Best ways to find time for coaches

[Amesman]

Trying to create better on-court relationships with coaches this season and I'm finding it's still a challenge to get to them to answer questions in a timely manner during the game. This isn't about toadying to cry-baby or out-of-order coaches. I'm talking about good game management when an ear or a few words of explanation would be appropriate.

This is especially difficult in two-whistle, when you might find yourself opposite the benches for numerous trips up and down the court. Breaks at the quarter are often too far away, and free throw situations too infrequent. And timeouts are bad because a coach is, of course, dispensing his or her wisdom to the players and understandably doesn't want to eat up that time (especially if angry about a call). There's also the element that if you get to them too much later, you're bringing up a dog that's gone to sleep and you should just let lie.

Would like to hear what's worked best best for tending to coaches, not interrupting the game too much, and hopefully doing more than just yelling a line of explanation (to them and undeserving fans) over the shoulder on the way to the lead position.

[deecee]

Talk with them when it makes sense, and only to answer a question they may have. Other than that your whistle and call communicates EXACTLY what you had on a play.

[BillyMac]

Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state, with all IAABO mechanics. IAABO mechanics dictate that the trail (Connecticut is, for all intents and purposes, a two person state) always goes opposite the table on all free throws. If we feel a need to communicate something to a coach, we will occasionally have the trail set up table side on a free throw (lead goes opposite the table in this case) to be better able to talk to a coach. I probably did this once, or twice, this season with good results. It's certainly better than trying to carry on a short discussion from the other side of the court.

[Pantherdreams]

Reporting - If I'm going to be in front of the table to report anyway and I can see the coach has a concern or question I can address as i get back into position for the next play I can do that.

Dead Time - If we are making a correction to the shot clock, or waiting for an injured player, etc. Any of these times I will go over near coaches to see if they have a question or concern to bring up.

Adminstering Free Throws - If my partner is reporting and I'm at the bottom I might step towards the coaches side between free throws (that aren't going to be live) in order have a quick listen before administering #2.

Post Quarter or Halftime Breaks - Coming out of breaks as we get set up or get players moving if a coach needs a moment so long as things are moving quickly I can find one.

Deal with it when its in front of you - If something has happened and I know an explanation is going to be looked for give it then quick. We've got a local coach who doesn't complain but on every block call in a potential PC situation coach just walks toward the calling official/table as they report asking what player x did or asking if the call was because player x did (fill in the blank). We tell him what we had and move on.

[Nevadaref]

Don't worry too much about talking with the coaches. When a coach truly needs an answer, he will find a way to get it. The official doesn't have to worry about making it over to the coach. The opportunity will eventually present itself when warranted.
In fact, it is often better to give no response at all to some of the things that coaches get upset about and just move on with the game. A coach will have perhaps one or two legitimate questions during a game. Anything more is just bellyaching and needless complaining.

[Pantherdreams]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Don't worry too much about talking with the coaches. When a coach truly needs an answer, he will find a way to get it. The official doesn't have to worry about making it over to the coach. The opportunity will eventually present itself when warranted.
In fact, it is often better to give no response at all to some of the things that coaches get upset about and just move on with the game. A coach will have perhaps one or two legitimate questions during a game. Anything more is just bellyaching and needless complaining.

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.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state, with all IAABO mechanics. IAABO mechanics dictate that the trail (Connecticut is, for all intents and purposes, a two person state) always goes opposite the table on all free throws. If we feel a need to communicate something to a coach, we will occasionally have the trail set up table side on a free throw (lead goes opposite the table in this case) to be better able to talk to a coach. I probably did this once, or twice, this season with good results. It's certainly better than trying to carry on a short discussion from the other side of the court.

This also use to be the NFHS and CCA Men's & Women's mechanic. As a retired college official I had no problem with the change at the college level because coaches tend to be more professional and you see individual coaches multiple times during the season.

BUT!! It is not a good mechanic for H.S. whether it is a two or three-person crew. H.S. coaches, in far too many cases, lack the professionalism to let a call go. It just puts the H.S. official in a position where he has to listen to a complaining coach.

MTD, Sr.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by Amesman

Trying to create better on-court relationships with coaches this season and I'm finding it's still a challenge to get to them to answer questions in a timely manner during the game. This isn't about toadying to cry-baby or out-of-order coaches. I'm talking about good game management when an ear or a few words of explanation would be appropriate.

This is especially difficult in two-whistle, when you might find yourself opposite the benches for numerous trips up and down the court. Breaks at the quarter are often too far away, and free throw situations too infrequent. And timeouts are bad because a coach is, of course, dispensing his or her wisdom to the players and understandably doesn't want to eat up that time (especially if angry about a call). There's also the element that if you get to them too much later, you're bringing up a dog that's gone to sleep and you should just let lie.

Would like to hear what's worked best best for tending to coaches, not interrupting the game too much, and hopefully doing more than just yelling a line of explanation (to them and undeserving fans) over the shoulder on the way to the lead position.

Depending on the coach I'll respond/ignore whatever they say after reporting the foul. For violations, I almost never see a need to talk to a coach. I'm going to guess in a year or two you'll realize you're worrying too much about coaches. I ignore them any time I don't think there's a good reason to respond. Some coaches I respect and I'll talk to them all game long, np. Others, the moment they open their mouth and it's directed at me I'll tell them to zip it and aim their yipping to their players. Broad range, I know, but such is the life of officiating and coaches.

[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

[SNIPERBBB]

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

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