Coaching Staff Decorum

[griblets]

As a very young first year HS official at 20 years of age, while reffing a boys freshmen game, I had a spectator standing just in front of the bleachers opposite table side berating me. I gave him the heave-ho. It turns out that he was the varsity coach. After the game, his tone changed completely and he pathetically apologized only when he realized it meant he would be suspended from coaching his game. Unfortunately, the varsity crew decided that it didn't need to be reported and let him coach. And I didn't know any better regarding how to report it.

[LRZ]

griblets, let your assigner know, at the least. Around here, if something unusual occurs, most refs call the assigner to let him/her know. If you are on arbiter, you can also use the "report" function.

[SC Official]

Here, sub-varsity and varsity typically don't play on the same nights. But if something like this did happen to me, I 100% agree with BNR.

However, if I notice that there are "assistants" behind the bench area who are doing a lot of coaching and b*tching trying to circumvent the bench personnel rules (especially if they join the timeout huddle), I will make clear to the head coach that it's not going to fly and they will be penalized as regular bench personnel, which potentially includes him losing his box.

[griblets]

Originally Posted by LRZ

griblets, let your assigner know, at the least. Around here, if something unusual occurs, most refs call the assigner to let him/her know. If you are on arbiter, you can also use the "report" function.

I appreciate that advice, but I figured that out shortly after my first year. Arbiter didn't exist when this happened over 20 years ago...heck, I didn't even have Internet access then!

[BryanV21]

I normally arrive early enough to my games to catch most of the 1st half of the JV contest. If I see the varsity coach doing something like this, what are my options?

I mean, I can wait until halftime and tell the JV officials to tell the JV HC that the VHC can be removed from the gym and possibly not be able to attend his game. But what if his actions are so bad that I want to get it stopped before I can talk to the JV officials?

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

I normally arrive early enough to my games to catch most of the 1st half of the JV contest. If I see the varsity coach doing something like this, what are my options?

I mean, I can wait until halftime and tell the JV officials to tell the JV HC that the VHC can be removed from the gym and possibly not be able to attend his game. But what if his actions are so bad that I want to get it stopped before I can talk to the JV officials?

I would not do this at all. Give the JV officials advice in the locker room if you want and then let them live and die by what they decide to do. It's not your game yet and doesn't warrant you getting involved IMO.

Now, if you want to have a shorter leash for the varsity coach in your game, I would fully support that.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by SC Official

I would not do this at all. Give the JV officials advice in the locker room if you want and then let them live and die by what they decide to do. It's not your game yet and doesn't warrant you getting involved IMO.

Now, if you want to have a shorter leash for the varsity coach in your game, I would fully support that.

So, if they ask, you'd let them know they can have the VHC removed from the gym like any other "fan"? Otherwise, let them sink or swim?

BTW, I'd definitely have a shorter leash for that coach.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

So, if they ask, you'd let them know they can have the VHC removed from the gym like any other "fan"? Otherwise, let them sink or swim?

BTW, I'd definitely have a shorter leash for that coach.

Yes. I would ask them why they aren't dealing with it, advise that they do, and whatever happens, happens. I'm not going to "come to the rescue" when I don't have authority over the game at hand. At most, I might say something to the AD about the behavior, but I'm certainly not going to demand the offenders' removal from a game that I'm not calling.

And we all seem to be on the same page that the varsity coach would be on a very short leash during his game.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

I normally arrive early enough to my games to catch most of the 1st half of the JV contest. If I see the varsity coach doing something like this, what are my options?



I mean, I can wait until halftime and tell the JV officials to tell the JV HC that the VHC can be removed from the gym and possibly not be able to attend his game. But what if his actions are so bad that I want to get it stopped before I can talk to the JV officials?

You don't. You have no standing other than as a spectator in the JV game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich

You don't. You have no standing other than as a spectator in the JV game.

Well that may be true, but it depends on what is expected of the varsity officials. Many assignors I work for allow the varsity officials to either mentor or point out things to the lower level or prelim official's games. So it might be he as I am empowered to say something to the younger officials. Of course that does not apply to just this situation, but I might mention something to the officials if I notice this or if I know the officials rather well. But if nothing else is said, I will note their behavior for our game and give a very small leash if that behavior continues. But again, all about the structure or the expectations of who you are working for.

Peace

[WhistlesAndStripes]

If you are sitting there watching the game before yours, there is no reason why you can't at least contact game management and let them know if there's another "spectator" who's behavior is out of line. Even if it is the Varsity head coach. No need to let this go on just because the JV officials are either not noticing, not sure how, or too timid to take care of it themselves.

And I'd ESPECIALLY encourage this action if the Varsity coach in the stands thinks he can sit there and shout obscenities.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

If you are sitting there watching the game before yours, there is no reason why you can't at least contact game management and let them know if there's another "spectator" who's behavior is out of line. Even if it is the Varsity head coach. No need to let this go on just because the JV officials are either not noticing, not sure how, or too timid to take care of it themselves.



And I'd ESPECIALLY encourage this action if the Varsity coach in the stands thinks he can sit there and shout obscenities.

Not my job. We don't like it when people try to do our jobs -- if you're so bothered, then go to the locker room early.

You'll get your shot with the varsity coach soon enough.

[Adam]

Assuming I'm on the JV game, if they're screaming obscenities, they're leaving the game. I wouldn't let Jimmy's dad do that, not when it's done in a way that it gets and keeps my attention.

Find a stoppage in play, talk to the AD, and let him/her know the coach needs to knock it off or leave.

Also file a report with your assigner AND directly with the state governing body.

If I'm part of the crew for the varsity crew and I'm watching this game, I'd ask the crew at half time why they aren't dealing with it and let the conversation flow from there. Coach gets zero tolerance from me.