[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Bird Dog

My second year now done, I can reflect on where I need to make improvements.

While there are certainly more areas tan just this one, I think my communication with coaches can be greatly improved. Sample exchange from my 1st year:

Coach: (Caps indicate screaming) HOW WAS THAT A FOUL?!
Me: I saw number 24 foul, coach.
Coach: HOW?!
Me: He held his arm.
Coach: HE GOT ALL BALL!
Me: [silence, no eye contact w/ coach]
Coach: ...CAN YOU ANSWER ME THAT?
Me: You didn't ask a question.
Coach: WHERE WAS THE FOUL!?

at this point, your response is "I already answered that question, coach. Let's play ball"

Me: [moment of awkward silence, then screaming] I SAW WHAT I SAW COACH!

Never, EVER scream at a coach. Makes you look terrible. Rise above it. If you calmly say what you screamed, you look like you're above the fray.

Coach: WELL YOU'RE A HORRIBLE REF!!
Me: THAT'S A 'T!'

Hopefully it doesn't get to this point, but if it does, remove off "THAT's a 'T'" yell, replace it with a calm "TWEET. Technical foul Red Coach." Then move away to the other side of the gym.

Here's (close to) an actual conversation from this past year from a JV match:

Coach: HE DID'T FOUL HIM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT!
Me: Do you have a question, coach?
Coach: WHERE WAS THE FOUL!?
Me: He grabbed his arm, coach.
COACH: HE DID NOT!
Me: Look, the offensive player and your player, 34, were both facing me [I was lead in 2-man, opposite table-side]... meaning both players had there back to you. So you did not have the view that I did... I had a clear view of the play right in front of me, saw the grab and BLEW MY WHISTLE!

Replace the "BLEW MY WHISTLE" with "made the call", and I think you're ok here, although you might try to shorten this up with to "I had a great angle, saw the hold, and made the call"

Coach: WELL THAT'S TERRIBLE... ARE YOU A JV REF OR VARSITY REF?
Me: [argumentative tone] Are you the head coach or the JV coach?
Coach: [glares at me]
Me: [silence, glancing at coach with raised eyebrows]
Coach: [trying to calm down] JV or Varsity?
Me: [trying to calm, but still sarcastic] I am licensed by the KHSAA to call any sanctioned game [our assignor] chooses to give me regardless of level.

Try this on for size:
Coach: WELL THAT'S TERRIBLE... ARE YOU A JV REF OR VARSITY REF?
Me: [neutral tone] That's enough, coach. or Don't go there, coach. (alternately, you could to to a T right away if he's been a problem child earlier in the game). Then, walk away. Hopefully, then none of the rest of the conversation happens... but if it does happen at a distance, time to serve some T.
Coach: [glares at me]
Me: [silence, glancing at coach with raised eyebrows]
Coach: [trying to calm down] JV or Varsity?
Me: [trying to calm, but still sarcastic] I am licensed by the KHSAA to call any sanctioned game [our assignor] chooses to give me regardless of level.

Coach: [angry tone] Well your horrible.
Me: [angry tone] Unsportsmanlike. That's your 'T' Coach.

Remove the angry tone, and go with the "TWEET. Techincal foul, Red coach." that I referenced above.