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Originally Posted by tomegun
It is best I don't really say how I feel about this because it is tough to do with out cursing or name-calling.
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Then you should not be an official. Often things happen at a very high emotional level in the game and it is up to us to keep things calm. Remember, we control the game, that is our responsibility. If you and the others want to stoop to the level of the coaches/players who are very upset at the moment, then go right ahead. Don't get mad at me because I might try to defuse the tense situation first in order to save face for everyone.
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Why do you have to go and "console" a coach after your partner gives him/her a technical foul? Why does the non-calling official have to calm down another adult? It makes it look like it is necessary or correct to lend a coach an ear after he does something wrong.
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Officials should not be afraid to give a technical when a technical is deserved. Officials should not be afraid to toss a participant when it is deserving. However, officials should try to use discretion and not be to overly aggressive in tossing a coach. With that being said, let me give some examples.
1.) I T up a coach for constant complaining. After I give the T signal, coach says you're an azzhole. Head to the showers coach, ejected.
2.) I T up the coach for constant complaining. After I signal the T and report to the table. Coach is still complaining about the call. We come together as a crew to discuss what just happen and the next steps. The crew observes the coach is still livid about a call, sends the reporting official opposite table and begins Tech. Foul procedure. One official is left standing at the table.
This official standing at the table can just stand there and observe the FT procedures or if he hears the coach going on an on, can attempt to discuss the situation with the coach in an attempt to hear his concerns and give an answer. THIS OFFICIAL DOES NOT HAVE TO DO THIS! However, at the time the crew sent calling official opposite table, the crew could decide that the most senior person be left table side, or the person that has a relationship with the coach that's upset be left table side, or the R for the game. This is simply imo, intelligent officiating and yes, some of us do do this.
When talking to a coach in a situation like this.
Coach says; that official is an azzhole!
Official: coach, please don't talk like that about my partners.
Coach: he blew that call! this is BS!!!
Official: I did not see the play in question so I have no comment on that
Coach: you guys are horrible! This is BS!!!
Official: nobody's perfect coach, we don't need that type of talk out here.
Coach: you guys are still horrible! I don't care what you say or do!!!
Official: okay coach, I've heard enough, no more! Walk away.
I get partners together before we put ball back in play. Coach says another word, whack him, he's out of here. In most situations, this little dialog gets everybody back on the same page, coach airs his concerns and gets a much needed response from us, recognizing that we attempted to answer his question, even though he didn't get the answer he wanted. We can now resume the game with hopefully no further problems. In the rare cases where coach does a Bobby Knight on you. It's good-by to showers coach.
In my situation, we attempted to resolve the problem as a crew. We took the emotion and overreaction out of the equation. I think this looks good. I think it looks better. Coach got a warning before he was just tossed. You can put this in the report and it's defensible by the assigner. However, if you choose #1 above. It's your word against the coach and it is not defensible by your assigner. The coach might say he was talking to his player and told him to go to the hole! The ref thought I was talking to him.
My point is, always try to use discretion (benefit of the doubt) b4 tossing a coach because you never know. You do not know the relationship the assigner might have with the A/D and or the coach. They may attend the same church together, or families may get together at thanksgiving every year. I little discretion might keep you on the court, a quick trigger might land you on the bench for the big games, if you know what I mean.
The bigger the game, the bigger the stakes.