I belong to two officiating associations. One does more local ball, the other does high school over four counties. This year the seasons for middle school basketball changed so that the second association took over the middle school contracts. Why isn't important for this post. Basically I've officiated middle school ball for 5 seasons but under two associations.
One of the MS coaches in Millville (names have been changed) has never been polite if he talked to me. Didn't matter if it was during the coaches meeting, questioning a call or passing by me after the game. Why? I don't know and I've never cared. I've treated him as politely as possible over the years. I officiate the game and get out.
Recently I was referee at a game (8th grade boys) between Millville and Harbortown middle schools. My partner was a first year (I'll call him Phil). During the coaches meeting this coach glared down at me and told me his first name during introductions. Whatever. I'm just there to officiate, not win friends.
During the game he argued four calls. One was a block under the basket that he wanted called a charge. "Shouldn't that have been a charge?" No sir, the defender stepped into the path of the ball handler. "If his feet are planted that should be a charge!" I repeated that I saw the defender move into the path of the ball handler and went back to the game.
Second was a backcourt violation. The ball was in their backcourt in their possession. The ball was passed forward and an offensive player in the frontcourt jumped into the air toward the backcourt caught the ball and landed in the backcourt. I whistled the violation. He asked how that could be an over and back when the ball didn't even leave the backcourt? It was the first time I had made that call so I went to my partner to ask what he saw. He said I had nailed the call so I went back to the coach and told him, "Yes it was over and back." Poor wording on my part but I'll do better next time. He just glowered.
Next call I was in lead under their basket when the defender, who was taller, put his hand flat on the ball on a shot attempt. I called jump ball. He was yelling, "That wasn't a foul?" My partner who was closest to him, turned and told him that it was a jump ball. The coach said something but I couldn't hear it and ignored him.
During the second half, I called another foul on one of his players. He said something, I don't remember what but it was said as rudely as his other "questions" were. I decided it was time for a T. He said, "That's right, give me a T." I momentarily considered that if he liked that one so much I could give him another one but wisdom prevailed and I just walked away to my partner and told him he needed to tell him he was to remain seated for the rest of the game.
That was the extent of my interaction with the man for the game. It was a rough game. The players were not unskilled but were fouling a lot. We had maybe 60 fouls for the game. And they weren't tickytack fouls either. The game lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The next day this coach called my partner at work. Apparently he is contractor and had used my partner's business on occasion. He pressured my partner into giving him our assignors email address. He then wrote to our assignor and complained about the two of us but more specifically me. At a game later (that my partner officiated) he told Phil that he had been "chewed on" by our assignor but he had written a "sweeter" letter afterward.
Part of this I knew already from our assignor. I had called him on another matter and he told me of the letter but not of the specific contents. Only that he had received a letter of complaint from the guy and that he had told him that he only gives consideration to letters from the ADs. Then when we talked about the game the assignor and I were to do together next week, I told him we had THAT coach. My assignor got a "bwah hah hah" tone to his voice and said, "Well I wasn't really looking forward to the game till now."
A few days later my assignor called me again. He told me he had received some more "sweet" (I use that term from Phil's conversations with the coach) letters from this coach. He was now concerned about sending me there. He switched me to another game. His concern after getting this guy's letters (all of which have been forwarded to his AD) seemed to be my safety. My assignor's words were, "We need to find out if he coaches seventh grade or not. We need to keep you away from this guy."
My assignor isn't one to back away from whiny coaches. I have no idea what was in these letters. I do not know what this guy's problem with me is. Could be because I'm short. Or my age. Or because I'm a woman "in charge of boys and men".
If it's the last one, he's due for a disappointment.
My assignor replaced me with another woman.
Rita