I referee in Utah and this year it has been very strongly pushed that we keep the coaches in the box.

What prompted this is, a lot(not all) of us used the philosophy if they are coaching their kids I don't mind them out of their box.

It has been stated by the High School Assn. that if we don't call it. The box will go away.

Interested in two things here. 1) What's your state doing? 2) Do you agree???


[Edited by garote on Dec 1st, 2005 at 05:48 PM]

I'll admit I've been in the ole "if they're coaching, why bother" camp for awhile. But it is also a Fed POI this year and our association is saying to enforce it strictly this year as well. Granted, coaches aren't going to like it, but I think that as it is enforced, they will get used to it. Not to mention, the threat of losing it altogether as they have said they would do in their seat, will probably work in the official's favor.

This year, Michigan extended the box to 14' and again strongly urged it to be enforced.
It will be enforced when it becomes 28' long, I think. :)
mick

TO be honest, I really think that the only way to get the box, whatever the size, enforced, is to tell OFFICIALS that their PLAYOFF ASSIGNMENTS depend on how well they enforce it, and then STAND BY THAT. If states would leave a couple of the top vets home during the playoffs for their failure to enforce issues such as these, everyone else would get the message too. But let's face it. That ain't gonna happen.

We've been told that the State will have evaluators at games throughout the year and that they will be specifically watching how the coaches box is enforced. The State went to 14' boxes a couple of years ago but has grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of enforcement and the "he/she is coaching" philosophy. The box was almost abolished by the State this year but agreed to keep it pending the outcome of these random audits. They have also said that playoff assignments could be at risk if an auditor is at a game where the box is not enforced. They are also watching for assistant coach behavior and how that is dealt with by the officials.

That is what they told us in our state. Now whether anyone is not working the playoffs as a result I do not know. It might not hurt anyone from actually working the post season; it might hurt how far they go. That is just my take on the issue. Who actually knows what they are going to do at this point.

Peace

Our state places a high importance on managing the coaches box. At the state tournament, officials who do not do a good job of managing the box don't do well. If you don't make it a part of your skill set during the regular season, you can't just "turn it on" at the state tournament. If you work on managing the box, it becomes a skill just like managing the clock.

A lot of officials think that keeping coaches in the box means that you wait until they run 8-feet out of the box and then whack them. If you are managing them the whole game (which starts in the pregame conference when you tell them where the box is to let them know that you'll be watching), 99% of them won't push their limits.

Z

I forgot to mention this in my earlier posts. Our state has implemented a warning system for the coaching box. If there are those that work football we have kind of like a "sideline warning" that will be used. If a coach is outside the box and simply coaching, we are to give a warning (not unlike a delay warning) that is to be put into the official book. The next violation will be a Technical foul. Now if that coach is outside the box screaming and yelling at the officials, then a T is what they will get. If we do not use this policy, we are to be punished through the playoff system.

Peace

We were told to bring tape to our games and mark off a 14' box. If the SD/AD would not let us put tape on the floor of the court, then the home team coach would not be allowed to stand up (seat belt rule). The visitor's coach would be allowed to stand in the normal 14' box[ .

[Edited by WinterWillie on Dec 2nd, 2005 at 03:31 AM]

I, too, have been lax in the past. But in my state, we've been told very clearly that we must enforce it this year. If a coach is outside the box...up close to midcourt...and "just coaching," while his/her opponent is playing by the rules, it gives the rulebreaker a tremendous advantage.

So this year...one quick warning, and then a T, just like they said in our state rules meetings. I'll emphasize it in the pregame, and if they carp, I'll remind them of that.

1) The same as yours.

2) It makes no difference.

BTW, it's a coaching box, not a coaches' box.

ZEBRAMAN
 

So Zebraman. care to expand on the skill set necessary to manage the coaching box. I am 2 yr ref. and we too have been told to crack down. As I look around the gyms been are making a token effort at best. So i would like to start to learn how to do this.

This was emphasized in PA also - similar to what everyone else has said. We are to give one warning if Coach is outside the box coaching, no warning is Coach is outside the box chirping.

