Crazy Little League Parents Get Put in Their Place

[@mdhindley]

I quit being a ref in the mid nineties. The coaches and parents were so vile to me there was no reason for me to continue. I was about 15 years old myself.

[@rogergibson9748]

I was an Umpire in High School (1970 ish) for little league games. I had one game where a Mom sitting behind the backstop to the 3rd base side of the plate who argued many of my ball/strike calls. After a few innings of listening and putting up with her, I called TIME... walked over to the Mom and calmly asked... "Do You want to do it?" Embarrassed, she said... "No... You are doing a great job." I then said... "Then please let me do my job." things went better after that.

[@Cmon-Man]

Nice story. Here in 2023 you’d very likely be attacked by an angry mob

[@josephconner3742]

​@@Cmon-Manan angry mob of Maga supporters!

[@BillAllan-s5u]

I swear, and I’ve said this to parents. I’ve stood back at the screen while pitchers were warming between innings. The first pitch a parent started yelling to which I stopped, walk back to the screen and said “Ya know, I never realized how much better your view is from her than at four feet fro the plate”. END OF HECKLING.

[@Brian-un7wf]

These are parents with no retirement plans, counting on their kids to get rich playing sports and take care of them. They got too much riding on their kids...

[@user-zq5eb2hj9o]

I played little league for 5 years in the 80’s. I have never witnessed this kind of behavior thankfully

[@TheBrujo666]

I'm not always on the Umps side, but in these instances, I am.

[@alanyoder7629]

When I was still umpiring I had a parent who was loud and abusive from the first pitch. In the third inning she got vulgar so I told her she was gone. She told me I was only the umpire and I had to listen to anything anybody wanted to say. I informed her I was THE umpire and I didn’t have to listen to ANYTHING I didn’t feel like listening too and if she didn’t leave immediately I would forfeit the game. Her son came sprinting out of the dugout and screamed at her to leave because I was totally serious. She opened her mouth but he cut her off and yelled for her to leave because she was embarrassing him. The entire crowd applauded as she left and the kid thanked me for tossing her. The coach got her banned from coming to games for the remainder of the season.

[@rayray4192]

Good post. Thanks for umpiring. Coach spit in my face Sunday, and one of his players asked me how much money the other team paid me. Unfortunate because the other games were great with wonderful parents and coaches. I need a raise.

[@alanyoder7629]

@@rayray4192 a big raise.

[@Buu773heyy]

I umpire little league games for yrs. Worked All stars games many times. Had a parent questioning balls and strikes from behind me. Between innings I went over to him and very politely told him that we always need umpires and the league would appreciate him volunteering to help the kids. All in front of everyone. Never heard another peep out of him the rest of the game. Call them out and they will almost always stop

[@EReznok]

It's out of control, When my kid was 16 he had a coach follow him to his car, and Last week we had an parent belittling one of our 14 year old umpires, I don't think the kid will ump again.

[@philly799]

Little league coach here. My own assistant coach yelled at an umpire last year, while his own son was in the batter's box. I fired him immediately.

[@woodson21]

I refed one game about five years ago. I was the coach for one of the teams, the ref didn’t show up (shocker). The other coach and I knew each other, since I had a better grasp of the rules he volunteered me to ref. Fine, I thought, how bad could it be. I was getting it from both sides. Yeah, all these parents who, 30 minutes before were all wishing me and the team good luck, had now completely turned on me and were probably more belligerent than the other team. Screw that noise, never again. All other parents except me are horrible (wink!).

[@iAmMarcellus]

“And this guy is a firefighter who protects your neighborhood” 🤣🤣🤣.

[@rayray4192]

He’s not a firefighter. My father was a captain. He always acted with dignity and poise.

[@joes878]

Umped middle school fall ball for several years. These parent outbursts were rare because fall ball was more developmental than hardcore competitive. Any time it got heated, I would not engage the parent at all. I would call over both coaches and warn them to get their own people in line or suffer a forfeit. Put it on the coaches to police the parents of the kids on their team.

[@michaelboros9834]

Parents are supposed to sit in the grandstand benches and watch

[@RealDougFields]

Umps are supposed to call balls and strikes. Whats your point?

