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I am personally acquainted with Dr. Fred Engh, a contributor to PRB’s “Sports Spotlight” column. In the December 2010 issue, he wrote of the importance of training volunteer coaches and officials. He also encouraged the establishment of National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) chapters in public agencies. Do you realize how important that could be for you? If only I had a NAYS chapter in Dalton, Ga., in 1960, I likely could have avoided a rather difficult situation.
A Short Fuse
Pony League Baseball was big in Dalton. The parks and recreation department had no authority over the league, but the 13- and 14-year-old boys played on municipal facilities over which the department had complete authority.
Early one evening, I was watching them play from my seat in the press box behind home plate. As I looked on, one of the participating coaches--apparently angered by an umpire’s call--encouraged his team to harass the home-plate umpire. They became extremely boisterous, and caused quite a scene. I attempted to intervene by shouting to the coach, “Knock it off now, and keep those boys quiet.” That seemed to do it--for the moment.
