Profanity

Zero Tolerance

Profanity is a problem in sports today.  Profanity in the game not only projects a

A Zero Tolerance policy must be adopted for profanity that in the umpire's opinion can be heard by spectators of the game. It is language of this nature that is turning away persons from our sport 

Mild profanities (the occasional "damn" or "hell") will not get you ejected, but anything stronger will and should.

Spirited bantering between benches is sometimes the norm at higher levels of ball, but this must be closely watched by the officiating team.  It is important to remember that good-natured ribbing is fine, so long as the context makes it evident nothing serious is intended. Genuine personal attacks and insults must be stopped immediately and both teams warned regarding this type of actions taking place.

Allowing umpire discretion gives the official the opportunity to use some latitude in dealing with language issues. If possible it allows individuals to remain in the game when profanity occurs, dependent upon the words uttered and that the statement made is heard between the umpire and the offender only.

OK, everyone in the province is supporting Zero Tolerance - No Profanity. 
So you get on the diamond, a local game, and somebody swears. "TIME,  
Number 24, you are ejected for profanity." - "Blue, what do you mean?", "Are you kidding?", "I didn't get a warning.", or "The other umpire didn't ..." I'm sure you've heard all the excuses, and then some.

When this article was being composed, it was thought to be real easy to write.
At each clinic we are told: No Profanity - Zero Tolerance. If a participant of the game swears, they are to be ejected. Speaking to many senior umpires, I heard the same things that are presented at the clinics. If a player/coach swears, and you hear them, AND so does someone else – toss them.

If they are quiet about it, and you are the only one that heard, then use some discretion. And, of course, if the profanity is directed at someone (especially an umpire) - Bye! Remember - it's not you ejecting the players, it's the players ejecting themselves.

We try, as umpires, to be preventative; remind the players and coaches at every plate conference about the profanity rule (which they immediately reiterate to their players - we hope), and enforce the rule. I have no problem ejecting a participant for profanity, it's not part of the game. No one needs to be verbally abused. I'm not going to take any s@#$!

That’s where I believe the problem starts. Is “S--t” profanity? It seems that this word is socially acceptable now, and why can't we use it on the ball field? I asked my fellow umpires exactly that, "Is S--t profanity?" I heard many answers without any real commitment - it is, or is not profanity.

So, I went back to thinking of what our job as an umpire is. We are to enforce the rules of softball. Our first and most important issue is safety. Is profanity a safety issue? I can see how it is offensive, and maybe, in minor ball it could cause a player to hesitate after hearing some comment from the stands, but without it, there would definitely be no problem. Does it enhance our game? - NO.

This still leaves me with one concern, the comment from the player that "the other umpire didn't call it." Are they trying to get away with it, or is it true? I'm sure that most umpires enforce the rule. Should there be an exception, I want you to know that we support you. The profanity issue is best handled by Ray Day, Slo-Pitch DPUIC. At the plate conference he simply states - "to me, 'brutal' is profanity." The players understand that he means business and will enforce the rule. Somehow, respectfully, the players don't even test him.

It therefore comes down to this - profanity is not part of the game, it's not in the rules, and there is no benefit to it. We do not teach it in school and we do not want it on the ball diamond. No profanity – Zero Tolerance.