[Gmoore]

The Hierarchy of Tolerance

Officials take different levels of abuse from different participants in the game. It is not realistic to have a zero tolerance for abuse. It happens and how we deal with it is important to overall game control.

Though each official draws individual boundaries of acceptance, the following "hierarchy of tolerance" shows how much, or little, you should tolerate from a segment of the game. The groups are listed in order from whom the officials should be most tolerant to the group the officials should be least tolerant. Remember, no extreme unsportsmanlike conduct should be tolerated from any group.

1. Fans. Be more tolerant of fans than any other group. They paid their money and (in their mind) have the right to boo the officials. Never talk back to fans. Doing so only heightens their level of abuse. At higher levels of play, tolerate more from fans than you would at lower levels of play. For example, a fan using profanity at a youth game shouldn’t be tolerated. Fans using profanity at a pro football game will be tolerated by the officials because the officials ignore them. If a fan is using profanity or racially offensive terms to an opponent, have the fan removed from the premises immediately. There’s a proper method in doing so.

• Do not say anything to the fan.

• Stop the game and approach the game administrator (sometimes the home head coach if there is not another present). Explain to the game administrator that a particular fan is to be ejected for using improper language.

• Let the game administrator handle the ejection. That’s what a game administrator is for; it’s not your job to notify and escort fans from the premises, except in some youth league situations where a policy may place responsibility for crowd behavior on the officials.

• Delay the game until the problem is rectified and consider sending teams to their benches during the interruption.

Have game administrators remove fans who throw objects on the floor. Consider a warning first (from the game administrator), then ejection. At higher levels of play, it has almost become trendy for fans to throw coins and small objects on the floor. If something is thrown on the floor, stop the game and have the game administrator issue the warning. If thrown directly at an official or an opponent, have the game administrator eject the offender immediately. If the offender can’t be found in the crowd, consider removing the fans from the section that objects came from. Though you’ll be most tolerant with fans, take a "no tolerance" stance when it comes to players’ or officials’ safety.

2. Head coaches. Because of the nature of their job, a few are going to create conflict for officials. Use preventive officiating whenever you can and tolerate a bit more from them than you would other participants. Work with them on their behavior until their behavior becomes a distraction.

3. Starting players. It’s true that people come to games for the most part to see the players play. While that doesn’t give a player free reign to abuse officials, it does mean officials should do whatever they can with preventive officiating to keep them in the game. If all else fails, penalize. Starting players get a bit more leeway than reserves.

4. Assistant coaches. This group gets some leeway when they are complaining, but not much. Try to use assistants as a control mechanism to help with players, the head coach and others. Assistant coaches should be coaching, not officiating.

5. Bench personnel. Other people on the bench (reserve players, trainers, team managers, etc.) receive minimal tolerance. They have a job to do (root for their team, take care of players, etc.) and it does not include commenting on the officiating. When it happens, go directly to the head coach and tell the coach about the problem. More often than not, the coach will fully support you because the last thing the coach wants is a penalty because of other bench personnel.

6. Scorer’s table personnel. Often, scorers and timers are from the home school. Some can get caught up being a fan and create problems for officials. Remind them before the game that they are an important part of the officiating team and neutrality is important. Most of the time you won’t have problems.

However, when a person at the scorer’s table makes unnecessary comments or improper gestures, take care of it immediately. You’ve got two choices: Deal with the offender directly or ask the game administrator to deal with it. If you’ve got a good game administrator, go that route. If you deal with it on your own, remind the offender that he is a part of the officiating team and that being a fan while in that role is inappropriate.

If improper conduct (cheerleading, ridiculing opponents, or barbs aimed at you) continues, have the game administrator remove the offender immediately. Your job is tough enough; you don’t have to tolerate unsportsmanlike behavior from administrative personnel too.

7. Cheerleaders/mascots. Deal with them this way: As close to zero tolerance as you can get. At more competitive levels, cheerleaders (male and female) may be more vocal about the officiating. Their job of firing up the crowd should not include berating officials. Again, use the game administrator and consider one warning. A second offense: Have them removed. The game needs players, coaches and officials a lot more than it needs mouthy cheerleaders.