Carl and Jim and Garth

I'm in good company with this idea that umpires of amateur games need not act like their big brothers when it comes to ejections.

Jim Porter feels the same way:

Giving a big heave-ho does very little to influence the effectiveness of the ejection. An ejection is an ejection is an ejection. What's the difference between pointing and loudly saying, "Number 12, you're gone!" and tossing a "Big (pro-style) Finger" (BF)? The only difference I see is that the big Pro finger may be damaging to us. Both are effective.

You can still adjust the size and animation of the ejection with the seriousness of the infraction without using a BF. You can still be big and loud, you can still embarrass a kid who deserves it, you can even still make sure everyone never wants to do what that kid did ever again in your presence — all without the BF.

Continued...