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Summer league, end of "season", hot, tired, etc.
I took a set of games for last night that had a freshman, a jv, and a varsity (girls). All different schools. Got through the first two, no problem, but knowing the last could be a doozy (two running teams), we saved some energy, and some concnetration. So partner and I were ready and rarin' for the last one. As the teams were gathering, I realized that I had looked at the schedule wrong and the teams I expected weren't there. Who WAS there was a team with a very mouthy and loud coach. But one thing I've been working on is to start each game fresh, don't expect trouble, etc. I had seen her coach a very close, well-fought game earlier in the week with absolutely no yelling at the ref at all, so I figured she was learning, and we could have a fun evening. But you can figure from the title of this thread that's not the way it worked out.
My partner didn't get back fast enough after the toss, and I think he probably missed a foul, being out of position, and she was off, running her mouth, complaining, getting more and more worked up. The parents were also chiming in and of course, the girls weren't playing very well. I ran past the bench once, paused, listened, nodded, tried to be available. Next time down, gave the, "I hear you" shtick. She didn't even break stride. I doubt she heard me. Finally, stop sign and "I've heard enough" (about four minutes into the game). After about 25 or 30 more seconds, partner made a call, and as we switched, she started coming out onto the floor at me screeching and gesticulating. I put up the stop sign again, and said, "I heard you" but she just kept on. I turned to walk away, and she continued coming out onto the floor. Sheez!! WHACK!! "YOU CAN"T T ME WITH OUT AT LEAST TWO WARNINGS!!! I CANT BELIEVE THIS #$%^&^%$#.."
Dad at the table joins in, waving the score book around and saying, "You can't treat us this way, this is just too incredible, who hired you anyway?" (This made me laugh, since I hired myself, but I tried not to show any sign...) On and on, and she starts following me across the floor again!!! I turned around and said, "Coach, you need to stay on the bench now" and I really don't think she heard me because she was yelling so loudly and so continuously.
It really reminded me of one of my children who, at four, would have a temper tantrum for two or three hours about absolutely anything. Just scream and cry and yell for hours and hours, and nothing helped, except some growing up.
But because now several parents were standing up and yelling things, and the whole gym was just getting out of control, I had to T her again. I tried so hard not to. Remember, we hadn't even shot the first T shots yet, in fact, there wasn't even a shooter yet. But this voice was just filling the gym and sort of crowding out any normal flow.
I tried to talk quietly to her, "Coach, you need to leave now," and then she really went nuts, stalking back and forth, waving her arms, throwing things, and these parents are coming down out of the stands, yelling at me and my partner. We're talking serious insults and invective here. I was on the verge of looking for a security guard when she says, "Well, I hope you're happy now, these poor girls can't play. You've ruined it for them, because there's no one here who can coach so we'll just have to go home. Forfeit, there that's what you wanted, wasn't it??" On and on.
I motioned to my partner, walked to the table, said, "White forfeits" and we got the $%^#* out of Dodge.
Five minutes. Sheez.
Okay, I feel better now. Thanks for listening. Maybe the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about, after all!!
[Edited by rainmaker on Jun 28th, 2003 at 08:58 PM]
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