[TravelinMan]

Originally posted by Snake~eyes

Agreed, not our job to please the coaches.

OK, I've got a ton to get off my chest about coaches and players and officials.

The way I see it, if kids and coaches made as few mistakes during games as the basketball officials did, the whole "game" would be much more enjoyable to watch.
Unfortunately, the scapegoat theory abounds in a lot of gyms, and the danger of this type of thinking is that teams never face the stark reality of their own errors, which certainly have more to do with a loss on any given night than any call or two made by an official.
In order for players and coaches to fully comprehend the role of officials, they have to place themselves in the position of arbitrator.
It's no easy task, I assure you.
Coaches should convey to their charges the importance of understanding the role of the basketball referee in high school play. They can do that in the following ways:
1. Appreciate what it means to know and administer all the rules
Few, if any, players or coaches know the rule book inside and out like a basketball official does. When problems do arise, most participants talk and complain about areas of the game that they don't even understand.
Coaches, can you imagine playing poker or pool and not knowing the rules?
You wouldn't even take a chance against an opponent if you didn't understand the game or didn't know the in's and the out's, rules-wise.
And yet the majority of high school basketball coaches today couldn't pass a rules test that is given annually to referees if their very lives depended on it.
Consider that.
And then consider how that misguided philosophy carries over into the locker room and rubs off onto players.
Food for thought, at least.
2. Appreciate the uniformity of the officiating profession
Most players and coaches also fail to appreciate how hard high school officials work to maintain a high level of uniformity in their profession.
This is a nationwide thing, my friends, not some sub-standard group, blowing whistles arbitrarily to earn a few bucks.
The training, both physical and mental, that goes into becoming an official is arduous and tedious.
The basic training for interscholastic coaches pales in comparison to IAABO certification and work.
And, no coaches that I know are asked to pass a standard examination to be eligible to coach a team every year.
Officials take an annual exam, and the refs I know take great pride in their studying and research for that yearly test.
Officials also face strict evaluations, another area lacking in the coaching profession.
From dress to decorum, referees statewide have coaches beat hands-down.
3. Appreciate the difficulty of the job
In this day and age, especially, refereeing a high school basketball game is no small task. Oh, there are those who cling to the idea that an official will please half of the people all of the time - with apologies to Abe Lincoln - but the fact of the matter is this: In our society, referees face the potential onslaught of harsh words and deeds during and after a contest every time out.
Granted, most nights, things go smoothly, but the potential for danger is always there.
4. Teach your players that officials love the game, too
Many high school basketball officials were once great players.
Imagine that.
Some have coached as well, but most display a passion for the game that translates into long hours on the road without the accompanying headlines that coaches and players can look forward to the next day after a game.
5. Officials are people, too
Treat your incoming referees like you would want to be treated, especially in your own gymnasium.
Having towels, soap, a light lunch and beverage, and a clean, roomy place to dress are all personal touches that each and every school should strive to offer for the basketball referees who frequent their schools.
Show you care by greeting refs when they arrive.
Make the extra effort.
It won't go unnoticed, and it will certainly be appreciated.