Quote:
Originally posted by SMEngmann
Of the points mentioned in the post, this is what I take issue with: "No new official will ever get a personal slur, accusation or F-bomb from me, they also won't get my apologies for poking at the edges a little. About 2% is emotion/ego." Firstly, you specified that no "new" official will be insulted like this, I assume you meant all officials. Secondly, what right do you have to "poke at the edges" and what exactly does that mean? Sounds like you are trying to either go after an official personally to get under his skin, or you're trying to throw him off his game.
|
Wow, what a great post. I'm going to respond only to this part and let the rest speak for itself. I did mean that NO official gets this treatment from me but I was being specific about new er officials because I wanted to make the point that I do up the pressure a little on newer officials. I know it's dangerous to leave it that vague when every official here can probably picture in their sleep what that might look like.
Pressure can't ever be intended simply to get an official off his/her game because that doesn't benefit anyone. The killer combo to me is when it feels too tight in the open court and too loose inside, so I'll stick to that example. My questions might get harsher - but still not loud ("you saw contact from here or you saw his arm going around the man? " or "how is that even effecting the play"). The biggest difference with a newer official is after questioning a play, I usually will shake my head and say, over-dramatically, "I don't know about that."
Occasionally I might say something sarcastic but it's directed at the situation and not the official. Example from our last game: We are a small public school who, because of our size, were put in a private Christian league. I was convinced that our press was forcing our opponent into travelling near half-court but it hadn't been called. In the meantime, I have a tiny, fearless guard who uses a jumpstop move near the basket and he was getting called everytime. My view was obscured but I see him in practice everyday and about 10% of the time his feet don't hit simultaneously. But that point is moot, I wanted the call on our opponent so I (earlier I would have said worked) strategically asked for it. When I got it I said only loudly enough for my bench and the offical to hear, "what do you know, Christians do make mistakes." He looked over a little unsure and I had a big smile on my face. Once he laughed, my kids, who are pretty much all Christians too, laughed as well.
Poke at the edges means I want it to be uncomfortable to blow the whistle I don't want and comfortable to blow the whistle I do want. The better / more experienced the official gets the less comfortable or uncomfortable I can make him/her.
I guess, in a sense, this is taking someone off of their game and this is probably going to be the 10% where thoughtful coach and thoughtful official disagree on this issue.