The effect of a technical foul on a coach

[Terrapins Fan]

I had a very high intense varsity boys game last night. Both teams pretty well evenly matched. Early on the visitors took an 8 point lead and the home coach was very frustrated.

Every time up-and-down the floor I was tableside and he complained about everything. After the 3rd time down the floor he said "blow you whistle and call the foul", so I did.

This was midway through the 2nd quarter, he was down 8 at the half. All he did early on was complain about the officiating time after time after time. Once he had his technical foul and was forced to sit, he began to coach. Down by as many as 13 in the 3rd quarter his team started to come back and ended up winning by 14.

I had this happen a number of times through the years that when coaches focus on coaching they do a much better job then when they focus on officiating the game.

[grunewar]

Had a similar situation yesterday. My partner stuck the coach and he sat down and was quiet as a church mouse the rest of the game and just coached.

PS - It also helped that he was up by 20 much of the second half.

[JRutledge]

My goal is always to get coaches back to coaching if they choose to officiate or concentrate on us. If I can do that without a T, that is even better. But sometimes that is all they seem to understand.

Peace

[Freddy]

When lobbying turns into incessant complaining, just give a 4-48 warning. If it works and the behavior is modified, everybody wins. If it doesn't work and the coach doesn't stop, go to the T. Sometimes the inevitable can't be avoided. But at least you're giving the process a chance.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Freddy

When lobbying turns into incessant complaining, just give a 4-48 warning. If it works and the behavior is modified, everybody wins. If it doesn't work and the coach doesn't stop, go to the T. Sometimes the inevitable can't be avoided. But at least you're giving the process a chance.

This works as well as a stop sign to some. Not all tools are used to with the same effectiveness.

Peace

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by Freddy

When lobbying turns into incessant complaining, just give a 4-48 warning. If it works and the behavior is modified, everybody wins. If it doesn't work and the coach doesn't stop, go to the T. Sometimes the inevitable can't be avoided. But at least you're giving the process a chance.

That was my first thought. Was a warning a possibility here or had one already been given? Given your description, it sounds like the OP may have reacted a little emotionally and served tea before coffee.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

My goal is always to get coaches back to coaching if they choose to officiate or concentrate on us. If I can do that without a T, that is even better. But sometimes that is all they seem to understand.

+1. Game recently, good young official calls offensive foul six minutes into the game. Coach (on other end of floor) comes about two steps onto the floor and demonstratively waves both arms, but doesn't say much. Good young official issues T. Can it be defended? Yes. But did it fit and was it effective? Not really because now we ended up with more tension with the coach than we probably otherwise would have. IMHO, I thought a walk-back or a warning would have been more effective in that scenario.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Coach (on other end of floor) comes about two steps onto the floor and demonstratively waves both arms,

On the floor and demonstrating? As close to an automatic as one can get.

[Rich]

I sat through an association meeting where an instructor spent a lot of time talking about how Ts are bad and how it will hurt ratings.

I'm not in the leadership so I bit my tongue, but it was horrible advice.


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[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Rich

I sat through an association meeting where an instructor spent a lot of time talking about how Ts are bad and how it will hurt ratings.

I'm not in the leadership so I bit my tongue, but it was horrible advice.


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At the high school and college levels there are too many officials that think like that instructor. You’d never hear that lunacy from NBA officials.

Ironically, the officials like this instructor are often the ones who talk about Ts being “just another foul,” despite treating it very differently from normal fouls.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SC Official

At the high school and college levels there are too many officials that think like that instructor. You’d never hear that lunacy from NBA officials.



Ironically, the officials like this instructor are often the ones who talk about Ts being “just another foul,” despite treating it very differently from normal fouls.

Exactly.

I think we should whack more coaches.

I also think that it's not anywhere close to being like another foul.

I wish more officials, instructors, and clinicians would be real instead of using all this "speak."


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[Rich]

Let's stop pretending it's anothet foul. No other foul is like a technical foul.


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[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by Rich

Let's stop pretending it's anothet foul. No other foul is like a technical foul.


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Well, yes and no. Of course it’s not, but the mentality that it is can be useful in remembering to take a deep breath, confer with your partners, and assess the penalty correctly.


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[SC Official]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Well, yes and no. Of course it’s not, but the mentality that it is can be useful in remembering to take a deep breath, confer with your partners, and assess the penalty correctly.


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Somewhat off topic, but I can’t stand unnecessary/excessive discussions with partners. Most technical fouls shouldn’t require a discussion, especially in HS where the penalty is the same for all Ts.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Somewhat off topic, but I can’t stand unnecessary/excessive discussions with partners. Most technical fouls shouldn’t require a discussion, especially in HS where the penalty is the same for all Ts.

The main reason you need to discuss with a partner after a T is to make sure you do everything you are supposed to. I agree the rule application is the same when it comes to something like where you put the ball in play, but you have to still shoot everything else and make sure the right people shoot the FTs. Many times officials are not sure who is shooting or what just happened if they did not call the T. Even an administrative T might have to be explained to the table because they might give the appropriate people the technical foul like in my game the other day. Yes the application is simple and penalty, but people forget parts of the penalty often. Even in college, you got to make sure who you are giving the ball to and that has been messed up or almost messed up. That is why we have to stop telling people that Ts are just like other fouls, they are clearly not.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Somewhat off topic, but I can’t stand unnecessary/excessive discussions with partners. Most technical fouls shouldn’t require a discussion, especially in HS where the penalty is the same for all Ts.

We need to give the person calling the technical foul a moment to take a deep breath and get everyone in the right spot post-technical. I don't want to whack someone and then be in his lap 10 seconds later. Others might, but I don't see the need. And some officials might need to take a moment to get the shooter to the right end of the floor, etc.

As far as reporting technicals, don't ever let the assigner be blindsided by a phone call or an email from the coach or AD complaining about a technical foul. The official should be the first one to contact the assigner and/or file a report if that's what's required. Do I think it's right that technical fouls need to be reported? No. But here they are required at the state level any time a head coach loses the box, so I want a copy of that as the assigner.

I got a report from a crew earlier this season that was just perfect. It included the time and the why of the administrative warning and then the time and description of what led to the technical foul. I then used this in my follow-up with the school.