[JRutledge]

Never back down from a coach. You need to understand that it is your game, not his. You decide how the game is going to be called, and if he or she cannot adjust they do not need to be there. This is the first thing to remember.

But you need to understand when and how to talk to coaches too. Understand that the players are watching what you do with coaches. If a coach continues to ride you about the absurd, the players will start to ride you too. You do not want that. I cannot really tell you when to know and how to know, but even if a coach is yelling "travel, foul, and you got to call that" all night, you need to at some point address. Do not make a public display. All you need to do is quitely tell a coach enough is enough. But that comes with time. Most coaches want to know that you are listening. You just have to let them know sometimes that you are listening, but you are not going to be influenced by their complaining. This takes time and experience, but you cannot let a coach go on and on about the same things. If you do, it spills onto the floor and then you will find yourself give Ts to kids. And this will happen because the kids think they can do what the coach can. You have to use some preventative officiating if you will.

But under no circumstances take personal comments toward you, when they openly question your integrity or when they are all out on the floor complaining about calls. Address these with Ts immediately. But if you do what it takes before that, they might realize that you will not take their crap.

It will come with time.

Peace