How to talk to Officials

[Randal]

Start with two basic premises: (1) in almost all circumstances, the refs knows the rules as well or better than you do; and (2) in almost all circumstances, the refs have a better view and angle on the play than you do.

Then it follows that your conversations with the refs should, for the most part, be limited to asking questions when you do not understand what happened. And, asking for a time out.

There is never, ever, anything gained by yelling at the refs or argueing with them after a call. But, there is a lot to lose. At a minimum, your players will lose their focus.

If the refs blew the call (and they do regularly), they almost surely know it, and pointing it out does not help. If you merely disagree with the ref, live with it -- argueing with them will not change their opinion.

By-the-by, one of the best things that you can do to improve the interactions between your team and the refs is to make certain that your players really know the rules of the game -- most do not, and this is the coaches fault. For example, consider giving your players an old NHFS written exam.