[@tmilesffl]

Parents like these are the reason I stopped coaching and officiating kids sports after 22 years. None of them wanted to be involved other than run their mouth.

[@chetrodin9656]

I think we're all sick of this 5% of society. Black, white, Republican, Liberal it doesn't matter. If there's a hundred people about five of them are going to ruin the event.

[@noahmijo]

Shit yea-For the time ever I feel out of place saying I don’t care about labels I’ll hang out with anybody that’s not an aggressive asshole-that’s the only label I care about and try to avoid

[@stuartcharles1307]

The problem is worldwide. I refereed soccer for a number of years and finally gave it up because I had enough of the abuse, having to deal with walking encyclopedias and parents who tried to live their own children's lives instead of sitting back and watching the game, supporting their kids, and respecting the officials.

[@mike4619]

I played 4 years varsity and 4 years D1. Never experienced this type of behavior, not once. Now this was 25 years ago, but the overall culture of this country has changed for the worse.

[@RamJam21]

​@@user-ch9pd7se3visn't high school considered "youth sports"? I mean any sport played by kids under the adult age is considered youth...duh moron

[@laneadams9040]

I've walked off the field as a base ump in the middle of a game. Baseball parents are the worst.

[@BoslagerBBQ]

I don’t agree with parents arguing with umpires in the least but there are plenty of terrible umpires out there that don’t care and don’t pay attention to the game, it’s a good paycheck and that’s it.

[@bryanlb4987]

One city banned parents from the arena of Minor Hockey for an entire season. They were allowed to come in before the game and make sure their boys had skates properly tied and such but had to leave the arena before the referee would drop the puck. The next year, there was very little problem when they let parents back in.

[@pearl_kill_Gaming]

Sometimes your kid is going to lose. Thats life. if you dont teach them that. They will wind up a Republican.

[@RealDougFields]

Problem is most umpires are republicans. At least here in Floriduh.

[@Natetendo83]

You misspelled democrat.

[@mattjaeger5544]

I mean, the whole "there's no winners or losers if everyone has fun" type mentality is definitely some democrat type shit. Republicans would only care about results and skills while Dems would sacrifice more skilled players to make the team more "inclusive" or "diverse". Then come full circle with the "as long as we all had fun" type mentality. "Trophies for everyone ❤️". Yea that definitely sounds Dem af lol

[@gerardogarza3645]

😂😂😂😂

[@dougtripp2431]

Our little town passed an ordinance that would fine anyone that behaved like these parents at any sports game seven years ago. Fines could be 50 to 100 dollars. Third strike would ban the person from all sports events that included minors. The first year there were five people fined, the second year two, none since then. Only one parent was permanently banned. It works when you hit their wallet and privileges.

[@nathankoroush7918]

And none of these kids will make it out of highschool to play baseball.

[@jamesknotts8029]

Everybody's a tough guy now because they got phones in their hands thinking that they're going to be the next media superstar

[@pisces363]

Harassing umpires is a sport in and of itself for these parents.

[@jeffstewart724]

Do not address fans ever. If a fan is intolerably unruly, you notify the field host (sometimes the home team) that the game will not continue until the fan(s) is/are removed. I've used this successfully a few times over a 30+ years of umpiring.

[@rusty1772]

Doesn't always work. If the parents' child is on the home team, it is likely to be ignored. Embarrassing these asshole parents in public,( including videos like these), is the only answer in my opinion

[@michaelgrimes5588]

First unwritten rule of umpiring is NEVER, EVER respond, talk to to reason with anyone who isn't a coach...even players don't get spoken to aside from small clarifications...

[@crazyman7671]

Actually, the local Little League I volunteered to Ump for told me I could eject the fans yelling, and then if they don't leave, forfeit the game. They even have a sign warning of the consequences of verbal abuse posted on the diamond fence, but guess what. THEY STILL DO IT. I volunteered once, got this treatment, and at least finished the day. Walked to the lady that I volunteered thru and told her I was done. I explained what went down and she said watch the news the next day. Turns out she talked to the head coach of the team that had the parents heckling me and had coaches who allowed the players to call time to argue calls with me. He admitted it and she immediately told the coach his team was done for the season and their season was over. They were in their post season and his team was either the #1 or #2 team in their league. They only had like 2 or 3 losses before that incident.

