Situation:

In a game your partner is getting (justified or not) heat from a coach. Your aware - you hear it.

Would you ever call the "T" on a coach in this situation for something (s)he was directing to your partner? ...and partner was ignoring?

If partner takes it/ignores it, should you?

Would you make the call for what you observed or heard in this situation?

There is more info needed;how experienced is my partner,how
over-the-top is the coach,is the coach insighting his players and/or fans with his actions?

Also,remember that are only friend out there is our partner,so if the coach deserves one,give him one.

Communicate
 

Usually if a coach is getting 'warmed up,' I'll check with my partner at a time-out or quarter and let him know where I stand with it. To answer your question, there are certain buttons that if a coach pushes them, I'll hit him with the T whether he's working me or my partner, especially if my partner is out of earshot. Had a coach last year yell at my partner, "JC! You guys have missed every single call tonight!" To this day, I wish I had T'd him up, even though my partner ignored it.

If I'm closer, I'll get him.
But I'm not throwing one over his head.

I have to agree with BktBallRef. If my partner is closest and he does not do anything, then he will have to take it. Now, if I am closest, then I'll take care of it.

Had a game a few weeks back where the assitant came unglued at me for a no-call. He was off the bench and onto the floor a couple of feet ranting. I warned the head coach that I wouldn't tolerate such behavior from an assistant. Later in the game, the assistant went after my partner (who was at L on the bench side of the floor). My partner didn't T him.

BBR, In a case like this where you have already warned the head coach about his assistant, would you have gotten him? Or would you still let your partner handle him?

With regards to the play where the assistant coach got off the bench and onto the floor, you could've technically gave a 'T' right there. But, in practice I'd probably give a warning to him or the head coach, too. However, the 2nd time he got up off the bench I think it needs to be dealt with more forcefully because clearly your goodwill gesture to talk to the head coach didn't work.

If my partner(s) don't 'T' the assistant that 2nd time, then I'd step up and do it because game management-wise you can't be upstaged in this manner.

I think what's important in this situation is communication with your partner(s). If you had a deadball situation where you could talk to the head coach, then you had an opportunity to tell your parner(s) that you gave a warning and the next time it's a technical foul. If you did this and your partner still doesn't call a technical, then you lose credibility as a crew.

The coach can't and won't argue this technical because you gave an appropriate warning. He knew it was coming and the whole gym knew it was coming. His problem should be with his assistant.

As soon as any of team bench, eg. coach, player, assistant coach, or follower steps on the court, there should be no warning, but an automatic Tech. Who's in control of the game?

I agree with Dribble and NICK.
 

No, you should have busted him the first time.

Don't give warnings for assistants who stand and yell.

Agree...

Assistants have NO STANDING whatsoever. Up off the bench yelling like an idiot? WHACK. On the floor? WHACK.

Any slack you extend to the head coach does not extend to his minions. They can talk to their own players. Otherwise, they have the right to sit down and shut up.

First time...Look right into the head coaches eyes and say, "Coach, are you gonna take care of that or do I need to?" I've used this line MANY times regarding bench personnel, assistants, and even players on the floor. I've never not had a coach take control. If they do it a second time, BANG!

Had a game the other night where in our pregame the two of us found out that we were very different on T's and what we tolerated from coaches. He tells me how many T's he has already given in December and it was quite a few. We decided that unless certain lines were crossed that we both agreed to (per our discussion) we would talk before T's. Then when we talk to the coaches he all of a sudden tells the coaches that they are only allowed one foot out of the box and if he sees both feet out it is an immediate T. I'm wondering where this came from after our pregame talk on this very issue? Then in the first quarter, after he calls two travels on the visisting team we came back down and with me as trail in front of the visisitng bench they steal the ball and travel. He calls it, his area, a good call and the vising coach stands up, stays in the box, and says "Another travel, come on" and sits down. He does not even yell it, thorw up his hands or anything. My partner getting ready to administer the throw in gets this "look" on his face and starts walking from the other side of the court towards me and the visiting coach. I intercepted him at the free throw line and ask what is going on. He tells me that he is coming over to T the coach. I told him that I will take care of the bench when I am standing by them. I sent him back but spent the game trying to keep him under control and to not call T's on the coaches for what I felt were pretty innocuos statements. There was no languagge, inciting the fans, etc from the coaches.

Thin Skin!

