Coach management

[ChrisSportsFan]

Originally posted by JRutledge
I had a game recently where the visiting team was from another part of the state. The visiting team coach implied almost from the beginning that he was getting hommered. Now it was not very obvious that was what he was saying, but it was clear in the accumulation of his comments. I came to him when I had a chance and confronted him without anyone knowing it. I was the Center on a ball about to be put in and I told him in no uncertain terms, "I have no problem with you complaining about calls, but I grew up an hour away from your school, I am not going to have you question the integrity of my crew." Now I said all this to the coach while my back was basically facing him or I was standing right beside him. I never turned around or looked at him directly. So no one even knew I was having much of a conversation with him. The coach quickly backed down and tried to suggest that he was not complaining about me. I said to him, "Coach I do not care, you complain about my crew member and you are talking about me. I am not going to tolerate you questioning the integrity of my crew again." The coach got the message because he did not make any similar comments the rest of the game. Now he did get upset and he did complain about individual calls (so was the other coach so I have no problem with that) but he did not talk about foul counts or what his kids could not do the rest of the night. This coach even at one time said that, "My two All-Americans are sitting on the bench because you guys keep calling fouls." I did not hear that comment and if I did I probably would have laughed. Only one of his players was anything of an All-American, the other was too young to probably be considered at that point. It was a fun game but a game where I learned more about how to handle coaches.

Peace

Way to go. That's how it's supposed to be done...defend the honor of your crew. Kudos to JRut.

BTW, shame on you guys for calling the fouls that THEY committed. LOL

[ChrisSportsFan]

Originally posted by ShadowStripes
Before discussing the coach communication, might I add a thought about the technical foul? I won't disagree with your assessment that it was unsportsmanlike behavior that, in some instances, should result in the foul. But, in your comments you even suggest that the floor slapping might have also been as a result of his own frustration for committing the silly foul. Could you have saved yourself by giving him the glare instead of the instant technical? Often, I can give the evil stare and a player will quickly offer an apology and say "I'm just mad at myself." Even if that's not entirely true, you've made your point and drawn the line so you're absoultely covered if he does it again. You can then take the opportunity to politely explain to the player and/or coach that essentially a "mulligan" has been issued.

This would have prevented you from immediately fouling out a player with back to back fouls. Again, I don't know the game situation; maybe the player had been troublesome during the contest and deserved it. I just wanted to add a little to your thought process in terms of game managing preventative officiating.

So now a player from the other team also gets 1 "get out of jail free card"? ie: doesn't like the call, slaps the floor and offers an immediate apology. I would rather not give him the T that he earned but hey, if he wants it, then who am I to refrain?

In my capt mtg, I will get eye contact and while nodding my head usually say: "you know who your hot-heads are, you keep em in control so we don't have to". They will begin nodding their head and now I know we both understand what I just said. If something like a floor slap happens and that capt is right on top of his teammate, I'll allow him to handle it.

[Edited by ChrisSportsFan on Feb 1st, 2005 at 08:55 AM]