[@jeffstewart724]

@@crazyman7671 Yeah - a Little League Ump. . .

[@mattogle325]

Never talk to them do your job better grow up it is your responsibility to do good job

[@reh3884]

Sports Karens are the worst

[@usn61]

Years ago a sports writer asked Jackie Robinson what he thought would improve kids sports. His answer was get the parents out of the game

[@barenkd316]

I worked youth sports and recreation for over 20 years. The single worst thing about youth sports is BY FAR parents.

[@dchiffy]

WoW the Karenisity is unbelievable

[@briankrian3834]

I volunteered for many youth sports; baseball, soccer, and basketball. Throughout all of my years I have many memories that demonstrated that all of the problems were ALWAYS the parents. I even had to stop play one time because a parent was caught going through the school rooms stealing laptops.

[@QueenQueen-np2sm]

These parents belittle these umpires and don’t want little Billy to get bullied at school no it’s not okay to bully anybody.

[@strummercash5601]

@Queen Queen Wow. Your comment is succinct and spot on. Thank you. Also, as a former English professor, I appreciate the smooth and elegant flow created by: belittle, little, Billy, bullied-dispersed throughout the sentence. The alliteration of the “B”s and the repetition of the internally contained “L”s make for a brief read that is as pleasant in form as it is insightful in content. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend wherever and however you may spend it! ✌🏽🙏🏽❤️ from Minnesota

[@killbillfanaquiahora]

@Strummer Cash she could've used a comma after school, no? BTW the 3rd like was from me, I agree with the statement.

[@benaciodippedout]

What's funny is that the parents arguing with the umps act like their kid is a really good player and their NOT!

[@RealDougFields]

Unless they are- but yeah most parents that have good players just avoid little league.

[@stevenichols2938]

I went to a couple of these kind of games before I had my own children, and this is exactly the kind of thing I saw. I decided then and there to steer my children away from this kind of craziness and to focus on other hobbies.

[@SabrinaL10101]

Way back in the day I used to umpire. The shin guards and chest protector were worn on the outside. I only had to do this once in awhile. I would look the parent in the eye and invite them to take my place at anytime. One parent was so bad that in between innings I went into the stands stood directly in front of him removed my equipment and gave it to him. He left.

[@Happymouth1]

"This man is a firefighter! He keeps your neighborhood safe!" Imagine that, the wife flaunting the husbands job in order to get a feeling of superiority.

[@georgehampton7579]

I am not one for violence, I remember a day when you ran your mouth you had to back it up.

[@AntiFreezePeach]

You are for violence then

[@djparalyze2655]

Amen brother, these snowflakes have forgotten about natural consequences

[@rticle15]

Right. That's when you could be wildly wrong but as long as you were stronger or faster, you could say what you please. That's the issue with promoting violence. Winning has nothing to do with being correct

[@georgehampton7579]

@@rticle15 now they are just wildly wrong and run their mouths with confidence that they are right. Right or wrong, aggressive rude speech is a at an all time high and should be put in check Freedom of speech has consequences and the Idiocrats of today have forgotten that

[@stephensweeden2397]

Right I think Gillette razors gave a wonderfully utopian vision of the 'day'.

[@bonefishboards]

I umpired u12/u14/u18 softball. Will never do this again and strongly recommend no one ever do this. Not worth it.

[@Greatergood3]

These parents peaked in middle School

[@lancegoulet8100]

My son is NOT a baseball player. He plays a different sport. I started recording video at my son's games. It keeps me quiet, because I had to hear myself on the recording the first time I had done it. I was embarrassed by myself. Now, I record his games and I stay quiet because I don't want to hear myself being an idiot on the video.

[@rayray4192]

Thanks for being a good dad!

[@weaverto]

I played baseball until I was 25, and coached JV baseball one year. One year. The school where I coached had a parent culture that didn't invade the football team I coached. It was just a group of very sad baseball parents who couldn't separate their emotions from the vicarious experience of living through their kids' ups and downs on the diamond.

[@two-nine7730]

Umpires are baseball fans as well,they love it.

