You guys are making my point exactly. We are a team and we should have each other's back. I do not give out T's all willy nilly. Also, I pre-game a short conversation between the 2 or 3 of us between the whistle and reporting to calm the situation and make sure we administer it correctly. So, my partners will know what I have at that point. Since the coach really did something to deserve it and my partner knows this what conversation should go on? "Coach you must remain seated for the rest of the game." Much more than that isn't needed and it looks bad. A coach sees another coach get T'd by one ref and the other ref is over there being Dr. Ruth for him
Why? He knows what he did. You tell him he has to sit and he knows what he has to do. I can't think of anything else that should be discussed unless the coach wants to vent and you want to listen, heck NO! If my partner gives you a T you deserve, you can cry a river but you will not have my shoulder to lean on.
All this is for a credible T of course and this is only for a Technical foul situation. I want to make that clear. I don't care about discussions with the coaches during the course of the game as long as our focus it there. Those discussions during the game can keep us out of a lot of trouble. So, I'm approachable but I will not sacrifice my relationship with my partner to give the appearance to anyone, and I mean even one person, in the facility that I'm the "good cop" after a T.
I read some posts again. The benefit of the doubt is a two way street. If you give him a T I will give you the benefit of the doubt that he deserved it and I don't need to go over there and "I know, I know" him.
If it is a monologue by the coach then he can have it by him/herself while I observe the players. IMHO a weak official is one who comes a runnin whenever the coach says "hey ref" no matter how obsurd the situation. I've been told that a T should be used to make your game better so I don't see how this is a bad situation and not talking to a coach makes it worse. Maybe we should use the T a little more wisely so it is a useful tool instead of a weapon of mass destruction
[Edited by tomegun on Apr 14th, 2004 at 06:57 PM]