What's the Point?

[Smitty]

Originally posted by tarheelcoach
First off, I NEVER said, on this board or to my players, that the call cost us the game. Far from the truth. I lurk on this board so that I become as familar and comfortable with the rules as possible. This situation struck me as one that though MAYBE technically correct (it can certainly be argued that in that situation his standing qualifies as a spontaneous display of emotion), it was certainly a bad judgement call and I wanted to get the other side (I would suspended for approaching the ref after the game to ask him!)

I appreciate everyone's opinion and advice.

From now on I'll give my assistant a gentle shove back on the bench before the ref sees him!

I find the part in bold a telling remark. I really would have liked to hear the official's side.

[zebra44]

Perhaps tarheelcoach could show this website to the official in the aforementioned game. It is a good tool to improve ourselves at what we do. Maybe he could air his side of the story.

[Jimgolf]

Originally posted by WyMike
I love working FB and I've played many sports myself. But I will go to my grave carrying the belief that BB coaches are the HUGEST whiners, complainers, eye-rolling, smirking, hand gesturing group of people I know.

Coaches act this way in the lower levels because their only training is from watching NCAA and NBA games on television where coaches' antics are celebrated instead of being punished, and where commentators that have never read a rule book assess referees' performance. Very few coaches below the HS level understand the amount of training and preparation involved in becoming a referee and in maintaining the skill set.

Conversely, while many of this board's members are fanatical in being prepared, that attitude is not always shared by those refereeing below the HS level.

To expect volunteer coaches and underpaid referees to be perfect all the time is unrealistic. In an ideal world, coaches would be licensed by the same organization that licenses the referees, with mandatory annual re-qualifying. Trusting the health of our children to random volunteers is insane. However, there is a shortage of even unqualified coaches and referees in many areas, so this is unlikely to happen soon.

As for tarheelcoach's situation, taken at face value, this could well have been a referee who is studying as hard as he can and just happened to be currently studying the part about only the head coach being allowed to stand, so this may have been fresh in his mind as something to look at. Nonetheless, it is the head coach's responsibility to know that his bench personnel are confined to the bench (hence the name) and ensure that they follow this rule. A good guideline to follow is: Assistant coaches should be not seen and not heard.

[BayStateRef]

Originally posted by tarheelcoach
(it can certainly be argued that in that situation his standing qualifies as a spontaneous display of emotion),

From now on I'll give my assistant a gentle shove back on the bench before the ref sees him!

Unfortunately, the coach does not know the rule. It does not allow standing for a "spontaneous display of emotion." Rather it is quite specific about when bench personnel may stand: "Rise in front of their seat to spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a member of their team...but must immediately return to their seat"

This may seem petty, but it shows the slippery slope that coaches (and players) get into. They sort of know the rule, but not really. The asst. coach was not reacting to a great play; he was yelling for his team to foul. Certainly emotional...but clearly not even close to being covered by the rule.