PU making contact and mocking catcher during game

This is 10U All Stars and not my DD or it would have probably been a different situation. I didn't find out about the issue until the next day and I am waiting on a text back from the HC of our All Star team to make sure that she handled it before I escalate to the area director of USSSA because the whole thing is unacceptable, but I want to know what you guys think should have been done and how it should be handled.

During our first game last Thursday night, our catcher missed a ball in the first inning that caught the PU in the arm. This apparently made him angry. For the rest of the game he would hit her on the back of the helmet every time one got by her. He told her repeatedly, "If I get hit, then you get hit." She never said a word to us and none of the coaches saw it happening. He was also mocking her during warmups and throw downs. After the last inning she came to the dugout in tears and told us that her leg was hurt so we got one of our other catchers ready to go for that game if needed and had her catch the second game. Fortunately, we had a different crew for game 2. She didn't mention it to her mother who was at the game until the next day as they were heading to the ball field for our third game. I about lost my cool when they told me. If I would have known it was going on during the game I can guarantee that I would have been ejected because this is a 10 year old little girl being berated by a full grown man, he was probably in his 50s, who is supposed to be out there to help keep the kids safe. I am getting angry now just thinking about the chance that we might have the same crew at one of our games this weekend.

I guess my question is, should I go ahead and send an email to the area director now or wait until we get to the tournament tomorrow and ask to speak to the head of the umpire crew about it there? What is the protocol for dealing with something like this?

That guy has no business being on the field - drop the dime.

If I get hit you get hit- abuse?

This at least needs to be investigated as if he did say this and did do this he crossed the line.

Its 10u-we know as umpires were gonna get hit at some point

WAY (!!!) over the line. Send the email AND talk to the UIC at the tournament AND talk to the tournament organizer as soon as you possibly can. Make sure your catcher and her parents know you have her back.

I think you should call now and also tell them that you are going to press charges against him if they don't remove him. We had a ump once stop our catcher between innings and tell her in a very nice joking way about doing her best to protect him. He was a great ump and it made our catcher better. She really liked how he gave her encouragement, not running her down. This was 12u TB.

Your HC knows, the parents know. I would stay out of it for now and see how it plays out.

I would email today AND talk to the tournament UIC when you get there. That is ridiculous. I am with you, cause I was getting mad just reading that. There is absolutely no way he should be acting like that.

You mention your HC is aware. She should be the one to handle it unless she delegates to you. The behavior as described is WAY over the line.

I hate when this stuff happens. I had something similar happen to my daughter in our state 10U championship game. She was pitching and the umpire called an illegal pitch. Now, I didn't have a problem with that. However, as the game went on, she continued to do it on and off even though we were getting drummed 10-0. We tried other pitchers but none of them could even throw it across the plate. In the last inning the umpire multiple times came running towards my daughter in the circle, screaming "YOU DID IT AGAIN!!!" and pointing his finger at my, already crying 10U pitcher/DD. I'm not going to say what I told him from across the field but I was quickly ejected by the other umpire who is a friend of mine. (and I should have been). I can tell you that it went from making a call to personal. When it crosses that line, something needs to be done. I have never seen that umpire again.

Under no circumstances should an adult in a position of power put their hands on your daughter. Period.

This leads to a much larger issue and it can't happen under your watch as a coach. The intent simply doesn't matter.