[@MagSeven7]

I've been umpiring LL for 20 years and have heard lots of griping. I don't let it bother me from the fans or coaches unless I hear profanity. In that case I will ask the guilty party to leave the complex. Maybe I've been lucky but can only remember once being told by a parent to be careful walking to my car after the game. The tournament director immediatly called the local police who's appearance put an end to any trouble. Then, this past week, I had a parent follow me to my car complaining about a call that ended the game. I didn't acknowledge anything they said and just got in my car, gear on and all, and left. It can be quite scary and unsettleing. I can truthfully say, trying to recruit young people to be officials is very difficult. Especially when they see videos like this and realize most of the umpires in LL are volunteers. Unfortunate but true.

[@jwall62]

Same here. Mostly the parents don;t understand the rules and the kids are getting almost as bad once they get up to 13YO. I just ignore them all, if they follow me to my car, that's a whole different ball game and one they are not prepared for.

[@stephenherring]

Stuff like this is the reason that I gave up officiating travel ball tournaments 4 years ago. These parents are idiots who don't know the rules but think they can officiate the game from the bleachers. They are absolute jerks. It is not enjoyable to umpire games when this type of behavior goes on and on. Additionally, many travel ball coaches have no idea about the rules and they want to call the tournament supervisor every time they disagree with a judgement call. It's pitiful.

[@Rawyalty220]

Imagine getting into an argument in baseball and a woman randomly says “WELL HES A FIREFIGHTER”

[@LeafsAndCars]

It's "LITTLE LEAGUE" not game 7 of the WORLD SERIES!!! GET A GRIP PARENTS!!

[@briangarrow448]

I coached youth sports for decades, working with my children and hundreds of other young people. The kids were by far the easiest part of the experience. Most kids were a joy, and I have fond memories of the littlest kids running the wrong way, chasing butterflies and singing and dancing in the outfield. As they got older, the skills increased and they played with more intensity. I still remember those special moments when the sun was shining, the fields were perfect and all the kids played hard. My worst experiences were with the parents, and some were out of control. Not often, but sometimes I had to deal with parents who had no filters or thought their little Johnny was the next Cy Young Award winner. My sincere opinion is that parents get one warning- then they have to sit outside the stadium or field complex. Learning how to control their emotions should already have been completed before their kids show up to play group sports.

[@RealDougFields]

It is not about you and your experience. It is about the kids- NOT your experience and ability to control those kids/parents. Because we all know underage kids come with parents. Fing morons.

[@barbiedahl]

Kids can't take their parents anywhere nowadays. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@sheldonborders3844]

the first ump is classy, love how he handled that situation

[@iuhoosier1992]

I am an certified high school umpire for the state of Indiana and I have been followed to my car after games by parents. It is a little disconcerting not knowing the mood of those parents or their attitude.

[@chriskeel3096]

have been a parent at games. yall park in the same parking lot as those parents. youre GOING to be followed to the parking lot by parents in that scenario. doesnt mean they were doing anything other than going to their car, like you did

[@iuhoosier1992]

@@chriskeel3096 not when they actually stop at my car and then proceed to bitch about every call we made that day. When I say they follow me to my car, I mean they actually come to my car while I am changing out of my gear to go home. I have been threatened while changing to have my ass kicked because mommy and daddy think junior is going to play in the majors some day. You are probably one of those parents.

[@McScott76]

What did you do to escalate or de-escalate during the game? How much did you mouth off to fans yourself? I've seen many, many umps have huge egos on the field and refuse to admit when they missed calls. Instead of just saying, "I missed it," they get super defensive and arrogant about it. So yeah... if you're acting like a pompous ass on the field, you're not doing yourself any favors after the game. Not saying you should be threatened, but you should conduct yourself as a professional on the field too. Maybe you do... but I've seen plenty of umps who don't.

[@iuhoosier1992]

@@McScott76 I don't say a word to the fans nor do I interact during the game with the fans. Actually tend to tune them out and really don't pay attention to what they say. I know they say things put if you are going to be an ump you have to be pretty thick skin. 98% of the parents that yell at you during the game usually let it go when the game is over. But good on you to blame the ump for starting something. Haven't really heard that justification for parents to harass an umpire.

