How to Handle a Vet?

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by zebraman


A young official with good people skills (including tact and a non-accusatory way) should be able to point out the correct rule to the "veteran official" without causing a scene. I have never met a veteran official who wouldn't want to know that he was screwing up a rule. He may get defensive if a young ref pointed it out with all the grace of bull in a China shop, but that is a problem with the delivery, not the message.

Z

That all sounds great, but I do know veterans that would have a problem with being told just about anything.

Look, all a veteran means is someone that has worked more than a year. All veterans are not good officials or have what it takes to be a good official. There are all kinds of veterans and frankly many that will never be that good at all. So you can have all the people skills and you still will never make some people happy. I know there are coaches that way. Officials are not that different either.

Peace