Umpire Punches Fan: Deal or No Deal?

Come on, we can't have umpires punching fans can we? According to a recent article in FanHouse Magazine, that is exactly what happened. In Brisbane, Australia, in an 18 and under Australian Rules football game, an umpire punched a player's grandfather in the face. The grandfather was in his 60's and there were no details given as to what actually prompted the umpire to strike the fan. The article did say that this umpire had been officiating for over 10 years and had no previous incidents of fighting. The umpire agreed to step down and the league has banned him from officiating.

Wow. Wouldn't we like to know the rest of the story? Can we as a civilized nation allow this to happen at our ballparks? Is it a Deal or No Deal with you? I have been a coach for over 30 years in American style football, basketball and baseball. I have been a parent in each of those sports as well and for as long. I will say this, except for the grace of God, there I go also.

As a coach, I have wanted to punch an unruly Dad, or umpire, many, many times. As a parent, I have wanted to punch a coach or an umpire, many, many, many times and have almost been provoked enough to do it. I have actually experienced coaches, umpires and/or fans going at it, in youth sports in games that I have been involved in. I would challenge anyone who has a kid playing in youth sports, or has played in youth sports, to tell me that there has not been one time when you have either felt like punching an umpire or that you have provoked an umpire to the point where the two of you could have gone at it?

If you haven't been that involved yourself, you have probably been close enough to it to have an opinion one-way or the other. I once had a Grand Dad from my team at a baseball game; tell the umpire that after the game he and the umpire were going to rumble. He then told me that he had a knife in his pocket and was not afraid to use it and that he had used it before. Fortunately, unbeknownst to Old Granddad, (and that might have been one of the problems, if you get my drift), I had another parent call the police (just in case) to come and make sure that nothing happened after the game, and it did not.

When it comes right down to it, in the case of that umpire punching that fan in Australia, we should not rush to judgment until all the details are known. I have also witnessed an umpire and a fan get into a brawl after a game when an unruly fan was walking off the field behind the umpire and was giving him the "what for." I mean he was verbally letting him have it. The umpire kept ignoring him just as they are taught to do and all was well until the fan said to the umpire, "I know where you live." Immediately the umpire turned around, the fan got right into his chest, as close as you could get without touching him, and at that point, the umpire pushed him back. The brawl was on. Later on in a hearing with the park officials, that I had to attend since I was an eyewitness, the umpire was suspended for one year because he pushed first. It was not considered self-defense, because words can never hurt you. Bologna! Or Boloney! Depending on your geographical location. The fan was rejected for a year as well, but why should this umpire loose his livelihood over the incident? Or should he? Deal or No Deal?

Is it ever warranted that an umpire strike a fan? A fan strikes an umpire? A coach strikes a fan or an umpire? Should it come down to our legal system or a sometimes-prejudiced park system? Many times the parks have rules whereby, if you are involved in a fight, whether you caused it or not, it is a one-year suspension from the park. In many instances if it is proven that you caused the fight, then you are banned permanently, and rightfully so. Both participants should not be punished unless it is determined that both are at fault. One thing we know for sure. There is way too much violence at youth ball games of all sports.

One solution as I see it is for officials, both on the field and park officials, must to get a jump on the agitating factor early on. If a fan is unruly, then either ask him to leave and have an officer of the law escort him out. If it is determined by the park officials that either a coach or an umpire is the cause of the problem, then deal with it immediately. If you announce to the fans that if there are any further outbreaks of any kind, the game will be suspended and not be allowed to make up, and giving both teams losses. The coach will be notified that he will suspended for at least two games maybe more depending on his actions. In the case of bad umpires, many times they are in complete control of a game.

The only thing that a park official can do then is discretely let the fans know that the umpire will not be allowed to officiate any more games in the park but that any further outbreaks on the fans will result in the game being forfeited. I have been around many parks, basketball courts, etc. and that has never failed to work. To borrow a phrase from Barney Fife, "you got to nip it, nip it in the bud." Many parks and youth leagues make it mandatory for parents to sign an agreement or to attend a preseason seminar on fan control and park and/or league policies. That way, they have already been given a warning, so the first time they act up, they can be asked to leave the park. The problem therein is that the punishment has to be handed out fairly, which as we all know, that is the subject for another article.

So, hopefully we will hear what actually caused the fight. Then we can determine if it is a Deal, or No Deal? Or does it even matter what or who caused it?