea
John is an excellent teacher
Great video. But im more impressed how the instructor’s coffee lasted the whole video
Awesome Video. Hopefully more umps can learn from your techniques
Never played baseball, after watching this, I have mad respect for Umpires. Nice job!
Damn noodle arm catchers
Where?
I'd like to hear him address a situation where the umpire either knows he blew a call or thinks he might have. That's really where egos can explode.
Ryan, we will cover this in my next video
Guy with the glasses and coffee sounds like he enjoys listening to the seat belt alarm going off.
I like how the guy behind the plate had to call every pitch wrong
I got ejected from a game one time in high school where the home plate umpire wasn't calling balls and strikes all that effectively for our team and I yelled out "RAY CHARLES CAN CALL A BETTER GAME THAN YOU!" Boom, I got tossed, my team came back to win in extra innings and it was worth it.
Why was it worth it? Were you tired to coach?
There are three more reasons that are ground for immediate ejection and those are are the three P’s. Profane, Prolonged, or Personal.
Umpire with glasses? Yea I’m arguing every pitch
What a video man😂😂 Kurt the legend😂
This should be titled "how to make a ballgame about you"
Exactly. This guy is trash as an umpire. The next Angel Herrera or Joe West. Thankfully he probably won't get that far because he clearly cares more about making the game about himself than he does about the game itself.
@@rockyfeola This is extremely difficult because like you said- you cant make the game about yourself as the umpire. But like he said- youre also responsible for the control (and integrity) of the game. i mainly disagree with his stance on balls and strikes complaints. the leash should be a bit longer. also- rarely do you have such open hostility. usually games include far more passive aggressive behavior by coaches/parents and can be an extremely fine line to walk. Esp considering we're out there making not much money in a thankless job. we dont really deserve to be verbally abused on top for doing the best we can.
This is GOLD... I love this stuff.
#👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks man!
I am a soccer referee at a decently high level, I feel like a lot of confrontations, cringe arguments, and ejections could be avoided by not being a negative presence. Not in a softy kind of way, but once you put the mask on, they can't see your face. Looking over at the dugout when they start making divisive comments I feel can start to escalate the situation. All the times I have decided to take an early situation with a low demeanor it really doesn't develop into a two way conclusion. I feel like once you think comments are becoming out of hand, you could go over to the dugout and just ask "Hey, I know you don't like what you see, and I hear your disagreement, lets move forward and I will call the game". Maybe I don't have a great understanding of the Baseball environment between Umpires and teams, but what has almost always worked has been treating as many situations as I can with a good attitude and being someone they are ok with both trusting with calls, and being able to ask questions and not yell comments. As an official, you create the environment and you also change it too.