Best ways to find time for coaches

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

Let your partner explain his own call. I'm not going to ask a partner what they saw during a game other than to make sure we are the se page as far as the rules or game management..

I see us as a team, so unless it's a call or explanation that I vehemently disagree with, I'm going to help him out.

Like I said, it's rare for me to do this, but if the coach is not being a pain in the butt and is respectful, I'll do what I can to help out.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

This may be an in Rome thing but we were asked by the powers that be to seek out coaches directly to communicate with them/work with them. If a coach is upset about a call find them at the end of half/quarter to let them know what you saw or to hear their grievance. Go talk to coaches to break up time out huddles and share instructions or what you are seeing with them to re-enforce to their players, etc. We were constantly being encouraged to talk more to players and coaches vs blowing the whiste and walking away.

Ironically enough at the same time we were being asked to have a pretty high standard on calling violations and contact so that may have had something to do with it. Expecting coaches to be unused to or upset by tighter standard and talking them through the process. A lot of hand holding in retrospect.

My experience has been that when I initiate conversations to try to explain something, it doesn't go well. I now assume that if they don't ask, they know.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

It's very rare, but there have been times I've asked my partner what he saw on a call, and explained that the coach had a question about it. That way, if I have a chance to answer the question the coach has about the call, but my partner hasn't had a chance, I can give him the answer.

I'll tell a coach that my partner will be in front of him soon enough -- he can ask him if he has a question. If I'm really nice, I'll tell the coach that I'll let my partner know so he's expecting a question.

What I won't do is answer a coach's question regarding a call I didn't make.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Adam

My experience has been that when I initiate conversations to try to explain something, it doesn't well. I now assume that if they don't ask, they know.

Bingo.

Why trouble trouble?

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by Rich

Bingo.

Why trouble trouble?

Who said anything about initiating conversations? Unless you mean when I later tell the coach what my partner said.

I understand what you're saying. Perhaps it's best to leave it be, but if a coach has a legit question and was respectful in asking it, and my partner won't be able to answer the question anytime soon, I don't really see the problem.

I've tried hard to build a better rapport with coaches.

[SNIPERBBB]

If you disagree the call and you let that come across as you give your partners explanation, how does that help anything?

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

If you disagree the call and you let that come across as you give your partners explanation, how does that help anything?

Well, I did say that if I vehemently disagree with the call, that I wouldn't do this. If it's a call I disagree with, but it's not a big deal (like a close travel call), then I'm not going to throw my partner under the bus and say I disagree or act like it.

A quick... "my partner told me he had the player's left foot as the pivot, and he lifted it before the dribble."

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Well, I did say that if I vehemently disagree with the call, that I wouldn't do this. If it's a call I disagree with, but it's not a big deal (like a close travel call), then I'm not going to throw my partner under the bus and say I disagree or act like it.

A quick... "my partner told me he had the player's left foot as the pivot, and he lifted it before the dribble."

IMO, if your partner had time to come tell you, he had time to go tell the coach. I'm trying envision why he would be explaining something to you that he wouldn't also need to explain to coach himself, other than a double whistle where you two decide what occurred first and you relay your joint decision.

[JRutledge]

I only speak to coaches when they initiate the conversation and it makes sense to talk to them. We worry too much about coaches and what they have to say. Just call your game and let that speak for yourself most of the time.

Peace

[deecee]

I don't initiate conversation with a coach nor do I speak for my partner.

[Adam]

Too much gets lost in translation for me to play a game of telephone between my partner and the coach. Rich's approach works much better for me.

[Rich]

I live by the mantra: Answer questions, ignore statements.

Too many officials spend too much time trying to get on the good side of coaches.

Much easier on everyone if you're approachable when there's a legitimate question and send a "you coach, I'll ref" vibe for all else.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich

I live by the mantra: Answer questions, ignore statements.

Too many officials spend too much time trying to get on the good side of coaches.

Much easier on everyone if you're approachable when there's a legitimate question and send a "you coach, I'll ref" vibe for all else.

And learning the difference is part of getting better as an official.

[SNIPERBBB]

Unfortunately, some states like Ohio hae a system where the coaches have a pretty big say in playoff rating and in-person assignments, though this is slowly changing.

We used to have an official here that used to throw a pretty big barbecue for coaches in this corner of the state. Many coaches also had enough influence to even get officials at away games off their contracts if he found out who they were and were on their blackball list.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

Unfortunately, some states like Ohio hae a system where the coaches have a pretty big say in playoff rating and in-person assignments, though this is slowly changing.

We used to have an official here that used to throw a pretty big barbecue for coaches in this corner of the state. Many coaches also had enough influence to even get officials at away games off their contracts if he found out who they were and were on their blackball list.

System aside, do you need to be talking to coaches to get that accomplished?

I can tell you that my coaches ratings have been in the 90 percentile for years (other factors for us in the playoffs too BTW) and I have never tried to make coaches happy. I am direct with coaches (which does not always go over well) and when they ask me a question I give them an answer. I never try to make them happy and my ratings are just fine and have been for years from coaches.

I think we worry too much about what a coach is going to say to us rather than just working hard and control what we can control, like our hustle, mechanics and rules knowledge.

I think communication with coaches is important, but it is telling them what you know, not trying to make them happy when we tell it to them.

Peace