B-9 last night and partner and I were both astounded at some rules related comments from the 2 young coach's we had.

Question was raised: <b>Are Coach's subject to any type of BB rules testing at all?</b>

Examples:
No knowledge of 3-second count and player/team control
Interrupted dribble and over and back
Reaching OOB on a throw in
Running out of bounds unauthorized (2005 POI)

Coach's complained on proper application of each of these.

Last nites favorite: After aggressive howling on these misinterpretations, I gave "STOP" sign and said "Coach, thats enough".

Coach Response: "Whats the deal, I'm standing in the Box - I can say whatever I want too!"

In Va, It think they are only required to be at a mandatory VHSL clinic. I dont know if they are required to take a test or not. Of course, thats a 2 edge sword!

"Are you sure that's the rule coach?"

Ours have to attend the rules meeting, but that certainly doesn't mean they pay attention or understand how to interpret the rules. We had a state 3-man clinic and there was a couple of coaches there. I was a little impressed that they would take the time to check it out. Too bad it wasn't one of the better 3-man clinics I've been to.

I find that the more I deal with Rec. League coaches the lower the overall basketball IQ in the building drops.
I don't think there is a requirement for any thing lower then HS coaches. Rec league coaches don't know the rules and they don't want to know the rules.

The coaches are tested on their rules knowledge every time there is a game. Most of them fail miserably.


Anyone who wishes is welcome to use my rule. If a coach argues a call and is incorrect about THE RULE, that coach is charged with a technical foul.

Coaches are hard to find, particularly at the rec and youth levels where they are unpaid volunteers. The only requirements are usually the commitment to show up. Officials often make more from the game than HS coaches, who might be paid $2500 a year or so on top of their normal teaching salaries.

High School coaches have to attend clinics, but rules are seldom discussed at these clinics. I know few coaches who have actually read the rule books, and those few have mostly reffed on the side.

While making fun of the coach's knowlege of the rules makes for good war stories, rules knowlege is a minor part of their job. A rudimentary knowlege is all that is necessary to win games, which is the major part of their job.

Basketball is about the players, not the officials or the coaches. If more of us remembered that, the games would not be as confrontational.

Naw, I can't agree with that at all. The better coaches that I have seen have over the years <b>all</b> made a conscious effort to know and understand the rules. They want to teach their kids to play within the rules and to also avoid uneccessary turnovers and fouls. It's to their advantage to do so.

I think this depends on where you live. I know a basketball official in my area that is also teacher and coaches the tennis teams at his school. One tennis team plays is during the fall the other team plays during the spring. He said he gets paid $6000 each season ($12,000 a year). Tennis is also not a revenue sport and does not make money. He said that basketball coach gets paid a lot more than he does. I know I do not make $6000 a season working basketball. I am sure there are coaches that might make around $10,000-$15,000 depending on the school district. I am sure it varies a lot, but $2500 is low.

Peace

I would say that most of them, like most of us, do this for the love of the game.

Who's the confrontational one here? I have never seen an official start yelling at a coach for running the wrong D. Also, I have yet to see an official yell at a coach because he should have used a TO because nobody is rotating back on D to cover the fastbreaks. If it is understood that they do not fully undersand the rules, why is it so accepted that they challenge officials and their calls?

I would have to agree with you on that. I have worked with some very good coaches. Who are very Knowledgeable about the rules. These guys are much easyer to work with.

I believe in IL the (varsity) coaches are only required to attend the rules interp.

Same in Missouri. It's fine except that sometimes it helps if you are well aware of the other rules. The new rule interps are easier to understand then.

IMO, it's like TV gameshows. We can sit at home watching and get alot of the answers correct and wonder why those who are in the game don't see what we see. This is what separates officials. When everyone is looking to you on an uncommon application, do we freeze up or respond correctly and with confidence.
Usually, when discussing rules with coaches, they understand most of it. Yet when the game is on the line and the pressure is mounting, they sometimes forget.

In Va the Va High School League requires that each member school send 2 coaches to each clinic and they need not be head coaches. During my first coaches pre-game I asked if they had any questions about the new rule changes. "What new changes?" Ah boy!!!!!!!!!!

__________________________________________________ _________

True, but they are not required to pay attention during the meeting. And some coaches send their assistants to cover this requirement.

Big Mistake.

Any coach can attend a rules meeting. All that is required is a representative is supposed to attend a rules meeting every year or suffer some consequences by either being put on probations or possibly suspended from post season (I do not know the process, I just know there are consequences). Technically there does not have to be a coach that attends the rules meetings. It could be an AD. Usually the schools send the Freshman B coach that has never coached a day in his life and reports (supposed to) to the school what they heard. Many times they never say anything to the varsity coaches because when either my partners or I make a call based on a new rule it is not unusual for the coach to say, "I did not hear of that."

Peace

Where in Virginia do you officiate???

Wow...I coach on the JV level and make a whopping 5% of my salary....ends up being about 2000. I had open gym this season from early October to November 14, 2 days a week. Then season goes from Nov.14 to Feb. 8. Thats a lot of work for $2000. I definetly do it for the love of the kids and the game.

Thanks JRut for filling my gaps in. Around here, most of the varsity coaches are in attendence. But, I highly doubt they pay that much attention, they are just there to be there and fill out their attendence form.

A lot of the good varsity coaches attend the rules meetings in my area. There are just more varsity coaches that do not. I would think all coaches would want to attend those meetings, but I wish I had a penny for every time a coach said, "I never heard of that rule," even when the rule is was the main thing talked about at these meetings.

I thought coaches would be clueless about the team control foul and the coaching box, but the word must have gotten out better this year.

Peace

I tend to agree that the better coaches do have a pretty good grasp of the rules. I know it makes me more effective as a coach. Although knowledge of the rules doesn't cure "coaching eyesight." Most of my questions now revolve around what was seen.

My good friend who officiates some college level games as well as a lot of High School games has now elevated me to the status of "Pain in the a$$", which is a big promotion from "Ignorant pain in the a$$." ;) Actually, I've gotten very polite in the last ten or so years since I decided to get a good grip on the rules.

Oddly enough, if you ask the officials 'round here which games they want to work, almost all will steer clear of games in which the coaches are also known officials. Why is that?

Because NOW they have the best vantage point to see all the calls that should or should not be made.

According to an individual from the VHSL office, the only requirement is for "someone" from the school to attend the clinic. It isn't required that each and every coach attend and actually doesn't have to be the coach. I think this usually falls to the most junior coach.

That's because the "Senior" coaches ALREADY know the rules. ;)

http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif Good one!