assaults on umpires and sport officials

[Brad Mc]

I think the umps should be able to carry. I admit, just the thought sounds totally insane. But... Over the past 15-20 years Ive seen several attacks on sports officials and tournament directors. I used to play on a competitive flag football team that played against ex college players and some arena league players. I saw a ref get punched several times as he tried to leave after a game. In slow pitch softball tournaments, Ive seen several umps punched or followed to their car. At one tournament I actually witnessed an umpire pull a knife on a player that was threatening and approaching aggressively. In the same tournament I saw a guy from Lackland AFB punch an old tournament director for not overturning an umpires call. The punch knock the old guy out and broke his glasses. Now, Im too busy with my kids to play ball myself, but have spent the past 11 years coaching select baseball and youth football. I still see the same stuff. Crazy parents and coaches getting very aggressive with the umps. This isnt just an argument that ends when the game is over. These people will threaten to kick the umps butt, then follow them all the way to their car trying to engage in a physical altercation. Myself and my son umpire games now together. He is in high school. Last week we had a parent that was threatening to "knock the tournament directors teeth down his throat" because I didnt widen the strike zone enough when i was umpiring. This guys kid was pitching and couldnt even get close to the plate. After the game the guy said he would meet us in the parking lot. He did not follow us to our car, but what if he had. What if he would have attacked the tournament director, myself, or even worse..my son. I had my weapon in the car. I think it should be a 2nd degree felony to assault a sports official. What are your thoughts?/

[JP171]

it should be just as it is, a "sports official" is not classed as a public official nor as a public servant. They have the same right as the rest of us to self defense.

[SQLGeek]

I am a baseball umpire and football official. I share your concern about officials being assaulted but practically speaking, there really isn't a way to carry that I'd feel comfortable employing. Maybe a small pocket pistol in a back pocket but there's a good chance it'd get drenched in sweat and my pockets are usually already filled with things. There is also always the concern of accidentally getting hit by the players in football. I've weighed the risk and I don't think it's enough to try and find a way to carry.

Also, in Texas there is a specific charge for assaulting a sports official but I don't remember what it is off the top of my head.

[A-R]

There is an upcharge to simple assault (Class C --> Class B) if the victim is a "sports participant" which includes umpires/referees etc.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... .htm#22.01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, unless the sporting event is pro, college, or interscholastic competition (and/or held on school grounds), what prevents an umpire from carrying at say a city softball league game?

[Brad Mc]

I just think there should be more of a deterent to keep this stuff from happening. An umpire packing, that sounds absurd! But when you have a couple people following you and trying to assault you, It doesnt sound so crazy. Can you imagine what the crowd would think if they saw an umpire printing. An umpire should not have to worry about going to call a game and then getting the crap beat out of them over a judgement call. This stuff happens! Should the deterent be chl holders that umpire carry at the game. Or increase the penalty for threatening or assauting the official. The people that pull this kind of stuff know (or assume) that the official has no means of self defense on them. Some people may think..."oh it's just one punch" ..but what if you're knocked out and helpless against further attack. Can you picture yourself on the ground knocked out while the perp continues to pound you. It could cause death or permanent injury.

[A-R]

Perhaps whoever hired the umpires should be providing security? I would think most companies, if informed of threats made against their employees (or even contractors) as a direct result of the worker doing his job would hire security as a cost-effective alternative to lawsuits by a worker injured on the job.

I realize above may seem flippant and impractical for some small sports league, point was to put the duty back on employers to provide a safe workplace. After all, this is the "reason" most employers give for no-guns employee policies, right? If the employer is prohibiting employees from carrying, the employer should be legally responsible for the employee's well being while at work under such rules.

[Brad Mc]

I am a baseball umpire and football official. I share your concern about officials being assaulted but practically speaking, there really isn't a way to carry that I'd feel comfortable employing. Maybe a small pocket pistol in a back pocket but there's a good chance it'd get drenched in sweat and my pockets are usually already filled with things. There is also always the concern of accidentally getting hit by the players in football. I've weighed the risk and I don't think it's enough to try and find a way to carry.

Also, in Texas there is a specific charge for assaulting a sports official but I don't remember what it is off the top of my head.

I'm with you. I can't see any practical way of carrying. After last weeks episode I was thinking that this stuff is getting out of hand. I guarantee that some of these people do the same stuff all the time and nothing ever happens. The city league softball stuff is the worst. Everyone is drinking and tempers flare. Any time I've seen an umpire at the softball fields get attacked, the perp was gone long before the cops showed up

[JALLEN]

Sad as it sounds to say, maybe the solution is to hire security to keep unruly fans dignified.

People used to be ashamed to act like that, outside of certain bounds. You could holler, ridicule, etc but didn't dare make physical threats in those days. For one thing, in the small town of my youth, everyone would know you were the south end of a north bound horse and life would get pretty ugly. It's a lot more tempting to be a jerk when nobody knows who you are.

There are more trashy low class people around these days, it seems.

[Brad Mc]

A-R ... Thats a good point for the big tournaments. Just add the security cost to the entry fee. However, when I do Little League games and some Pony games it is strictly volunteer. They don't have the money to pay the umps let along pay for security.

[A-R]

A-R ... Thats a good point for the big tournaments. Just add the security cost to the entry fee. However, when I do Little League games and some Pony games it is strictly volunteer. They don't have the money to pay the umps let along pay for security.

Yes, definitely understand this dilemma. Still everyone has to decide if risk is worth it. If parents/attendees are bad enough, maybe no more refs/umps will show up until the situation is cleaned up.

Until then, perhaps an agreement to never work alone? Always minimum of 2 or 3 per game?

Again, cost/ resources issue ... but sooner or later those having to weigh the extra costs will get the clue about WHO is necessitating the extra costs.

Also, should go without saying but ALL such threats should be immediately reported to LEOs ASAP with as much identifying detail as possible, physical description of suspect, suspect's accomplices and/ or acquaintances, suspects vehicle, maybe even quick cell phone pic taken on the sly.

[Keith B]

Just remember, if it is NOT a proffesional sporting event (paid players) or a school sponsored sporting event, then it is legal to carry.