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ENLARGE
Devon O'Neil
It's crazy, but this scares me.
Beginning this year, any player in a Summit County Softball league can be ejected from a game for uttering those ugly four letters - "the F-bomb." The rule is being implemented across the state for every softball league that plays under the governing body of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).
As such, Summit County Softball's zero tolerance policy on the issue was passed down at recent managers' meetings. It was then the managers' duty to relay the news to the players.
My team's manager, a fun-loving fellow named Rick, relayed said news this way: After our first practice on Tuesday, beers in hand, Rick changed tones. "Guys," he said, "listen up for a second. This is kind of serious." Then he explained the new rule.
Why is it serious? Because as ugly a word as the F-bomb can be, if it's said around kids or others who loathe its sound, it's also a common way for players to express frustration. I've heard it at high school sporting events, professional sporting events and, yes, plenty of times at rec league contests.
Beginning this year, any player in a Summit County Softball league can be ejected from a game for uttering those ugly four letters - "the F-bomb." The rule is being implemented across the state for every softball league that plays under the governing body of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).
As such, Summit County Softball's zero tolerance policy on the issue was passed down at recent managers' meetings. It was then the managers' duty to relay the news to the players.
My team's manager, a fun-loving fellow named Rick, relayed said news this way: After our first practice on Tuesday, beers in hand, Rick changed tones. "Guys," he said, "listen up for a second. This is kind of serious." Then he explained the new rule.
Why is it serious? Because as ugly a word as the F-bomb can be, if it's said around kids or others who loathe its sound, it's also a common way for players to express frustration. I've heard it at high school sporting events, professional sporting events and, yes, plenty of times at rec league contests.
I've said it myself at rec league contests. I don't think it makes me a bad person, and sometimes I wish it hadn't been on the tip of my tongue, but I've said it nonetheless. It's almost instinctive sometimes. That's why I'm nervous.
That's also why I think it's a silly rule.
According to fourth-year Summit County Softball director Steve "Smoke" Wilkins, the rule's silver lining as it's enforced around here - in the eyes and ears of the players - is the fact that despite the zero tolerance intent, umpires will have the right to use discretion.
"We've told our umpires that if they hear it, and they feel they need to eject someone, then they need to do it because it's the rule. But they can also use selective hearing," Wilkins said.
Wilkins, who plays as much softball as anyone up here, admitted he's a culprit from time to time. He wants people to know this is not his rule. "I've been given a mandate by the state," he said.
An estimated 800 people play on at least one of the 75 softball teams in Summit. Few, if any, have been doing it longer than Bill Fiedelman. He shares my feeling that the rule is a bit much.
That's also why I think it's a silly rule.
According to fourth-year Summit County Softball director Steve "Smoke" Wilkins, the rule's silver lining as it's enforced around here - in the eyes and ears of the players - is the fact that despite the zero tolerance intent, umpires will have the right to use discretion.
"We've told our umpires that if they hear it, and they feel they need to eject someone, then they need to do it because it's the rule. But they can also use selective hearing," Wilkins said.
Wilkins, who plays as much softball as anyone up here, admitted he's a culprit from time to time. He wants people to know this is not his rule. "I've been given a mandate by the state," he said.
An estimated 800 people play on at least one of the 75 softball teams in Summit. Few, if any, have been doing it longer than Bill Fiedelman. He shares my feeling that the rule is a bit much.
"Everybody's trying to legislate morality in this country," said Fiedelman, who is entering his 33rd year of mountain softball in Summit. "And now it's translated down to the softball field."
Fiedelman called the rule "harsh" and "ridiculous," and said it's taking things "way too far."
"I don't have a problem with what goes on out there now," he said. "There's always going to be people who get carried away, but the umpires have other options to deal with them."
It's true. And for those who persist in using abusive language toward umpires, the rule allows for them to be thrown out of the league.
Wilkins said one of the byproducts that comes from profane language is the loss of church-affiliated teams in Summit's leagues. He said there used to be five or six that played; now there is only one.
"They just tell me, 'Oh, we're not going to play. It's just getting worse and worse,'" Wilkins said.
Fiedelman called the rule "harsh" and "ridiculous," and said it's taking things "way too far."
"I don't have a problem with what goes on out there now," he said. "There's always going to be people who get carried away, but the umpires have other options to deal with them."
It's true. And for those who persist in using abusive language toward umpires, the rule allows for them to be thrown out of the league.
Wilkins said one of the byproducts that comes from profane language is the loss of church-affiliated teams in Summit's leagues. He said there used to be five or six that played; now there is only one.
"They just tell me, 'Oh, we're not going to play. It's just getting worse and worse,'" Wilkins said.
He noted, however, that alcohol could have as much to do with the loss of those teams as the language.
As they should be, cold brewskis are allowed around the fields. "We can't really police that, and I don't want to," Wilkins said.
I've seen umpires in the softball leagues up here take their power and run with it. Not all of them, but some of them. I worry about this new rule, and how it will play out on the field.
Popping out in a big situation can be crushing. But getting ejected from a game for getting mad at yourself, well, that would be even worse.
Devon O'Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 231, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.
As they should be, cold brewskis are allowed around the fields. "We can't really police that, and I don't want to," Wilkins said.
I've seen umpires in the softball leagues up here take their power and run with it. Not all of them, but some of them. I worry about this new rule, and how it will play out on the field.
Popping out in a big situation can be crushing. But getting ejected from a game for getting mad at yourself, well, that would be even worse.
Devon O'Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-3998, ext. 231, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.
