Putting a bug in their ear

[justacoach]

Originally posted by rainmaker
It could backfire, if you're not pretty careful. I think the best thing to do is to wait and see how they start off. If you think they're missing something, call a time out, and talk to them about it politely. Don't argue or contradict. Stick to open-ended questions. Be sure and thank them when they're done explaining. If they insist that they saw the play, and it's not illegal, ask for a rules reference, not to show them up, but so that they'll have to stop and think about it. They may not get it the rest of the game, and you're not allowed to howl! But they might learn something for next time.

My 'naive' ploy worked. In the lull between games I asked the 2-whistle crew a generic question about screening and when the reply included the magic phrase "time and distance" I was greatly relieved. I did not employ the rhetorical question method that most of the responses here assumed. I know better than to try to tell an official how to do their job!
BTW, I have not howled since the last full moon. How's your season been going?