Umpires—both youth and adult—attend rules and procedure clinics each season. The Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) provides training and monitor progress but don’t spend as much time with umpires as coaches do with players. They emphasize rule knowledge, hustle, proper positioning, sound judgment, and professionalism.
Respect and Interaction: Youth umpires are instructed to be respectful and accommodating to head coaches, granting conferences and resolving issues within the rules based on what they saw. However, coaches must also interact appropriately. Only the Head Coach may address an umpire—one at a time. Judgment calls (balls, strikes, safe, out, fair, foul) are not open for debate. If you have a rule question, remain respectful, request time, and approach the calling umpire. Umpires are not obligated to grant a conference, and once a discussion is final, move on.
Coach Conduct Matters: The Head Coach sets the tone for assistant coaches, players, and fans. Displeasure over a call must be expressed respectfully—never questioning an umpire’s integrity or using demeaning language. A controversial call doesn’t lose a game; team performance does.
Keep your coaches, players, and fans under control—you are responsible for them. Respect umpires, and you’ll get their best effort. UICs are available to discuss concerns, but remember: many youth umpires are the same kids you coach. This may be their first job. Treat them as you would your own players.
WHAT IS ABUSE?
Umpire abuse at its simplest is defined as any deliberate action that makes an umpire feel physically threatened, verbally intimidated, or emotionally humiliated. Disrespectfully objecting to calls, yelling at, publicly calling, and constantly disagreeing with an umpire verbally or by action can be deemed umpire abuse. Coaches and managers should always show decorum, respect, and observe all game rules whenever questioning an umpire about a call.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY PENALTIES FOR ABUSE:
Coach/Manager Umpire Abuse:
1st incident – 1-game suspension for a coach/manager regardless of history, coaching experience, or program involvement. This suspension will be in addition to any suspension due to an ejection from a game.
2nd incident (within same season) – 3-game suspension for a coach/manager.
3rd incident (within same season) – a lifetime ban from coaching or managing any Plumstead Baseball team.
In addition, if a coach/manager confronts an umpire after a game in order to continue verbally abusing them, these penalties will be increased to 2 games for the 1st incident and 6 games for the 2nd incident.
Any incident that involves physical abuse by bodily threatening, shoving, bumping, or harming an umpire will result in an immediate suspension and notification of proper authorities.
Managers and coaches will be asked to provide the names of any parents or family members who abuse umpires. Those who don't cooperate may face a 1-game suspension for refusing to cooperate.