Important Update: Baseball & Umpires
Good Morning Sylvan Lake Baseball Fans,
I hope everyone is having a great start to their Father’s Day.
We’ve been back to baseball game play for almost 2 full weeks now, it’s great to see the ball players out turnin’ doubles and crankin’ dingers but it’s upsetting to receive complaints about spectators abusing our umpires. The umpires, who like your ball players, are still learning the game, still developing their craft and still getting experience.
Recently I received not one but two updates from concerned Sylvan Lake Minor Ball Association Members regarding instances where there were harsh comments yelled at our officials during the game. Not that it makes it any better, but these comments were targeted at younger umpires not the seasoned veterans that we sometimes get out for games.
Picture your ball player, out on the diamond about to make a play (whether they’re up to bat, behind the plate catching, pitching or in the field) and they misplay the ball. Someone in the stands yells at them ‘Awww come on kid! You suck, you cost us the game, get off the field’. This is not ok. It’s not any different if you replace the above words ‘ball player’ with ‘umpire’.
Regardless of the situation (missed call, game called due to weather, etc.), it is NEVER ok to yell at our umpires (or players, coaches, managers, etc.). I am taking this issue very seriously. This year we have limited umpires. Fortunately, we have had a bunch of young people and previous umpires return to the game. Spectators yelling at them and being belligerent will only impede their development and drive them away from umpiring thus further limiting the number of umpires we have available to us. It probably seems obvious but without umpires, we have NO baseball games.
Let me remind you that first of all this is a game. Games are meant to be fun. I’m fairly certain that there are no MLB scouts in the stands, nobody is on the cusp of ‘going to the show’. We are playing ball for the love of the game, to further develop our skills, and to have fun with friends and teammates.
Please let this email serve as a warning — should any further complaints of umpire abuse be received by SLMBA, we will be forced to take more drastic measures – potentially banning the spectators(s) (and their registered player) from being part of SLMBA as well as ensuring everyone enrolled in SLMB complete the Respect in Sport training prior to being allowed to attend a game or practice at their own cost.
I appreciate your attention to this very serious matter. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Dave Darbel
President, SLMBA
587.337.6111
Baseball Alberta References:
- Baseball Alberta Weather Policy: http://www.baseballalberta.com/content/baseball-alberta-weather-policy
- Baseball Alberta Code of Conduct Guildlines: http://baseballalberta.com/content/about-baseball-alberta
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Sylvan Lake Minor Ball Association