[@tod1045]

Kids sports would be better without the parents. Been a hockey referee for 26 years, stopped doing kids games four years ago. I can't stand the youth hockey culture. Bratty kids, entitled parents, and belligerent coaches.

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

It takes big bucks for your kids to play hockey. The parents are looking at refs like employees. It’s disgusting.

[@grumpyref]

AS employees then, we do not habe to put up with being belittled and cursed at!! It is not just hockey that's expensive. If you kid has any kind of talent, in any sport, training camps and the like get expensive REAL quick.

[@bigal7561]

I was an official for 25 years and finally just quit. State association could not find officials. I was calling almost all the time just to fill in where they could not get a crew. This was HS baseball, basket ball and football. No younger guys could take the abuse that was horrible. Guys like me, that had full time jobs, didn't do this for the money. Heck you were traveling long distances all the time. We did it because we loved the game and I was good at it. But the parents and coaches had become feral. I always told the new guys that you got to be able to take the heat from the fans but it had increasingly gotten out of hand and the Superintendents would not do a thing to stop it as they were afraid to lose their jobs if a parent was connected. My wife stopped going to any of my games as she would leave crying from what people would yell at me. I remember the day I tossed a coach and two parents from a game. I had enough. I made the coaches leave the stands and get into his bus and if he said one word the game was over. I was going to notify to have to notify my area guy and write a report anyway so I just included I QUIT. It was horrible. The stuff you show here is timid as to what goes on at every game. The parents are nuts

[@guessundheit6494]

The only solution any more is no parents. Baseball? They can stand beyond the outfield fence. Soccer or football? Watch from their cars. Basketball? Don't school gyms have an observation area behind glass?

[@Whatamidoinghere262]

.000005% of these kids will have a career. The parents all think their kid will be the one.

[@rodrigochavez1814]

I umped one game, that’s all it took, parents are annoying

[@RealDougFields]

Sucks to not be in total control?

[@rds990]

The secret is to train umps NOT to yell back at parents. Simply walk over and whisper in their ear QUIETLY to stop or they will be removed. When an ump screams at some nitwit parent, the parent now is embarrassed in front of other parents so they feel a need to lash back. Keeping the tone quiet works. Try it coaches. I have used it in HS sports for 30 years.

[@profoundclarity8497]

so coddle the ignorance....no thanks...embarrass the fuk out of them

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

It should be in the league agreement that parents can be banned from the events for causing problems. If they can't sign the agreement then the kids can't play.

[@grumpyref]

​@@fmbbeachbum8163quite often this is not followed through on.

[@samirobeidallah]

These parents are pathetic and weird.

[@davidcurtis5398]

When I was working Little League and Senior League we had fields with out any stands behind the home plate. All fans were seated on the first base or third base lines. No one could be behind the plate as this is where the consesion stands were along with the score keeper and PA announcer. Now in some areas of my state the games have to be planed around the availability of officials. They have so few that the games have to be rescheduled so that the officials can be used. It's so sad that coaches and parents are killing youth sports. We have even had parents banned from games for life.

[@UncleAL86]

Well done to the umpire that called the game - should be more of it. It’s the only way they’ll learn.

[@BovisStercus]

It's not the Olympics...geesh!

[@eaglesclaws8]

Someone said they had a gun in their truck at a school? Wow big brains on that guy....

[@jvillebil13]

I was a park and recreation director for 25 years and never tolerated this in any of my parks in any sport. I once had a fan in football belittling the referees, I went to the concession stand and came back and sat beside him and handed him a whistle, referee shirt , flag and hat. I told him you have 2 options. 1. You'll referee the next game or 2. You sit here with your mouth shut or else you'll go back to one or leave the park. Same in baseball. We made all parents sign a pledge to abide by park rules before their child was allowed to play. In baseball we had a parent on the fence just giving the umpire hell. I casually walked up to him and said in his ear 6" away, "Billy, I'm not going to embarrass you in front of everyone unless you want me to but say another word and you're gone." Billy was quiet for an inning then started back, I walked back over and leaned in and said, "Billy you can leave on your own or I can call the police" He just looked at me and said, "I'm gone" He later came to work for me and turned his life around. Directors of the parks must enforce rules and support the officials or you'll see idiot fans and coaches and eventually kids act stupid.

