Condescending Coach

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

"You can do that 4 more times, Johnny."

Sometimes sarcasm has to be met with sarcasm.

Peace

[UNIgiantslayers]

This is one of the situations that I'm trying to improve myself on this year. In years past, I would have a very low tolerance for this and would probably whack after telling him to stop. Even for one comment after that like "I'm talking to my player," I'd whack. I'm really trying to be more approachable this year, in an effort to get to the state tourney. Reading how you more experienced and better officials would handle it is why I really like coming onto this forum.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

This is one of the situations that I'm trying to improve myself on this year. In years past, I would have a very low tolerance for this and would probably whack after telling him to stop. Even for one comment after that like "I'm talking to my player," I'd whack. I'm really trying to be more approachable this year, in an effort to get to the state tourney. Reading how you more experienced and better officials would handle it is why I really like coming onto this forum.

A serious answer (which carries the risk of "breaking into jail"): Find a time to get next to the coach and say, "If you have a reasonable question about a call, I'll be glad to answer it. But, I can't have you making comments like that."

If he says, "I was talking to my player," then respond, "If you are saying it so I can hear it, you are also talking to me."

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UNIgiantslayers

This is one of the situations that I'm trying to improve myself on this year. In years past, I would have a very low tolerance for this and would probably whack after telling him to stop. Even for one comment after that like "I'm talking to my player," I'd whack. I'm really trying to be more approachable this year, in an effort to get to the state tourney. Reading how you more experienced and better officials would handle it is why I really like coming onto this forum.

Being approachable is subjective. And what people think is approachable is "taking all their s##t no matter what." That is not being approachable. Being approachable should be to talk to them when they have legitimate questions or comments in your direction. And giving them calm and reasonable answers. That does not mean you have to take whatever they give you or not be aware of whatever they are giving you is unsporting. I have directly confronted coaches on their BS only to have them apologize later. We cannot take this job personally, but we do not have to put up with their personal BS either.

Peace

[billyu2]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Sometimes sarcasm has to be met with sarcasm.

Peace

Great point! Perhaps the official should say directly to the assistant right next to the head coach, "The guy that did this last week got whacked before the quarter was even over."

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by billyu2

Great point! Perhaps the official should say directly to the assistant right next to the head coach, "The guy that did this last week got whacked before the quarter was even over."

Now that's funny.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by billyu2

Great point! Perhaps the official should say directly to the assistant right next to the head coach, "The guy that did this last week got whacked before the quarter was even over."

And when the HC objects, you turn to him and tell him "I wasn't talking to you."

[billyu2]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

"You can do that 4 more times, Johnny."

Perfect!

[stripes]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

"You can do that 4 more times, Johnny."

I have said this more than once in the FT lane prior to shots. Usually goes something like, "No matter what your coach says, you can only play good defense like that 4 more times and then you can't play anymore today."

Everyone seems to get the message.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by loners4me

How do you handle a coach who uses the following verbage after something doesnt go their way.

Its ok little Johnny, the ref missed that one. keep playing hard, he wont miss the next foul.

Good defense Johnny, clearly you were set.

That was good D little Johnny, keep it up (as Im reporting).

the list could go on and on....

Tweet, technical foul on the head coach for unsporting behavior.
That should put a stop to it, but if it doesn't the second T will.

[Mark Padgett]

In our local kids rec league, we would always have a Board member at each game, wearing a jacket with the league logo on it to identify him or her. If there was a problem with a coach or a spectator, the Board member would go over and talk with them. This is a strictly recreational league (with about 1500 players) and we would not allow any poor sportsmanship. If the behavior of the coach or spectator was really bad, they would be directed to leave. If they refused, the Board member would tell them that if they didn't leave, the game would be stopped and all the players, coaches and parents of the players would be told it was because of that coach or spectators actions.

It didn't happen much, but it was always effective in getting the coach or spectator to leave. Oh yeah, if it was a coach, his (or her) name would be taken and there would be an interim Board meeting to deal with the incident.

[RedAndWhiteRef]

God, it's like in baseball when a borderline pitch is called a ball and the coach bellows from the dugout "GREAT PITCH JOHNNY!" or "Didn't miss by much!"

I have no tolerance for this crap at all, especially in sub-varsity games. Coaches know what they're doing. The sooner it gets addressed the better.

[LRZ]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

In our local kids rec league, we would always have a Board member at each game....

A great idea, which I've suggested to one local kids rec league with recurring problems. I was told it was too burdensome. I no longer work that league.

[VaTerp]

This is nothing more than passive aggressive "talking to the officials through my kids" technique.

I usually ignore it the first time, address it if I'm close to the coach the next time I hear it (coach, you're not gonna talk to me through your kids....), whack if needed.

I've served some T for this a handful of times before when its been constant or particularly loud. But for the most part, I find this is something that a coach will try once or twice but usually get the message when Johnny is on the bench with 3 fouls in the 1st half.

[so cal lurker]

I think some of these comments are for the referees but some are in fact for the kid.

When coaching kids baseball, I have said "great pitch" on a ball -- but not to challenge the umpire, but because a ball that just misses can be a great pitch.

Similarly, when coaching hoops, I have said "great defense" when a foul was called, not necessarily because I'm disagreeing with the foul, but because there are players who need to play closer to the foul line than they naturally do and as a coach I think it is completely OK that the player got the foul -- maybe it was close, maybe I didn't agree, but I want that kid to play with that level of aggression and not back off because he happened to get a foul.

To be clear, I'm *not* disagreeing that there are coaches who are using those comments to bait referees -- there *clearly* are. But not all of those comments have anything to do with referees. (And yes, I have this perspective as both a coach and a referee.)