Classless or part of the Game?

Was at my nephew's game the other day. Opposing team was making noise right as the pitcher was making his delivery. Ump gave the bench a warning, and it stopped right there. He told them cheer your team on, but slam the bench during the pitch, and I'll send you packing.

MacLobo said:

Was at my nephew's game the other day. Opposing team was making noise right as the pitcher was making his delivery. Ump gave the bench a warning, and it stopped right there. He told them cheer your team on, but slam the bench during the pitch, and I'll send you packing.

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That's awesome I'm so tired of all the negativity in little girls sports too.

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inside, outside, middle, banging pots and pans, screaming/shreeeking, changing volume of cheer as pitch is released is BUSH LEAGUE... you can be 130 db in the dugout cheering so long as its not timed to the pitchers release and/or catch of the ball... it comes down to the INTENT of the cheer and we all know when its a good natured cheer your team and have spirit and when its BUSH league..

WHEREAMI said:

Saw where a team and coach were upset at another team, for having "poor sportsmanship". Coach said it's NOT OK to scream at a pitcher as she delivers the ball, or beat on a metal roof of the dugout with balls and bats to "intimidate" the pitcher and players. I see nothing wrong with this at all. I much rather my team be "LOUD and Engaged" during the game. As long as they aren't being negative in cheers to the other team, I think it adds to the "ORA" of fast pitch. BUT what I do call poor sportsmanship is a base coach yelling to the batter, where the catcher sets up. "INSIDE....OUTSIDE.....MIDDLE" ......that ticks me off. I've played lots of teams that bang on the roof, Its called "having fun"! just my opinion.

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To each their own but the whole thing sounds very bush league or worse, like an episode of Jerry Springer. This is often the signature of poorly coached teams that feel compelled to employ such shenanigans in place of actual skills between the lines. Best tactic is to stay very quiet and let your game speak for you instead of your mouth. Back in the day there was a team like this from Bartow FL where they typically got louder and nastier as a game progressed and more alcohol was consumed by the parents. Will never forget Jake getting 17K's including a run of 12 straight against them in a tournament in their back yard. A couple of dads had talked trash before we had the plate meeting and with her first pitch school was in session. By the end of the 5th inning they were so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. After it was over we did the customary high fives and quietly walked off the field for our next game as they left for home. Sometimes you say much more by saying nothing at all.

Classless!!!

Comp said:

USA softball does not allow noise makers to be used, and equipment is intended to be used as designed. Balls and bats are not manufactured to be used to beat on benches, dugout roofs, fences etc. And, there is also a rule about yelling time or any other phrase in an attempt to get the pitcher to commit an illegal pitch.

I find it ironic you are ok with attempting to distract the pitcher, but find it unsportsmanlike to relay pitch location to the batter.

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Our distraction of the pitcher, is our girls singing songs as we bat. usually Christmas songs, sometimes TV show tunes, nothing out of the way, or getting louder as she pitches.

WHEREAMI said:

Our distraction of the pitcher, is our girls singing songs as we bat. usually Christmas songs, sometimes TV show tunes, nothing out of the way, or getting louder as she pitches.

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You said in the OP you saw nothing wrong with screaming at the pitcher as she was about to deliver the ball? Are you saying you do it or don't?

It's totally classless. DD's never been on a team where a coach would allow that kind of behavior. That said, I tell DD it's just how some teams are and she's got to just focus on doing her job. None of that nonsense works on her; only an umpire with an unpredictable strike zone gets under her skin. All that distraction nonsense is not against the rules (usually anyway), but to me the message is "We're not confident enough to win on our talent and hard work so we better try to mess the other team up too."

1000% classless. Positive cheer for your own team all you want. The negative crap and deliberate attempts to mess with or disrupt the other team's pitcher has no place. You want to disrupt the other team? Do it with better bats, better fielding, better pitching, and scoring more runs than them. While waiting to play at a tournament this summer, we watched a 16U team do nothing but negative yelling/chanting/taunting, starting with the "Ball 1, Ball 1, Ball 1....Ball 2, Ball 2, Ball 2..." nonsense. Made us all very happy when they got their asses handed to them.

I'm new to the fastpitch realm, but couldn't jeering the pitcher cause some some balls to start coming in high and tight? Is that even a thing with a softball? My daughter is starting kid pitch next spring, so like I said, I don't know the etiquette or tradition here. I'm an old codger, but back in the day, we wouldn't have done it in little league to any kid with a fastball and a modicum of control.