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Old Wed Dec 24, 2003, 07:36am
tomegun tomegun is offline
Huck Finn
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 3,347
Quote:
Originally posted by ChuckElias
Quote:
Originally posted by tomegun
I could make a long post but I will keep it short: if you don't like going table-side you are scared or unsure of the call you just made.
I just disagree with this. I don't mind going table-side, but I don't think it's a good idea for HS or for NCAA below D1. It's not about being scared, it's about accountability of the coach who loses it while the calling official is standing in front of him/her.

In the pros and in most D1 games, the game is televised. If a coach goes berzerk, it will be obvious on tape and s/he can be fined or suspended by the league. But in HS, lots of games don't get taped. Even in D3, lots of games don't get taped. So if a coach happens to go off in those games, all you get is a paper report from the official. HS coaches are rarely fined or suspended, in my experience, unless they take the students out drinking after the game.

So I think there is very good reason not to go table-side in many games, but it has nothing to do with being scared. And again, I like the mechanic. It has helped me in the past. But I can see obvious reasons for not using it.
Communication with coaches is very important. If I make a call and the coach wants to vent I can take the heat. If I blow a call I can tell the coach I blew it. If I blow several calls then the coach kind of has a right to be on me. I have officiated in a state that has used 3-person mechanics for four years and my experience has shown me, without a doubt, that officials who do not want to go table side have a reason for it. If a coach is going to do something to get a T then they will do it whether we go table side or not. I'm not one to throw coaches out or even give coaches a lot of Ts so I'm not saying this for that reason. I may not know the downside of this because I haven't been in a situation when a coach got a T or two without everyone knowing why. I guess if you have a lot of Ts that aren't obvious then that might be a good argument. But Chuck let me say this, going table side probably doesn't effect you one way or the other. I know it doesn't effect me. But, there are many officials that do not want to do it because they are scared and/or cannot communicate with coaches about a call.
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