You don't need to, but some people feel the need to do so. Usually the same people that have the three minute captains meeting speech.

We have people that feel the need to do so as well and honestly think ratings gets then post season assignments. But those that do the job are usually the ones awarded most often.

Peace

And want to stick around and shake hands after the final horn.

Or go chase the ball to give to someone(why!)

+1

We have one, who is otherwise a good official, who likes to hunt the ball down, take it to the table, and shake all the hands he can at the table.

We have a few ADs who ask me to do something with the ball after the game's over. I usually nod and smile -- cause to say what I'm really thinking would cause dismay and confusion.

If the ball ends up in my hands, I might take it to the locker room for me, but I won't go more than a step or two from my path to get it.

Trust the others and me who are saying to you- DO NOT DO THIS! Ever. Get it out of your game now. If its important enough your partner and the coach will eventually get a chance to discuss it. 98% of the time it's not that important.

I actually pre-game against this. Do not explain partners' calls. Period! Coaches are manipulators and it often leads downhill. There is no upside. None.

Only way should be talking to the coach about something you didnt call is a clear rule administration. "We are going to shoot the 2 for the foul, then 2 for the T" or something like that.

+1. I also pregame this. You know how many times there has been a play in front of my partner that he passes, or makes a call, on and I am near the coach when the coach gets into me for not calling something. I reply with "I wasn't looking there." The coach tells my partner "he didn't have a foul or he didn't want to call because it was in front of you"

Twice this season. Those coaches I tune out the rest of the game. One of them asked me why I wasn't talking with him and I told him I didn't appreciate him making things up to my partner and he lost all good will from me for the remainder of the game.

I care about what you guys say, so I'm curious as to why this is such a problem.

I'm not putting words in my partners mouth, nor am I having a three minute conversation with the coach about what my partner said. A quick "my partner said your player lifted his pivot foot before the dribble" seems harmless to me. If that's not enough, then the coach will have to wait.

Trust me, there have been plenty of times when there was a foul called by the lead or center, and I... as the trail... was by the coach and he wanted me to explain the call. To which I'd say something like "I wasn't looking there, you'll have to check with my partner."

When I said it was "very rare", I meant it. Hell, I can't remember it happened, but it seems like something I might have done.

Again, why would your partner tell you this instead of telling the coach himself?

I know for me, regardless of intentions, I wouldn't trust anyone else to relay a message where even one changed word could set a coach off.

I don't know. Maybe I haven't done it, it just sounded like something I could do to help the coach and my partner. A way to improve communication with coaches. Who knows?

It'll probably never happen, or have to happen. But just in case, because stranger things can and will pop up, I'd like to know why it's a problem like some have made it out to be. Instead of, like BNR has said, something that simply shouldn't come up.

EDIT:
Thank you

I think BNR was alluding to the same problem I identified.

Here is an example from something that happened in my association. A coach didnt like a travel call against his player. A possession or 2 later he asks one of the non-calling official who was in front of him about it. After the exchange, the coach yells across the court, "See, even your own partner didnt think it was a travel." The non-calling official would later explain that "all he did" was answer a hypothetical about if the kid had done X blah blah blah." But the coach took it and ran with it and was trying to divide and conquer like many coaches like to do.

Again, there is just no upside to trying to relay info on judgement calls. None. If your partner has time to tell you, then he can find time to tell the coach. If its that important. Again, 98% of the time its not. And most of the time the coach doesnt even really want an explanation. They are trying to manipulate the situation and gain an advantage for the next call.

Bottom line is that trying to relay info does nothing to improve communication with the coach and often can lead to problems. Its too easy for things to get lost in translation even if you quote your partner verbatim.

I agree that communication with coaches is important. But being a middle man is not the way to do it.

If I'm the partner who talked about the hypothetical and the coach did that, we're all getting a short free throw break.