Videoing Games? I got booted.

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Aug 18, 2014
57
8
So since the start of fall season I have been videoing and posting my daughter's team's games to YouTube. The players, parents and coaches seem to like it because they can pull good plays off the video and review how they did and maybe what they need to improve on. For those of us who just love softball it's just fun to be able to watch your kid play. Those cold winter nights are coming soon and it will be nice to see a little bit of summer in the winter too. I have noticed a great increase in the number of teams videoing and always the cameras are behind the backstop attached to the fence or, in my case, against the fence. Which leads me to a situation that occurred today.

Last game of the day is about to start and the umpires are looking for the person who has the GoPro setup. That would be me. I go behind home plate and the home plate umpire tells me I can't have the camera there. This was the first time anyone had ever made an issue of it so I was surprised. As I'm moving the camera I said (as close as I can remember) "this is amazing, I have never had an issue before this" to which the umpire said "do you want to go too? I can make that happen" At that point I should have just shut up and moved the camera but me being me I said "you really like that power thing you've got going there" That was it. Boom! I'm tossed. I walked to the outfield and hid behind a tree but he spotted me and stopped the game until I was safely out to the parking lot. All in all it was fairly comical and the other parents were busting on me pretty hard because to anyone outside of a five foot radius from where this took place it did not appear as if anything had happened.

My question is this: do I or anyone else have a right to video the game from behind the backstop? It sure seems there are hundreds of videos on YouTube from that vantage point. Assuming a person does not just want to say "yes sir, no sir" when an unreasonable position is being taken what do you do? I sincerely believe we as softball parents and coaches have a right to video our kids. Is it OK for a parent to stand behind home plate with an iPhone pointed at their kid? I see that every game. I don't get what the big deal is. Have ASA of any other organization come out on this?

Like I said really not an earth shattering issue but it did seem to me like the umpire overstepped in this case.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I think if you are on a public park and your camera is not on field of play, fence might be no good, you can do what you want. School gets more interesting and should have policy.

I know I do not want videos of DD on Internet or your Team website so even though I do not think I have a legal argument I think my wishes should be respected.

Do not care about umpires unless they think in any way shape or form might even hit a tie for the camera, they have every right to ask it removed. Never has an Issue though but the does not mean they are not right.
 
Last edited:

Josh Greer

DFP Vendor
Jul 31, 2013
934
93
Central Missouri
We have worked with many of the major sanctions. We occasionally have dealt with an umpire on a power trip. But Usually, if the situation is handled calmly, we are ultimately allowed to record. We designed our product to ensure it cannot be a part of the field of play. So that isn't the issue. Perhaps next time seek out the tournament director. There is no major sanction ruling disallowing recording that I am aware of. So if the conversation is handled properly with the director , I would think a solution can be arranged.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
We have worked with many of the major sanctions. We occasionally have dealt with an umpire on a power trip. But Usually, if the situation is handled calmly, we are ultimately allowed to record. We designed our product to ensure it cannot be a part of the field of play. So that isn't the issue. Perhaps next time seek out the tournament director. There is no major sanction ruling disallowing recording that I am aware of. So if the conversation is handled properly with the director , I would think a solution can be arranged.

Only heard great things about your product, sure the heck does not look like if it comes into field of play if setup right. We hang Team banner behind backstop sometimes that minutely gets in field of play.
 
Aug 18, 2014
57
8
Quincy based on what I wrote do you think I deserved to get thrown out of the game? That is what happened. I'm an honest man I'm telling the complete accurate truth. I personally was embarrassed. I have never been thrown out of a game in four years of softball either school ball rec league or travel if that means anything.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Honestly maybe.

No good comes out of mouthing off to umps, especially for parents. I would have got a coach involved, if you are not a coach. If you are a Coach HC. If you are HC you are done.
 
Last edited:
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
Quincy based on what I wrote do you think I deserved to get thrown out of the game? That is what happened. I'm an honest man I'm telling the complete accurate truth. I personally was embarrassed. I have never been thrown out of a game in four years of softball either school ball rec league or travel if that means anything.

Lesson learned. NEVER argue with someone who thinks they are more important than they are. The best thing to do is say sure No Problem. Go find the TD and ask him if it's OK for you to mount a GoPro on the fence to video your DD. If he says yes then ask him to inform the HP umpire on field #X it's OK.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Reminds me of Billy Blaze being barred from a casino for being too good
[video]https://youtu.be/xRCNGaKUW2o[/video]

You weren't tossed for videoing the game. You were tossed for arguing with the ump and then not leaving the park.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I bet there are a lot of crummy umpires who do not want their shortcomings broadcast for all to see. I wonder how many TD and UICs have received video clips that demonstrate how incompetent some of their umpires really are.
 

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