The Progression of Punishment: When to Eject and When to Hold Back

Be sure to check out Patrick Farber's video on ejections - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMTNKJ4LR4

Ejections should be rare—but when should I actually eject a coach? In this episode of The Best Umpire Show, I break down The Progression of Punishment and share the steps I take before sending a coach packing. Good game management is all about de-escalation, keeping control, and making sure coaches stay in the game when possible.

1. Ignore

2. Acknowledge

3. Warn

4. Restrict

5. Eject

I share a personal story from a 10U travel ball game where a coach turned a minor disagreement into an unnecessary ejection. Looking back, I could have handled it differently, and I want to help you learn from my experience.

I also analyze a viral ejection video gone wrong, where an umpire escalated things instead of walking away. The lesson? Avoid power struggles. Stay calm, set clear expectations, and don’t let emotions take over.

💬 What’s your strategy for handling difficult coaches? Let me know in the comments or send me an email—I’ll feature the best responses in a future episode!

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