[@vinylpenguin2651]

I was cornered in a walmart by a angry dad because pushed and wound up breaking my wrist. I quit umpiring obviously. Baseball near me needs umpires so bad that even nearly 20 years later I still get a call from several leagues before every season. 20 years and they still call hoping I will say yes. I've been offered 150 bucks a game but honestly no amount of money is worth it. Crap parents are nothing new we just see it more with social media but everything happening today happened 20-30 years ago too.

[@rayray4192]

Not true and accurate. The umpire hate has escalated.

[@grumpyref]

It's always been bad. We all have little cameras on our phones to catch more of it.

[@rayray4192]

@@grumpyref Had an assistant coach bitch to me about my plate partner as the game ended. 18-U . They got their ass kicked 11-0. They usually win. You badmouth my partner and you are done. Post game ejection and he was banned from the tournament. His players are good but they are self important entitled pricks. Other teams were polite, respectful, and calm. Players take on the persona of their coach and their parents.

[@elliemaesrehab3348]

I have reffed basketball for 40+ years, with a 2 year break somewhere in the middle, and yes, I got yelled at a lot cause that's what fans do, but I loved what I was doing. I tried my hand at umping softball .... made it 1.5 years and walked away from it mid-season. Did 3 men's games in 3 nights [all10pm games at that], all 3 without a partner [I called the assignor each time and they told me my partner "couldn't make it"], all 3 games with one of the same teams, so instead of subjecting myself to anymore of the bs, I told both teams around the 4th inning that I was done once the game was finished. They went from being asses, complaining about the job I was doing, to trying to talk me out of quitting. When you don't get support [or a partner], no matter how hard you try to do a good job, you are set up to fail. I expressed my opinion when I handed in my resignation. The fans were never the problem [mostly cause I interacted with them]. Official abuse is an issue that is growing. Maybe if people started recording the abusers and post it, some might get the message [but I doubt it].

[@TeeJay-in2lj]

I was an umpire for 16 years and finally had enough of the Little League parents thinking their Little Leaguers were pros. The abuse is constant and unnecessary.

[@markjohnson3366]

I umpired for 2 years and I got fed up and quit. Most parents don't even know the rules. Life is too short to hear parents belittle you for 2 hours a night. I hope they soon run out of umpires.

[@denniskissinger7937]

for all the hecklers, officials are always hiring! if you can do better have at it!

[@IsleofWight-sn4zg]

I've noticed that the worst of hecklers have the tendency to be the least desiring to be an umpire themselves. It's sad that sports officials across the country are dwindling in numbers in large part due to the abuse that they take. It’s one of the main reasons why I won't officiate.

[@denniskissinger7937]

@@IsleofWight-sn4zg I and many others officiate for the love of the game. I officiate ice hockey, when we remove a fan/parent they leave the building before we resume play. We are all human and do make mistakes. Most coaches and fans do understand and for the ones who don't there's not much we can do. On occasion I will offer them a job application, I've yet had any takers

[@robertskipper8848]

Yes sir. Once they step on the field and actually do the job, everyone will know why they were originally sitting in the stands.

[@timdowney6721]

The silver lining to the umpire/referee shortage is maybe adults will let kids just go out and play.

[@betsykeller9096]

I coached middle school CYO volleyball, and the parents were the worst. Catholic School, I'm doing equal playing time at the JV level to help develop all the players, and the parents are complaining I'm not coaching to win. That's the actual directive of CYO - is to help develop the athletes, and not focus on winning. In 7th and 8th grade, it then becomes about further skill training, determining positions, then coaching to win to qualify for the season ending tournament, and 8th grade really becomes about prepping for high school. But, 5th and 6th grade parents complained because I wasn't pushing the kids to send it over on the first pass. None of them played high school or college volleyball (I did). Parents.

[@molonlabe7309]

Any time a parent would do crap like this I would call time and let them know when the classes would start for new umpires. Shocker no one ever showed up.🤔

[@Diggerdog2nd]

I coached my daughter's softball team in 96 & the kids were great but some of the parent's behavior ruined it for me, they wanted me to coach again the next year, but I declined because of the parents not the kids which is too bad. the kids were so great they put their money together & got me a Thank you trophy. Very sweet of them.

