Hi Les,
I know you've received numerous email in reference to your article on February 13 on Double Standard for Female Coaches. As a HS basketball official I do not consciously treat female coaches any different than male coaches. As for your case, I will not pretend to know all the facts, and in particular any exchanges between the coach and the official before the final exchange that led to the Technical Foul. But I do have a short list of observations:
- Gender is not an acceptable reason to treat a coach differently.
- If an official baits a coach he/she should be reprimanded. (This is not a formal process.)
- If a coach uses profanity they should receive a Technical Foul.
- If an official fails to assess a Technical Foul for profanity he/she should be reprimanded.
- When a high school teacher (coach) uses profanity in a classroom (gym) the administration should consider replacing the teacher (coach). It doesn't matter if he or she is baited; they are required to have more maturity than that. (Obviously this is not a first-offense response.)
Regards,
Richard Ogg