[dhodges007]

Originally posted by bard
First, apologies to mick. I've always tried to follow mick's advice on preventive officiating. Last night, I didn't do so good.

Let me start by saying yesterday was my first day back at work after being incredibly sick for 2 weeks, and I really should have found someone to do these 7 A&B boy's games for me. But, I'd already had to cancel enough games, and I wanted to get back out there...

I don't blame you. Sounds like you had some tough games too. Great job...just a few suggestions.

A game first. Visitor coach rides us, even though he wins a blowout by 30 or 40. I've had him before, and know what he's like, but I've "managed" him before.

B game. Visitors have a different coach, but A team coach is still on the bench. First half, home team has 6 players on the court after a dead ball. We catch this before the ball is live, and we eventually get one kid off the court. I start to administer the throwin, but notice my partner is now in a discussion with Visitor A coach. My partner backs away and I again go to administer. I happen to look up, and my P is again exchanging words with the coach. My P holds up the stop sign a couple of times. The coach, BTW, is standing up and clearly giving my P an earful. My P is a young guy who has never given anything other than an administrative T, and he does not give one here.

Did you put the ball in to get him away from the coach?

We finally go on, and I get the scoop at half time. Visitor A coach wanted us to call a T for home team having six players. He then insists that it is not our responsibility to count the players. Now the visitors were leading 3-0 after 1 quarter and about 14-2 at half. By this point, I'm whipped. I'm hacking and wheezing and not thinking clearly at all. Both visitor coaches have been on us all night.

Did you talk to them early saying something like, "Coach, we aren't going to listen to you question our calls all night."

Early 3rd quarter, and we're calling it pretty tight to try and settle things down. Home player shoots 2, and I'm trail. 2nd shot smacks backboard and, in retrospect, probably missed the rim. (It was close.) I didn't call it, but probably should have. Resulting melee is a jump ball with visitors getting the AP. Visitor coaches are hopping (literally) mad.

I agree - 1st T.

We ignore them and put ball in play.

About 90 seconds later, I report a foul, and Visitor A coach comes up to me while I'm reporting asking if the foul shot hit the rim.

Maybe instead of a stop sign, you could say, "I'll come talk to you in a moment coach." Either that or just say yes.

I'm still reporting the foul, so I hold up the stop sign and say, "Coach, sit down." I do this again adding to the coach that he needs to "Drop it."

He continues on and I give my first T to a coach in my brief 2 years of experience. I didn't lose my temper, but my patience was shot.

Here is where you might have been able to get away from the table and administer your freethrows.

We have a brief discussion about why he got the T, and then he starts back on the darn freethrow. I give him the 2nd T and say, "That's it coach. You need to leave the gym." I did not lose my temper at any time. The coach leaves and chats with the AD awhile on his way out.

In retrospect, the 2nd T came very fast. I don't think I would have given it if I wasn't feeling so tough. I also thought of the question often asked on this board, "Did it make the game better?" It was like night and day. The game improved tremendously. I swear the kids played better after this guy was gone, although the remaining coach was still a jerk.

Even if you could have avoided them, sounds like they both earned them.

After the game, the AD affirms to me that the coach's behavior was entirely inappropriate for a 7th grade B game. I'm left thinking I should have made a better effort to difuse the situation before it got to a T, but my brain just couldn't process the situation quickly enough to figure it out.

Sorry for the long post, but it helps me to review the situation and think of how I could/should have handled it better. I just probably should have found a replacement since I still didn't really have my legs under me. Hopefully I'll do better tonight!