[@johnmorrison523]

These are the same parents that encourage violence during the game. Verbal assault comes with threatening language

[@cgilleybsw]

years ago, I had a pastor that loved to umpire youth baseball. He had zero tolerance for this nonsense. Umpires are screwed - if they gently engage with parents its like tossing gas on the fire. He would turn around, walk to the fence, look the parent in the eye and say, "You are done. What happens next is your choice."

[@KingDuumb]

And why do these parents not become umpires? Or would they cheat for their kids?

[@DorisPayne348]

They would definitely cheat for their kids!

[@edrueter9]

The problem is you have a bunch of narcissists who watch big league games where there are ejections and high tempers because there are such high stakes and jobs on the line. Then they equate that to their 12 year old who is the center of their little world and think it is okay to act that way.

[@stephenstone8480]

You are so right...99% of the time, it isn't the kids that are the problem...it's their overbearing parents...get over yourselves, people!

[@mrthingy9072]

And this is why I couldn't watch any of my nephew's ball games. My sister is one of these, except add more racial slurs and threats of violence against the umpires. And there was NO talking to her - she's always been like that, you can't talk to her because she's right you're wrong and screw you. No surprise she adores Donald Trump, she's that type of personality. I'm glad she divorced her husband, he has a life of peace now. My sister is a constant rage machine waiting to explode. She'll be ok for a bit when she goes back on her medications but then she'll start feeling better, stop taking the med and she's back to full up rage machine. I fully expect to see her one day on one of those cop shows where she slaps a cop and gets the shit beaten out of her.

[@eileenhohwald3383]

These parents aren't playing!! shut your mouth parents & let the kids play!!

[@MBGolfer]

I got chased to a parking lot in a 12u game and the leagues president had to hold him back andcremove him. All of the other umps there stood in front of me. Its bad. I quit after 20 years it is so bad today.

[@fithrwer6286]

Somebody give her a muzzle!

[@ChrisSmithFW]

5-years later and we're still here. I coach a 10U little league team. Last night, a parent from my team was yelling at my catcher, who is not his son. This was our 2nd game of the season. The catcher wanted to leave the field and quit mid-game because of the parent. His own son had a total meltdown in the game as well and started crying on the mound (but not because his dad yelled at the catcher). In our 1st game, the same parent was upset after I pulled his son from pitcher after 1 inning late in the game. His son, who has never pitched before, was removed not because of anything he did or didn't do on the mound during his 1-inning but because I needed to get another pitcher an inning in the game because he too is new to the mound. I had to see how he'd perform in a game before putting him in a higher-leverage spot later in the season. Because the parent, who never played baseball himself (of course), didn't know the motivation behind the move, he walked to our dugout to voice his displeasure.

[@guybobinette]

as a former umpire, that first gal wouldn't have lasted a batter if I was umpiring.......in fact, I still take great delight in the time I 'tossed' a Mother (who was the official scorekeeper of 'her' league) for giving me HELL before the game even started (because of the umpire they had BEFORE me!!!). i said something like, "you can go home and catch up on 'days of our lives', or i'll forfeit your kids' game - which'll it be?"......i had a few 'officials' come up and ask if i'd give her another chance - but when you swear at me, when i'm getting out of my CAR......you're gone!!!

[@g-urts5518]

This is in no way new. In highschool we had to complete 40 hours of community service to get our diplomas. I chose to umpire youth baseball. Started with 8 year old house league baseball. This was 20 years ago. Even then, as a 15 year old, I had to kick out multiple parents and threaten to end games if they didn't leave or stop yelling. Even after the community service. I made $10/game. Twice per week. I think I lasted about 2 months after I got my service done. Parents are insufferable at youth sports events

[@odalysdiaz5202]

These are the parents whose kids grow up to expect things to just be handed to them.

[@peterhewett4406]

I’ve coached, played and worked in leagues like this. The umps handled this perfectly! Credit to them! I played with a few people who turned to their parents who were getting a bit out of hand and simply told them to stop.

