[JRutledge]

I do not like technical fouls, but they happen. I have had a few unusual incidents this year where I was "written up" by a coach for things that happen with technical fouls or ejections more than I ever had over my career.

I am also a two-time state final official, clinician for basketball and work some of the top tournaments in the area and I get yelled at like I was a rookie in many cases.

I think the problem the way I see it, that coaches and players really do not seem to understand their role in high school sports. They seem to think the behavior that happens in the pro ranks is acceptable. They think they can talk to us any kind of way. They say ridiculous statements that clearly are out of bounds and only suggest our reaction is either being sensitive or unprofessional if we simply draw a line in the sand, which might be because we gave then a technical foul.

I just heard a press conference with Doc Rivers (Coach of the Clippers) that suggested that he was given a T that was unwarranted in his mind because he did not curse or did not use inappropriate language. I did not realize the only reason you get a T was that they curse, but that is was his comment. I think coaches at the high school level are convinced they and say damn near anything and we are just to accept it. But what is ironic, get mad when we talk directly back to them about their comments or give a straight answer.

This to me is the overall problem. We are held to an unrealistic standard and they are expecting to do whatever if in their mind they have a legitimate beef about a call or situation they might not even know what the official saw.

Peace