SFLL Policy on Umpire Interaction
At the April Board meeting, an expanded policy on umpire interaction was adopted. This policy is attached below. Please read it carefully and go over it with your player. We appreciate that, for the most part, SFLL is blessed with coaches, parents and players who understand the importance of treating our umpires with respect. We want this to continue and to become a stronger part of our culture. We appreciate your taking a moment to focus on this and, more importantly, for your help in this area throughout the season.

On behalf of the SFLL Board of Directors

 

**************************************************************

SFLL Policy on Interactions With Umpires

April 7, 2003

SFLL recognizes the challenges of umpiring in a youth sports environment and the challenges youth sports organizations have in recruiting and retaining officials. SFLL also recognizes that over half of its games this year will be umpired by youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. Finally, SFLL recognizes the need for our players to be exposed to the highest quality of sportsmanship and to learn the highest amount of respect for umpires that take responsibility for officiating our games.

Therefore, SFLL has adopted a zero tolerance policy for behavior that is disrespectful, discourteous, aggressive or in any way could be construed as attempting to belittle or influence through criticism its corps of umpires.

Players, coaches and fans should understand that aggressive or critical behavior towards officials (the kind that is all too common at professional sporting events) will not be tolerated in SFLL.

Specifically, umpires calls may not be questioned except in private, quiet and respectful ways. Judgment calls may never be questioned. This includes any loud or disrespectful demand that an umpire seek help from his/her partner on a particular call. Basically, we want every coach and parent to treat the umpire the way they would want to be treated if they were umpiring or if it was their son or daughter that was the umpire.

Coaches may raise issues involving the specific interpretation of a particular rule as long as this, again, is done in a quiet and respectful way. If a rules interpretation is not resolvable on the field, a game may be played under protest with the protesting coach submitting a report in writing within 24 hours of the game to their commissioner.

Coaches are also expected to exercise control of their players and fans. Failure to be proactive in this regard will also place coaches at disciplinary risk. We know that coaches can’t guarantee fan and player behavior. But coaches can take responsibly for intervening early in situations that could put a player or parent at disciplinary risk and they are expected to do so.

This policy is not meant to eliminate the productive communication between umpires and coaches, just to make sure that these communications are driven by the need for information, not by emotion or willful attempts to influence future decisions.

Criticism or comments that coaches, players or fans have of any SFLL umpire can be submitted to a SFLL Board member and these are encouraged. However, we counsel our community to remember that our umpires are young, mostly novice and will make mistakes. It is far more productive for a player, coach or team to react to disadvantageous umpire calls by focusing on how to overcome those ‘bad breaks’ rather than on the umpire who is just doing the best that he/she can.

Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary actions beginning with suspensions and leading to expulsion from SFLL.

With this policy, we hope to maintain an environment in SFLL that is umpire friendly and that teaches our players to have respect for those in positions of authority. We know as we continue to grow that the challenges of maintaining this culture will become more difficult. We ask all members of the SFLL community for their help in achieving this important objective.

The SFLL Board of Directors