[@nathanaelbrown1983]

I coach little league ball, and thankfully I've never seen it get THAT bad. But one thing I'll never forget was a close call at second base. They called our runner out, and to be fair I'm like 99% positive our player was safe. Everybody went into a frenzy over the call and one of my players started barking at the umpire. Man I never turned around so fast and told a kid to sit down and be quiet in my life, pretty sure I scared the kid. Later that night his mom texted me and thanked me for correcting him. I understand we want the game to be fair, and there's a way to have that conversation. But at the end of the day this is little league ball, it's not worth getting so upset over.

[@nelks1284]

Parents are the reason I strongly dislike kids sports.

[@ChrisLessard-q4r]

All these parents act like their kids are going somewhere. Your kid isn’t going to MLB, so get some popcorn and chill out.

[@wendykrahn6345]

They need to make a rule in all youth sports, the first chirp from any parent gets a forfeit for the team of that parent, period! Then, if winning is so important to them, they might shut the eff up.

[@RealDougFields]

MORON! Have some kids- let them play sports- now we may value your opinion. MORON!

[@morrissoublet25]

Sadly, this behavior only gets worse as their kids continue in sports.

[@dankinney-r9p]

I umpired little league 2 college for over 40years. It's amazing how parents act...but I will say I threw out more Mom's than Dad's.... let the kids play!!!!

[@heybamanba1]

I stopped coaching hockey for the same reason. Kids were great. Parents shouldn’t even be allowed to watch. Drop your kids off and go yell at a mirror.

[@cliffart7398]

I ejected a coach for trying to be Billy Martin during a 13 year old game that I was the only ump. They asked me to do it and I told them up front I would call everything from behind the plate. The coach agreed then started complaining when I called a runner out at third - he was tagged 5 feet before the bag. This happened on an Air Force Base and I was a Special Agent at the time. The coach refused to leave so I had security police escort him off the base. His assistant coach and the parent of his team thanked me afterwards because he always acted up. I didn't officiate after that, my second year.

[@michaelb1429]

I can say I have seen countless umpires ask what the score is etc, but still no excuse to go off when they mess something up. I have seen some ballparks serving alcohol, which really needs to stop.

[@Diogenes-ty9yy]

When I umped, I always made sure that there was an official scorer and, if I had a question about the count, I would check with that scorer and we'd get it straight. Always make sure there's an agreement on balls, strikes, and outs.

[@doggovision8765]

Once again, parents screwing it up for the kids while setting great examples.

[@jcx5659]

I used to officiate soccer games for generally under 10 year olds, 30+ years ago. Some parents were bad then, but this shhhitt is over the top.

[@USMC-lr8th]

I'm one of the parents that yells "Hit a field goal!" at a softball game. Lol. Remember people, these are kids and we want them to enjoy the sport.

[@accuratealloys]

Semper Fi!

[@Matthew_Hines]

And people wonder why their is a shortage of umpires.

[@tristatefullautoshootandtr5676]

"This guys a firefighter who protects your neighborhood"... I guess theres certain professions that now allow you to be an A-hole wherever you go. Duly noted.

[@theprogressiveway]

living through ur kids never goes well - and our nutters say the childless are selfish 😂

[@rustytrip3458]

17 years of umpiring was enough for me. When I as an umpire show Gods love to the kids and coaches better then the parents do, that is sad. And yes it was even at a YMCA (YoungMensChristianAthletics) where without looking at the fans so as not to prolong argument Briefly called time from behind the plate And so everyone could here yelled “ All we need for a game are players, coaches, and umpires- so everyone else can go home if it doesn’t calmn down < Play Ball” I’m glad to say that day they calmed down and that was the worst thing had for that day. For those that still umpire : Thank You for what you do.

[@goatitisful]

This is gross... my dad used to do this at my games when i was young

[@yomama9567]

Embarassing, no??

[@bonwatcher]

As usual, adults ruining it for the kids. Never inject yourself into the game as a parent and cheer on the kids win or lose, it's the best thing you can do.

[@rps-rj7fe]

To all the parents that think your kid is going to be a professional baseball player and the calls at this level are screwing them over....if you took ALL players that have ever played in the majors....they wouldnt even fill up the chicago white sox stadium.....the chances of your kid going pro is basically zip.....sit down....shut up....and watch the game.....