Talking with Coaches

[HokiePaul]

Wanted to get everyone's thoughts on something I said to a coach.

2-man Boys JV. Right before halftime, I passed on a push by A1 during rebounding action. I felt it was more of A1 holding his position than an actual push on the much smaller B1. Regardless, B1 was displaced, I clearly saw it, and arguably could have had a call. The result was that A1 got the offensive rebound and was fouled going up for the shot.

After reporting the foul, the coach for B is looking for an explanation and I tell him that A1 is entitled to his spot on the court and that I didn't see any contact that I determined to be illegal. The coach didn't argue but clearly disagreed.

At half time, I asked my partner if he saw anything on the play and he said he thought it should have been a push but he wasn't something he felt he needed to come across the lane to get from the Trail. We talked about keeping an eye out for pushing during rebounding in the second half as play was starting to get rougher than we wanted.

As we walk back out for the second half, the coach for B is also walking out and I say to him
"Coach, we talked about the play before half time. Maybe I did miss a push. We'll be sure to watch for rough play in the second half."

My partner and I then go opposite table to observe the end of the 2nd half warm ups and my partner says "you shouldn't say that to the coach -- now we both look bad".

After the game he clarified his point, which was, had I said nothing, we were moving on with the coach just not liking one of my calls but I provided an explanation supported by the rules. Once I said that at half time, I look bad for missing a call and my partner looks bad for having seen the foul and not calling something. Plus if we miss a push later the coach has even more reason to be upset. He felt like you should never go back to discuss plays that are over and done with.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this. Should I have said nothing to the coach? At the time, I felt like the coach, would appreciate the explanation and the honesty would help with my credibility later on if I had to explain another call. However, I can also see the logic of my partner at the time.