In Va, we were told to strickly enforce the box. The only warning coaches got was at the clinic and during the game its a "t". But in my pre game with the cox, I always ask them, are you going to use your box? If they say yes, I say, I am stressing that you stay in it! We do not put any tape down, thats up to game management. If no tape is down by the start of the game, the home team coach sits and the visiting team coach has an imaginary box to the extent of my imagination! I have a vivid imaginiation too!

Texas - Long known to be lenient on the enforcement of the Coach's box.

Announced at State meeting it will be enforced

1) lack of enforcement effects tourney assignemnts
2) General lack of enforcement will lead to it being dropped.
3) Association presidents wrote to ALL coach's announcing enforcement

The State UIL mandated that the Box will be permentently marked on the floor. I have seen it's addition on all gym floors

Re: ZEBRAMAN
 

It just has to be a concerted effort and a priority from the beginning of the game. I remember when I first started reffing, I had no idea how much time was on the clock. I had my hands full with fouls and violations. As I got experience, I learned how to manage the clock to and be aware of the time left in each quarter and to check to make sure the clock started after dead balls etc.

The coaching box is no different. You just have to discipline yourself to look over there at every dead ball. You also have to notice with your peripheral vision when the coach is edging out of the box. It's like being aware of where the lead official is when you are C or T in a 3-person game. You just learn to be aware.

This works for me:
The first time the coach steps a couple feet past the edge of the box, you notice it. The next chance you get, you walk over and say, "coach, I really need you to help me out with the coaches box. It's a big point of emphasis this year and if you stay in the box we won't have to deal with it."

If you catch it early in the game, they immediately know that you will be watching and they make a big effort to stay in (it's funny to watch them look down at their feet when they know they are getting close). You can also use a hand motion (subtle sideways wave with the hand) from cross-court to move them back a couple steps too.

If you don't stay on top of it from the first second of the game, you make it real difficult on yourself. If he's been four or five feet out of the box for the entire first quarter, it's pretty hard to start managing the box in the second quarter because he's already "marked his territory."

If you mention it in the pregame coaches conference, they already have it in their minds that you will probably be watching.

Z

To piggy-back on Zebraman's last post, I have made sure that the last thin I mention in the pregame conf is the coaching box. This way, it stays the freshest on their minds throughout the game.

I have had to give one warning so far this season (eight games), because the coaches are more aware of the box now. Just a quick glance over most times will do the trick. It's is funny to watch a coach dance around trying to stretch the boundary in the name of 'coaching'. :D

Zman
 

Thanks for the feedback. I got two JV tourney games tonight. i will definetly practice tonight.

Goal 1. Mention it pre-game conference.
Goal 2 Do maintance through 1 st qtr.

Re: Zman
 

Let me know how it goes! Also, your partner(s) need to help you (pregame conference) because it's more than a one-person job. It takes the whole crew. Sometimes your partner(s) will be in a much better position to deal with it than you are.

Z

Re: Re: ZEBRAMAN
 

:eek: We're NOT playing on until it's cleaned up and I'm NOT cleaning it up!

They are really wanting us to emphasis it in WV this year too. If the coach isn't talking to me, I don't know how much attention I am paying to him. If I see them out of the box coaching, I will gently remind him. If he gets out again and I notice, I will be a little more forceful. A third time gets a warning and I would whack him on the 4th time. They usually get the message. I know it's a lot of warnings but I just hate to bang a coach for getting caught up in the game and coaching his players. If a coach is out of the box and he's refereeing the game - it's automatic!

In CA we have a 6' box. I have yet to have a game so far where the court was properly marked and if I dont bring tape and none is handy, I will tell the coach how many chairs he/she gets in pregame intros. During game, 1 warning then whack. Our group is not consistent and coaches dont like it but as an instructor I dont feel like there is any choice. That which you permit, you promote.

Oh wow, if there isn't one marked and they don't have tape (I don't bring tape) - there is NO coaching box. When I walk on the floor and don't see one (usually upon entering the gym) I will say "Since I don't see a box marked I am assuming we are NOT using the coaches box tonight." It's amazing how quickly they put one down. I tend to be a jerk about that and shirts untucked. I mention that in pregame and tell them that this is their warning. If they show up at the table and don't have it tucked in before they are beckoned, I escort them back to the bench. One time and you have no more problems the rest of the night. I promise!