[Jway44]

As an experienced Varsity official, I still love the game at all levels, and very often work JV and middle school contests on days that I don't have a varsity assignment. I am amazed at the behavior of some of the "new" breed of middle school coaches coming into the game.

Case in point: last night only 2 minutes into the first quarter, the visiting coach, as the ball is being continuously shot and missed at his basket, leaps up off of the bench screaming "Give me a foul, give me a foul!!!!" Upon hearing this and then turning to see his animations on the side lines, I turned to the table, blew the whistle, and then as if calling any other foul, issued a technical foul to the head coach. He then responds with, "Why did I get a technical foul?" I said, very politely, "Coach, you said to give you a foul, and that is the only way that I know how." He in turn says, " I didn't want a foul on me, I wanted it on the other team." I explained to him that he should try his best at all times to refrain from officiating, and coach his team. He didn't like it, but was in good spirits the rest of the game, as he was glued to his seat due to losing his coaching box as a result of the T.

I have noticed this kind of behavior is becoming the norm at the MS level. We rarely have an issue in Varsity, but it seems to be a regular occurence at the JV and MS levels. I would assume that it is new coaches trying to see how far they can push, or the fact that they probably think that because you are working a lower level game, that maybe you are a newer official. I have been calling this game for 18 years, and pride myself in being fair to all coaches, and always trying to see their side of a situation before any technical fouls are assessed, but to me, I see this new breed of coaches getting out of hand. Any thoughts?