What have you learned this year?

[BigT]

I have learned to call the obvious and do not let them unsporting behavior of bench personnel get the best of me on my face.

What about you this deep into the HS/college season?

[BryanV21]

Ignore the coaches.

If they have a question that they have to have answered they'll get my attention eventually. Otherwise I don't want to hear it, and if I do then I'll tag em.

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[Smitty]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Ignore the coaches.

If they have a question that they have to have answered they'll get my attention eventually. Otherwise I don't want to hear it, and if I do then I'll tag em.

I've learned the opposite - be more approachable to coaches. It has improved my court demeanor significantly. I've found that being more patient and approachable, and even just chatting briefly about the game during dead balls when I'm near the coach has had a very positive affect on my games.

[BatteryPowered]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I've learned the opposite - be more approachable to coaches. It has improved my court demeanor significantly. I've found that being more patient and approachable, and even just chatting briefly about the game during dead balls when I'm near the coach has had a very positive affect on my games.

This

I have, on a few occasions, chatted with a coach. It may be answering a question or it may be just "remembering the olden days". They only last a couple of seconds but it makes you more "human" to them and not just a shirt and whistle.

A good example is a varsity boys game recently. I called a foul on Red 44 and after giving the preliminary call at the spot he said "Yep, got him on the follow through." Apparently the coach heard him and after I reported the foul and get into position as T he asks "Remember when we had to raise our hand when a foul was called?" I chuckled and said "Yep, and I remember getting bird-dogged as well." As he turned he said "The times, they have changed. We're getting old."

Thinking back...darn, he was out of his box...shoulda whacked him.

Just last night in a sub-varsity boys game we had a player getting frustrated. The guy he was charged with covering was only about 4 inches taller and considerable faster. As we were lining up to shoot free-throws I stood next to him and as I "wiped the ball off" on my pants I said to him "Settle down...it's just a basketball game". His teammate on the other side of the lane heard and said "Yea dude...just do the best you can." He was fine after that.

At least for me, talking can...when you pick you spots...go a long way and can keep the game moving.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I've learned the opposite - be more approachable to coaches. It has improved my court demeanor significantly. I've found that being more patient and approachable, and even just chatting briefly about the game during dead balls when I'm near the coach has had a very positive affect on my games.

He actually did not say anything about being less approachable. He said to ignore coaches and often coaches are not asking questions, they are making statements or trying to get a response to things that you cannot win on either way.

I also feel being "approachable" means different things to different people. Some officials feel like they have to respond to coaches about everything and that can be very detracting to the ultimate job and that is to call fouls.

If I have learned anything, just walk away when the conversation is not going anywhere. Better to walk away then keep debating something they are not going to see it your way or agree with your explanation.

Peace

[deecee]

I learned that this is a part time gig, and sometimes coaches/kids/parents react/act like this is our full time job. Do your best but always keep priorities straight. Family-job-refreeing, in that order.

I also learned that I need to lose 15-20 lbs.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

He actually did not say anything about being less approachable. He said to ignore coaches and often coaches are not asking questions, they are making statements or trying to get a response to things that you cannot win on either way.

I also feel being "approachable" means different things to different people. Some officials feel like they have to respond to coaches about everything and that can be very detracting to the ultimate job and that is to call fouls.

If I have learned anything, just walk away when the conversation is not going anywhere. Better to walk away then keep debating something they are not going to see it your way or agree with your explanation.

Peace

Perhaps the word "ignore" is a little harsh, but J gets what I'm saying.

I've worked hard this season at managing the coaches, and that oftentimes means ignoring them unless necessary. That doesn't mean their questions or concerns are ignored, it means anything other than a question/concern is ignored. More often than not they're just blowing off steam, and the more I pay attention to such things the more problems I have to deal with.

And when I said they'd eventually get my attention, it means I'm not going to stop or hold up the game to speak with them. What I may do is wait until I'm close to him and free to talk, then I'll say something like "I heard what you were asking before, I just needed to wait until I got a chance to address you... yada, yada, yada". By doing that I'm not only avoiding any type of hold-up to the game, but the coach may get enough time to cool off over a call he may not have agreed with.

[RedAndWhiteRef]

Definitely agree on the whole "be more approachable to coaches" thing. I used to get bent out of shape when a coach questioned me. Sometimes, they really didn't see what was happening and they're truly just asking. I called a foul once in a tight game and on the way down the court the coach asked me what his player did. I kind of snapped a reply at him and he was like "Whoa, I'm just asking because I didn't see the play!" I felt kinda bad.

I've learned that it's okay to admit you missed a call, whether it's to a coach, player, or your partner. I missed the most obvious travel in VHSL history a few weeks ago, coach was upset. Next dead ball I happened to be right next to him at trail and I just said "Coach, I missed that one." He appreciated it.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I've learned the opposite - be more approachable to coaches. It has improved my court demeanor significantly. I've found that being more patient and approachable, and even just chatting briefly about the game during dead balls when I'm near the coach has had a very positive affect on my games.

Been working on this side too. Sometimes I just dont have the patience for it.

[UNIgiantslayers]

1. Don't make giving a T personal.
2. Shorten up the pregame. Nobody's listening.
3. Never EVER get talked into doing rec league.
4. Always let your partners know if there's a hot mom.

[frezer11]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

4. Always let your partners know if there's a hot mom.

Holy crap, you just learned this this year??? Tough break for your partners!

[Raymond]

I'm positively interacting with players more this year. I'll volunteer to them why I made a call instead of getting irritated when they react.

I've also reigned in my rabbit ears on assistants. If they react to a play but don't address their comments directly to me or my partners, I let it go as long as it's only once or twice in a game. I still address those who make comments directly to me, or who jump up.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by BigT

Been working on this side too. Sometimes I just dont have the patience for it.

I hope it didn't need to be said that this was something I was trying to accomplish all the time and in every situation. It was a general statement for me being more approachable than I've been in the past. This is something I've always struggled with - communicating with coaches. I don't tolerate coaches behaving badly, but I will make an attempt, when I see an opening, to try and just listen and communicate more (I'll even initiate conversation) rather than talking at coaches all the time. It's all relative to each situation, and each coach. I've moved around the country a lot and have had to start over in new associations a lot. It takes some time to get used to how things are done in each place and to see coaches enough to get to know their personalities and behaviors. I've been here for 6 years now and finally feel comfortable enough to do this. I'm not making a statement on what others do or should do - this was just my personal response to the OP. It's working for me and has made this season so much more enjoyable than any other since I've been here.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I've learned the opposite - be more approachable to coaches. It has improved my court demeanor significantly. I've found that being more patient and approachable, and even just chatting briefly about the game during dead balls when I'm near the coach has had a very positive affect on my games.

I agree 100% with that approach. It has worked wonderfully for me. Haven't had to T a coach yet, but I did get a kid recently.

I have learned to let a bad call not get to me. It's over and move on. Don't let it rattle you at all. If the coaches, kids, and crowd can't rattle me why let my own iffy call bother me? Move on and finish the game strong!!!!!!!!

[JRutledge]

I kind of already knew this, but the more I do this the more I realize it is true.

I learned there is a reason there is a team that only wins one or two times the entire year (at this point of the season). And expect not much out of them as a result.

Peace