And One Technical Foul ...

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Forty years ago, when I first started out, I gave out a lot of technical fouls. Part of the reason was because I could (hypnotized by this new power that I held). Another reason was that back then my high school assigner also assigned a few mens recreation leagues, games that were mostly assigned to inexperienced officials and we all know about the crap that occurs in those games (especially with an inexperienced official making some rookie bad calls).

As I progressed to subvarsity high school games, I noticed that my subvarsity partners and the varsity officials that I observed seemed to less frequently charge technical fouls.

One reason, and not a good one, was that (here in Connecticut) coaches "vote" officials into the state tournament. I never subscribed to this idea. I guess that these lenient officials didn't realize that while one voting coach may appreciate the "free pass", the opposing voting coach may not, believing that officials should "take care of business".

Another reason was that many veteran varsity officials prided themselves on their game management skills, using their superior communication and "people" skills to manage coaches "on the cusp".

For me, now in my fortieth year, I do pride myself on my game management, communication, and "people" skills, but also know the value of using technical fouls as one of the many tools that I have at my disposal to manage the game.

I think part of the problem is that too many officials are under the impression that being a good communicator and issuing technical fouls are mutually exclusive. Because they have been brainwashed by coaches who think that way and announcers on TV.

In my experience college coaches almost always quickly move on after getting a T and go back to coaching for the rest of the game. I cannot say the same about more than one high school coach I have experienced who takes it personally and threatens to "scratch" me.

Again, the NBA philosophy is the way it should be at the lower levels. Especially in HS where we are preached to about how the games are an extension of the classroom.