|
Here's what I do in NF (I've never had much of a problem in NCAA though the fields are marked much better). Anyhow, if I'm HL or LJ, I'll introduce myself to the head coach before the game and tell him that I'll be on his sideline and I'll communicate with him as much as I can and get as much information to him as I can. This way I start the relationship off on a cordial note and I set the tone that I'm not Type A or out to be overly-officious and just out to do my job.
Just before the first kickoff, I will ask the players very nicely (but loud enough for all of the coaching staff to hear) to please be behind the coaching box. This usually gets the coaches fired up at their players and they do the job for me. It also subconsciously conveys that I've given them a 'warning' or that I'm at least trying to work with them in a cordial manner. Throughout the first quarter--and it has to be the first quarter so that you're not calling something later in the game that you let go during the first half or so--I'll verbally ask coaches and players to get back, even when the ball is live if they're in my way (though anything egregious is enough for a sideline warning flag). However it's usually the assisstant coaches wearing headphones that I bump into when they're basically standing on the sideline. If it happens more than once, I'll start to change my tone and be more abrupt but still professional. At this point I'll ask the head coach for help (not the get-back coach--I don't even care who the get-back coach is. If the head coach is having to be bothered by me for something as trivial (in his mind) as sideline control, then usually he goes ballistic on his assistants which saves me the trouble.)
Now here's the fun part. If it's the head coach that's giving me the trouble, usually by being way out to call plays after I've told him to stay on the sideline, or the assistants still in my way, I'll wait for a big play that benefits them like an interception return if they're on defense or a long run that results in a TD or is close. Then if I even brush sleeves with a coach, I'll toss the flag when I run by. They'll usually know that it's something that has to do with the sideline because I threw it right when I bumped them. Then I let the coach have the pucker factor that it's all coming back because he got in my way. I'll also go out and talk to the Referee first to let him know that it's just a non-player sideline warning foul with no yardage. Then after what seems like an eternity on the sideline, I come back to the head coach and explain that the penalty is on him or one of his coaches, players, etc. and that while there will be no yardage assessed 'this time', there will be a yardage penalty if it happens again. I conviently leave out that all yardage will always be assessed as a non-player, succeeding spot and therefore the play will always stand (unless of course it's bad enough to be Illegal Part. but I have yet to see anything close to that). So therefore I'm the good guy, not the jerk and then his pent up adrenaline is subsequently released on his coaching staff for such a 'close call' and not me. works great....
And the bonus is that the off official gets to go to his coach and explain what's happening and to urge it not to happen over there. That coach is happy as all hell that 'the other guy' is getting in trouble and not him. It really is a great psychological tool.
|