If you have ever umpired, I'm sure you have come across this several times. One of the teams will have coaches who are in their mid 30s, maybe even their late 20s. These types of coaches typically wear tighter fitting clothes and make sure they look as cool as they can to impress their players. During the game, they scream and shout at their players to focus on their fundamentals, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Let me just say this - if you are trying to impress a bunch of 12 or 13 year old players, then you are pretty pathetic.
What ends up happening, and it is pretty much a guarantee before the game begins, is that the coach will be a problem during the game. They treat the game as if it is a College World Series game and try to act hardcore. Should there be a close play, they will let you know about it. Today I was working a game where I had this situation - a close play at 2nd base and I called out the runner of the team with the hardcore coaches. Instantly, the 3rd base coaches storms up to approach me and argue the call. I calmly explained what happened and miraculously he calmed down. These guys try to get in your face and make sure you know who's the boss. Last time I remember, we weren't playing at the University of Nebraska and I'm not a Big 12 umpire.
These guys seemed like average college players who played for Nebraska-Omaha, Creighton or Nebraska Wesleyan and just weren't good enough for anything other than college. Their college days being over, they started a family, and once their kids were old enough, they coached their little league games. Then they show them how bad-ass they are on the field, and what it means to be a real ballplayer. It really gets old - remember, you are coaching 13 year olds - this game has no other impact other than your team getting extra points in USSSA. Chill out and remember this isn't a college game.
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