Best ways to find time for coaches
 

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.

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.

Free Throw ...
 

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

It seems like the majority of questions from coaches (well, legitimate ones, at least) are about fouls... so after reporting them is usually the best time to have a quick chat.

For example, here's what happened to me on Tuesday night:

A1 and B1 both jump to try to catch an errant pass. They collide (incidental); but on the way down, B1's arm comes across and slaps A1 in the face, causing A1 to fall. From the coaches angle, he couldn't have seen the slap. (I'm not describing it all that well, but it was definitely a foul on B1).

I call a foul on B1. Of course, B1 is the starting point guard, and it's his 3rd foul about 6 minutes into the game.

Coach (as I'm on the way to report): "What? How can that be a foul?"
Me: "I'll be right with you, coach". I then report the foul. "Ok, coach, what's your question?"
Coach: "How was that a foul on my player? They both jumped for the ball, it's not my guy's fault that he fell"
Me: "Coach, on the way down, he slapped A1 in the face. There's no way I can't call that."
Coach: "Oh, I didn't see that... ok, that's a good call then."

And we moved on.

I don't find time. If the time is available, and the coach is respectfully asking a legitimate question, I will give a short explanation or answer.

Otherwise, I'm just nodding my head or continuing to go about my business.

I know this isn't your fault, but as a general rule, I don't like this. This takes the "be approachable" thing too far. It sounds like you're supposed to be their sounding board instead of working the game.

If a coach is near by, I will give them a short answer. If I am the Trail during a free throw or throw-in and the coach right in front of me is asking me something, i will try my best to answer legitimate questions. I will not go in the backcourt to the other bench during a free throw to talk to coaches. A lot of guys do it but I refuse to unless it is something really out of the ordinary that needs an explanation. If I need to address the coach on the other end I will either just turn around and say something or tell him as I run by going to be the new Lead.

This is what pre-season rules clinics, meetings, emails, memos, etc. are for. Expecting officials to convey this info during games is a lose-lose proposition IMO.

I think communicating with coaches is important. But the focus should be on finding the the most effective and most concise way to convey info and getting back your attention to calling the game.

I don't worry about finding time to talk to coaches. I just try to work on, again, language that is effective and efficient.

I can understand the challenges 2 man or going opposite after reporting present in terms of opportunities to talk to coaches. But I would not worry about it. Just focus on your communication skills so that when those opportunities do present themselves the conversation is quick and you convey what you want to convey.

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.

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.

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..

Gross.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

This (Below) Was On My Hard Drive ...
 

Coach is questioning a partner’s call:

“Coach, that’s a good call, as a crew we have to make that call.”
“We’re calling it on both ends.”
“Coach, he/she was right there and had a great angle.”
“Coach, we’re not going there, I can’t let you criticize my partner.”
“Coach, he/she had a great look, but if you have a specific question, you’ll have to ask him/her, he/she’ll be
over here in just a minute.”
“Tell me, I’ll ask him.”

Source: Topeka (Kansas) Officials Association

Ok, thanks. If I have done this like I thought I have, I'm glad it didn't blow up in my face.

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That has nothing to do with this situation. The official in your situation wasn't commenting on a previous call.

Agree. That's an automatic with a "sit down and not one more word to or about us.... Or you can go sit on the bus."

He engaged in a conversation about a previous call.

I know the details of the situation even if they are not conveyed perfectly here.

Its a relevant example.

You said yourself he didn't ask about a call and that the official didn't relay anything about his partner's call. The coach asked about something else and only then turned it into being about a prior call. That is entirely on the coach, not the official.

Too much talking (not good). Answer a question as short and polite as possible. "This is how I saw it from my angle coach" etc. Continue talking and I may say something I regret and same goes for the coach. Less talk and less possibilites of a T. A T that I might of provoked.

No I didn't. In fact I clearly stated that he asked about the call.

The entire conversation was about the previous call and I put "all he did" was answer a hypothetical in quotes for a reason. This official himself uses this as an example of why not to engage with coaches about partners' calls.

Its not the exact same thing as "relaying" info from a partner but to say it has nothing to do with the situation here is being obtuse.

Its all part of the larger point about not engaging in conversations with coaches about partners' calls because coaches will often just try to use it to their advantage or try to divide and conquer the crew in hopes of getting calls moving forward. I think most see the relevance.

My advice to the official who was thinking about relaying info from a partner was, and is, to simply get away from that line of thinking altogether for the reasons that have been stated multiple times in this thread.

The official involved said he thought about going there but decided against it b/c he realized he made a comment that could have been construed that way. The coach set up a trap and he fell for it.

There are others who feel that he should have rang him up anyway. The debate continues to this day.

He used one partner against the other. That's one reason to ring him up. Yelling across the court is another. Personally, I don't see much room for debate on this one.

I'll take a punch if I screwed something up. This isn't taking a punch and I'd bet my car the coach knew exactly what he was doing.

I'm not allowing this. I'm more likely to allow a coach to tell me to f*** off.

I tend to agree. The official addressed the coaches comment but said he didn't want to T him and compound his mistake.

You could make the argument that he compounded it by not sticking him as well.

The larger point, IMO anyway, is that he would have had no qualms issuing the T had he not put himself in a bad position to begin with by engaging with the coach on a partner's call.

I get that he felt used at the time, and I'm not saying he was wrong to not call the T.

I'm calling it, however, and not losing a moment's sleep over it. And frankly, I'm calling it as either official in this exchange. If I'm the one across the court, I'm only giving my partner about 2 seconds to blow his whistle before I blow mine.

I still disagree that the conversation was specifically about the partner's call. It was, indirectly, only when the coach turned an innocent answer against the partner.

If, after a few trips up and down the court after some call by a parnter, a coach asks me about a rule, I'm answering a rules question without any comment on a partner's prior call. If it is right away, it is clear it is about that call and I'll refer them to the calling official (unless I know I had the same thing). If my partner gets a rule wrong, that is not on me. It is not my job to know my partner kicked a rule 5 possessions ago such that I have to avoid talking about that rule in the future. I will have said nothing about whether my partner was correct or not.

The coach should have been T'd when he twisted it around against the prior call.

There can be variance of opinions on issuing a T. I'm pretty sure I'd call it myself in that situation though I understand why the official involved didnt.

Speaking of which, have you talked to the official involved about this situation? Because I have. Mutliple times.

HE HIMSELF USES IT AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH COACHES ABOUT PARTNERS CALLS.

So it doesnt matter what you agree or disagree with here. Whether or not the conversation was about the previous call is not a matter of opinion. It is fact. Your mention of a kicked rule 5 possessions later has nothing to do with what we are talking about. I think I get what point you are trying to make about this being on the coach but its strange the length you are willing to go in order to do so.

Quite the opposite, I'm just not going to try to remember what my partners called all game to know what questions I should or shouldn't answer. If it is right after the play, I'll send them to my partner if they want more info. 5 plays later, that prior play is in the past.

Ok....agreed but that has nothing to do with the situation I shared.

We'll just move on.