The following is displayed on the top of the Coaches Report form:
"This report is to be submitted to the Activities Director within 24 hours after a game in which an Umpire has violated a Baseball rule, failed to enforce a Legion rule or displayed poor/unacceptable conduct towards, coaches, players, or fans. Umpire actions concerning “judgment calls”, “strike zone” or “personality conflicts” are NOT what this form is for and will not be addressed. The report should be submitted as soon as possible after the game (fax or email). Give full name(s) of the involved parties. All reports will be reviewed by the Committeeman for that area, the Head Legion Liaison Umpire, and the Chairman to determine if corrective action is needed. If it's deemed that corrective action is necessary, the Chairman will call for a vote of the entire Committee to determine what action will be taken."
As an American Legion umpire and a high school head football coach, I have been on both sides of the officiating issue. The intent of the form is to ensure that the rules of the game are followed. Whether this is truly how the form is used remains to be seen. If an umpire misinterprets a rule, that needs to be fixed. But almost all of the disagreements I have seen between umpires and coaches have involved the "judgment calls." And a coach who has to be warned by the umpire about coach or player behavior could make the argument that the umpire is exhibiting "poor conduct" toward their team by failing to allow them to behave however they want. In 14 years of umpiring American Legion baseball, I have never ejected a coach or a player. I find most coaches reasonable if given a chance to voice their concerns.
In any competitive contest there is always subjectivity. School activities emphasize sportsmanship and accepting the decisions of the officials, whether you agree with them or not. In varsity athletic contests, the schools are to agree to the officials beforehand (although this is not always the case- some substitutions take place after contracts are signed). In sports where there is a shortage of officials, like football, schools generally operate under a gentleman's agreement to accept whoever the other school is able to contract with.
As a coach, I would like an opportunity to provide input on how Varsity game officials perform. How about a five point scale on an index card that coaches mail in after every game? (or fill out online if the technology is available). Average ratings would be considered when assigning post-season contests. But data management could be a problem.
I don't see Nebraska school athletics soliciting coaches feedback anytime in the near future. I trust that the Head Legion Liaison Umpires and the Legion Chairmen will use this form as it is intended.
