Actually had something similar happen last year, I was working a JV girls game & the varsity coach was sitting behind the team bench making snide comments most of the first half. Just before we started the 3rd quarter, I quietly told the JV coach "Coach, you need to get your bench under control". This apparently did the trick, as we hardly heard another peep out of the varsity coach the rest of the game.

I was also doubling for the varsity game, and mentioned it to my partner during the pregame. The look on the varsity coach's face when we introduced ourselves during warmups was hillarious - took everything I had not to break out in a big grin! She was just fine the rest of the night - had my partner & I chuckling to ourselves, as she had somewhat of a reputation for being "a little vocal".

Had a similar situation a couple of years ago. I had already worked the F/JV game (wise-@ss V coach sat behind the bench during JV game) and one of the varsity officials (2-man crew) was involved in a fender-bender on the way to the game and I had to fill in. During introductions in the varsity game, the varsity coach sort of apologized and asked me if anything would be "carried over" because of his comments during JV game. I just smiled at him and said "No, I'm an adult" and just walked away. No comments from him the entire game.

I hope there IS a next time and that you do get it right. The kind of treatment you described is unacceptable from anyone and is especially reprehensible if it is coming from a coach. Coaches should be the next to highest example of great sportsmanship... right below officials.:D

The varsity dude's game would also have been quiet as a pussycat without the howler there. I still think send him packing.

I certainly understand your point of view, and I agree with it. However, my association commissioner also told me to ignore it and he's the one who assigns my games. I'm between a rock and a hard place there. If and when I do work one of his games, I will approach it like any other. I try to be as professional as possible every game. I'm relatively new to this association, so I am not very familiar with many coaches yet. This is my 12th year officiating, but also my 5th association.

Smitty,

I guess it just boils down to:
1. If he's on the bench, whack him with a direct T, plus an indirect to the head coach.
2. If he's in the stands as a spectator, ignore it unless it gets too disruptive, then ask game management to handle it.
3. In either case, make a written report to the commissioner & let him do the follow-up.

I'm sure it's not the first time the coach has done this, and if a documented pattern starts to emerge it can only help you and your fellow officials in the future. My wife's an RN, and they have a saying in the medical profession - "If it isn't written down, it didn't happen." In otherwords, document everything.

I had something similar last night at Happyrock - JV boys game & one of the varsity coaches was several rows up from the bench making obnoxious comments - I chose to ignore him & went about my business. In the locker-room after the game one of the officials for the varsity game told me he overheard a couple of the comments and asked if I had heard them - I told him yes, but chose to ignore them & why. He agreed with my reasoning, but also said he didn't like the coach's attitude & was going to keep him on a very short leash during the varsity game. This morning I fired off a short, quick email to the commish just to put in writing what a jerk the varsity coach was during the JV game.

Hey Smitty,

Whenever I have had trouble with a fan I will generally ask the administration at the host school to handle it. It would have been pretty funny seeing the visitors varsity coach publically chastised and perhaps escorted from the building.

This was the first time I have ever had someone in the stands that I knew was a coach do something like that at one of my games. I don't care if the casual fan, parent or kid complains. I actually get a kick out of that sort of thing. I was just so shocked that the V coach would be so loud and boisterous and make it so personal. Again, this being only my second year in this association, I am still discovering the different personalities. And I'm trying to move up and do the right thing. For me, the right thing is what my commissioner tells me. I'm angry at myself for how I originally handled it, but I am satisfied with the way I handled it afterwards. I fessed up to my commissioner and asked how he wanted it handled in the future. Clearly things are done differently in other areas. I respect that. And Tim, I wish the guy was on the bench so I could have handled it myself. In my opinion, the guy was a coward knowing he was outside of my reach in the stands and I couldn't do anything about it. It's on him...I'm done with it.

Smitty,
You can teach from experience, but you can't teach experience. The good thing from this situation is that if it ever happens again (hopefully it won't), you have a better idea of how you want to handle it. I'm sure we've all had similar situations in our careers that we handle differently now than the first time they've happened. Did I mention that the cup is always half full and there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

Sheez, Smitty one night, Tim Taylor the next. Do you suppose it's in our water?? Do I want to work tonight?!? I guess it'll be okay, since I now know how to handle it.

Juulie - do you think we should translate for everyone and let them know that Happyrock is near The O.C.? ;)

Have the school official give V coach his walking papers. That's what they are there for. No one has the right to interfere with your ability to officiate and The V coach has no more right to be a jack *** than any other fan. I personally expect more from other coaches and school administrators and school board members. As for giving a T because of the fans, NFHS rules say you could have, but they have a strong caution about doing this. You open a seriously weird can of worms when you do.

...and now that I think about it the school Smitty was at is in the same league!! Now is that a coincidence or what!?!?

Uh Juulie....now I'm confused. Smitty's game was at a Metro/Mt. Hood non-conference & mine was a Tri-Valley/Cowapa?.....

Yea, you're right. leagues all different. BUt they're within 5 miles of each other. So it could still be the water!