Umpires not allowed to fist bump/shake hands?

[WinThemAll]

I have always taught my players to shake the hand and thank the umpires after a game no matter if we won or lost. Some umpires prefer to fist bump. High school to high level travel --ASA, PGF, USSSA, USFA, NSA from Colorado to Florida, Midwest and Southeast.

It's about manners, respecting the game and sportsmanship.

This weekend at a State ASA Event the umpires refused to shake the girl's hands. Saying that they are not allowed to touch players. (There was no problem the first day) and our older teams were at another location and there was no issue.

I asked the Tournament Director about it and he told me that the ASA was being sued because a player went to fist bump an umpire and the umpires missed the players fist and hit the young lady in the chest.

Is this just another sue-happy-phobia "rule" by a state association?

 

[Comp]

I havent heard anything about any situation like that either personally or through any fellow umpires. At least locally in the past we have been told not to actively seek out coaches and/or players to shake their hands but to not refuse to shake hands if we are approached.

 

[MTR]

At the end of the game, umpires are to meet their partners and promptly exit the field, usually on the side of the winning team, but if egress is more efficient through another exit, so be it. The point is not to linger or put themselves in the way of being challenged by a disgruntled coach. Personally, I'd rather not exchange pleasantries with any member of either team, that is done at the plate meeting prior to the game.

 

[GunnerShotgun]

Agreed that this should take place before the game at the coaches meeting.

 

[djcarter1966]

Exactly shake coaches and captains hands at the home plate conference after the game umpires simply exit quietly, never had one refuse to shake my hand afterwords but usually only if they exit on my side...and win or lose, good calls or bad at least immediately after the game only thing I usually say is "Good Game Blue".

 

[quincy]

We play with 1 umpire, some just stay behind the plate, the ones that run all over the field I thank for their effort.

What is that win you mentioned? We haven't seen one of those this year. ☺