Referees who coach

[I'msureofit]

I have done a lot of rec games over my 10+ years experience as an official. Mostly, the games are Bantam (7-9 grades) to Senior (10-12 grades) boys. About half of these "experienced" (7-10 yrs, some certified but most are not) partners that I work the games with have a habit as the L of warning defensive players to get out of the paint to avoid a 3 sec call. They will also advise defensive players not to reach or "get your hand off" in a hand check situation. This fact has always driven me nuts.

I had a senior boys game recently where in the 2nd quarter I tagged a 3 (I usally count it to 4 to give the benefit of the doubt) on an offensive player who retorted that I had to give him a warning first. I told him that I'm not in the warning business but in the calling business when it comes to such calls, any calls. I would say that it's not entirely his fault but rather the result of being conditioned over time that warnings are given by too many refs in our league.

Now, two things that I'll throw out there for comment. 1.) at these levels, players are experienced enough to know these rules that cause these types of fouls and violations. I think we all can agree on that. And, 2) it is not the job of the officials to coach but rather to just call them, simply. It should be the job of the coaches to discern, or ask, what is or isn't being tolerated on the floor and relay that to his players. I haven't taken the time to look this one up in the rule book as of yet. Just thought I throw it out there for now to you all for comment and interpretation. Thanks.