Tri-West Little League has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for any form of abuse toward umpires, coaches, players, or spectators. “Abuse” is defined as any deliberate form of speech, action, or gesture causing another individual to feel verbally intimidated, physically threatened, or emotionally degraded.
This policy applies to both spectators and coaches. Spectators and assistant coaches are not permitted to question or dispute a call by an umpire. If a head coach has a question about a call or the interpretation of a rule, he/she may request “time” from the umpire. Once granted, the head coach may discuss the call with the umpire in a courteous and non-confrontational manner. In rare instances when a rule is misinterpreted or misapplied, a call may be overturned; the umpire always has the final say. However, judgment calls (balls/strikes, safe/out, fair/foul) made by the umpire are not to be challenged.
If a head coach has a recurring concern regarding the quality of an umpire, constructive commentary may be communicated to TWLL’s Umpire-in-Chief.
This policy applies to all league events whether located at TWLL premises or at another facility.
Disciplinary Guidelines
The TWLL Board of Directors has complete discretion to enforce appropriate disciplinary measures based on severity of an abusive incident. However, the following guidelines may be applied:
• 1st Offense – Verbal or written warning from the Board of Directors
• 2nd Offense – Suspension from coaching or spectating activities for prescribed length of time or number of games as determined by Board of Directors
• 3rd Offense – Disciplinary hearing will be held by the Board of Directors which may result in suspension or expulsion of offending individual
• Physical Abuse – Any form of physical abuse will result in immediate notification of law enforcement and an immediate ban from our premises
We acknowledge that nearly 100% of volunteers and spectators help us to model and reinforce the core values of respect, sportsmanship, and positivity promoted by our organization. Thank you for partnering with us in maintaining a safe, encouraging, and professional environment for our kids to enjoy the greatest game!