Rcwilco, that is kind of funny. There are officials who love to give T's, officials who are scared to give T's and officials who don't go looking for them but don't hesitate to give them. He obviously has the T in his "tool bag" right next to travel and foul calls. A T on a coach will be obvious to everyone in the building with the exception of a coach saying you are cheating or something personal. For your partner to come across the court to issue a T it should be obvious and you should have had your back to the coach.

I HATE giving T's I really do. But I dont hesitate one bit... ok I did last week and thats because I felt like whacking the coach would make matters worse. So I didnt but later I wish I had soo.... yeah. I really dont go into a game with "t" ears. But it seems I've given more than I've wanted to in the first half of the season. But asking around other people have had problems with the coaches and teams too so its not just me :-D

BK,

I like your line. Gives one another strong alternative to instantly ringing up bench personnel--esp. if your judgement indicates the game will not be made better by immediately going to the big gun (T).

I can agree with BK if the asst. is simply sitting on the bench and being a little mouthy. But when "He was off the bench and onto the floor a couple of feet, ranting," you have to TCB. Use NCAA as an example. As much crap as D1 guys take from head coaches, you don't see asst. coaches do that.

If you can avoid it, avoid it.
 

I agree with you assessment of the situation and having zero tolerance for Asst. Coaches complaining. But I also think you can say something and nip it in the bud as well. But I would have to be there to be for sure as to what to do. But I usually will say something even if an Asst. Coach is chirping while sitting down to the Head Coach. Because if they do get up and "rant and rave" about a call, it was not like they were not warned before I stick them. Also, the higher the level the game, the more the Head coaches understand that philosophy. It is usually the lower level coaches that are clueless about this attitude of what Asst. Coaches can and cannot do.

Peace

I had to do this recently
 

Early in the season, I had a JV coach really animated. He was acting more like a football coach walking out onto the floor (not far) and really giving it to us. I gave him a "that's enough coach" line which usually works.

Next time down the court, my partner makes a no call on a shot which he thought his shooter was fouled. During transition I go to lead table side, my partner is trail opposite. We are both on the end away from his bench. When I look up, he is out about 10 feet onto the court by where the volleyball lines are yelling at my partner. My partner was looking at the play.

Even though I was 50 feet away, I did not hesitate and whacked him. When I approached the the table to record this, I had to tell him twice to get off of the court. He did, sat down, and behaved himself the rest of the game.

I have called several games for him since, and we joke about it. Yesterday, at a tournament, he walked in the gym between games and stood close to me. I gave him the big T sign and we laughed about it. He told me he had not been like that since. I told him he seemed a lot calmer since he switched to decaf.

Re: I had to do this recently
 

Damian, Its great to have a good rapport with the coach. However, I think, good or bad, past games are best forgotten. Coaches need the confidence of the official that the past is the past and forgotten. What if you have a bad situation in the future with this coach, he might feel uncomfortable in games thereafter. I've T'd coaches in the 1st half, and the coach came out to apoligize in the 2nd half, I immediately say, coach its aready forgotten. I do believe they go away feeling better.

"I have called several games for him since, and we joke about it. Yesterday, at a tournament, he walked in the gym between games and stood close to me. I gave him the big T sign and we laughed about it. He told me he had not been like that since. I told him he seemed a lot calmer since he switched to decaf."

Thats something I recommend not doing. Think about it. Without even being in a game with this coach, you have now committed yourself.

If the partner's actually ignoring it, let it go.

If your partner can't hear/see it - it's fair game for the other two to pick up, although this is rarer in basketball (had it quite a few times in football).

Your sounding as if calling a T has a primary area.

I disagree

There is one story that I heard about from a varsity tournament finals game officiated by two other officials in my association. With team A leading by 2 and team B with the ball and 2.7 seconds left, an official whistles A1 for a foul. A1 turns around and says "That's f***ing bulls***." The calling official's partner comes in and sticks A1 with the T. In a fairly high profile preseason game, the partner established a standard, and ultimately the T cost team A the game.

Sounds real close to the game I was at last night. WSU mens. Score tied. Team B in the one&one bounus. A1 gets called for a def. foul, with 2.1 sec. left. As the official walks to the table to report, (back to A1), A1 takes his head band off and throws it about twenty feet down court. Partner gives the T. I didn't stick around to see WSU lose.

I never give any T's, they are to be earned and they are such a rare commodity for me to give away that it is a priviledge to get one! It is always better to warn but only warn one time and if they don't give you a chance to warn then so be it! Just make sure it has been earned because they are too expensive for you , the players and coaches for you to give the away for free.