I am an assistant coach for a 7th grade girl's team in Nebraska and have a couple of questions. I may not use the correct technical terms, but I hope I can describe the situations so you understand the game sitations.

1) In Nebraska, team A shooting free throws. On the lane is players B-A-B. We are coaching team B and our head coach tries to move a player back to an empty spot closer to the shooter. We are told by the ref that this is no longer allowed in Nebraska High Schools. Is this correct? For us oldtimers that all filled the lane, why the change?

2) On the second free throw (IMO) the shooter stepped over the line to grab her own rebound. Both myself and the coach reacted to the violation at the same time, so I am confident we both saw it the same way. Being the coaches refs hate, we road the officials as they made their way up the court. I tell you this as back-drop to what happened next. Ball is deflected out of bounds call goes to other team. I say "Wow". I didn't think it was that loud, but the official next to our bench heard and gives me a T. I stand up and ask him if he gave me a T for saying Wow? He gives me a second T for standing up after the first T. He later said in NE you, as a coach, are not allowed to stand up off the bench after the first T. Is this correct? (By the way, I probably deserved a T earlier)

3) We have the same officials for each game and we have 5 more games with these same officials. How would you want this handled for next week and the weeks following, if you were the officials?

I enjoy reading your insights from the officials view and I learn a lot. Still have a long way to go. I would appreciate help from anyone.

John, the Rec Coach.

In response to #1 yes. Lane changes have been made to the High School game. There are several reasons for this. #2. As long as the ball has touched the rim, a player can retrieve his/her own shot, even if it means in the paint. However, if the shooter stepped across the FT line prior to the ball impacting the rim, then it is a violation. Your comment may or may not have warranted a T. Depends on how you have acted previously and what your tone was during the action. Several new points of emphasis are in place this year, one being the "seat belt rule". One T and you are not allowed to stand. I think I read the post correct, you are a JV coach, you should let your head coach address the officials. Normally officials will not respond to assistant coaches. Another POI this season is that assistant coaches remain seated at all times. The only person allowed up is the head coach.

#3. Keep you cool. It's 7th grade basketball, so I'm sure you probably dont have the best officials. They prob. arent getting paid much if at all. Cut them some slack or take your 2 T's and leave.

1) Yes, it is correct. They've played with FTs restrictions for years to reduce rough play. This is just one more attempt to do so.

2) As an asst. coach, you are not supposed to talk to the officials or stand.

3) Stop questioning the officials on every call they make. They aren't going to change a call or give you the next one because you complain. Coach your kids and leave the officiating to the officials.

You are the assistant coach. Not that any coach is allowed to "ride" the officals- but you get less chances. If you get off of the chair to question a call it is an automatic T. Many officials cut assitant coaches a break- they shouldn't.

Second with out trying to be confrontational, I am willing to bet several game fees that you do not own a rule book or case book. Often the coaches who yell the most, don't know the rules of the game. Please prove me wrong- by posting and telling us that you have a rule book and read the rule changes this year!

Thirt for the future, sit on the chair and coach your players and leave the officials alone.

Husker John, This post here tells me what kinda of coach you are and what kinda of role model your being for your players. WOW!!
I agree with ref the whole way! In Ohio Asst. are supposed to be seen and not heard. Only head coach is allowed to stand and talk to refs. Any variation and it leads to what happened to you. Your not allowed to stand at all, but after a T on head coach, because of you. Hes not allowed to stand now either. Good Job! The only time you can question a ref as an asst. is during a timeout and be on your best behavior at that time also. So my thoughts are since you have these refs the next five games you go to them next game and give them a sincere apology. Sit down next to the coach, keep your mouth shut and let the kids play and the refs ref. Dont let your actions help to determine the kids game.

[Edited by chrs_schuster on Jan 30th, 2006 at 09:54 AM]

I have to agree with what everyone else said. In 7th grade, the players need you paying attention to what they're doing, not the officials. Besides, you're going to be a better team if you coach your team rather than the officials. For example, last season in a varsity game I worked, the visiting coach was on us from the opening tip. We were gettting nothing right. Her team gives up a 15-0 run to begin the game. After about 3 minutes of her complaining, one of my parters have her a T. Now she has to sit and coach her team. They ended up coming back to win in overtime. I haven't had that coach this year, but I've heard she didn't learn her lesson.

Sometimes, the best medicine tastes the worst.

It was not easy reading the comments. However, it is exactly why I wanted the insights from the people that read this forum.

ManinBlue, with regards to the rulebook. Your money is safe. This was a Y game and as a volunteer coach it wasn't required, and I didn't think it was necessary. However, I am rethinking that.

FYI to all. Immediately after the game, I did apologize to our team. I told them that my behavior was not appropriate and I will do better next time. I am concerned about the influence on the team. I have already apologized to the head coach over the phone, and will do so in front of the team tonight.

As far as the officials working the game, I spoke to them afterwards trying to understand why I was run in essentially the same motion. T, I stand up, 2nd T. I am gone.

I appreciate the feedback, will apologize to the two officials next week and follow the guidance offered here.

Thanks folks.

Thanks for listening. Often when coaches post here, they don't particularly like what we have to say and get defensive. I'm sure our comments weren't exactly what you were looking for, but it says alot for you as a coach that you will rethink some of what you are doing. Good luck!

I almost forgot. If it's my game, the first T was probably for being a Husker fan. That's automatic for me.

I think adults do a real service to kids when they apologize to, and in front of, them. We constantly ask/teach kids to own up to their mistakes and then we do a poor job of modeling that behavior for them.

Thank you for recognizing your poor behavior and apologizing. That is being a good role model. As a parent and official, I appreciate that. Now, the tough part will be to ensure that the apology was not a hollow one -- i.e., you've got to sit down and not talk to officials or respond to the officiating all game long! Best wishes.

Nah, Cyclone fans aren't bitter, are they? :D

Not bitter at all after we just rolled the Huskers down there a couple of weeks ago. I'm just bitter I don't get to see Snaqwells during the season anymore.

Coach, a few thoughts
 

Someone posted that it is possible/likely that the officials for your game weren't top flight. I agree and so you should approach each game knowing that they are going to miss several things or get some rules wrong. It's possible that the coach can work with them to have them look in different areas for fouls or help them interpret the rules. The assistant coach doesn't have much of an opportunity to do that.

As to what happened; I personally would only give a asst. coach a T for "Wow" if he had been a jerk for some time, had been warned, and if the whole gym heard him/her say "Wow" in an exaggerated fashion.

I once gave two quick T's to the same player in rec ball. It's something I learned from and something I'll try to never do again because I felt that I unjustly punished them for something which didn't warrant two T's.

I agree with your course of action. Apologize directly to the team and definitely speak to the officials prior to the next game telling them there are no hard feelings.

Personally, I think saying "Wow" should never be an unsportsmanlike technical, but the assistant coach standing and yelling anything other than "Nice play," should be.

I mean, "Wow"? It's only a 3-letter word, guys.

I'm sure it's the same for some of you, but for me, the lower level I work, the less crap I'll put up with. In the original post, they were already riding the officials and then an assistant coach jumps off the bench. That's automatic, especially at a lower level game. In a varsity game I might tell the coach to get control of his bench. I just feel that if we enforce sportsmanship hardcore at the lower levels, we won't have nearly as many problems at the varsity level. For example, last night I had a very good JV game, 2 point lead for the home team with about a minute and a half left. A guard for the home team sees a trap coming behind him and travels. As I'm calling the travel he shouts "F...." I give him his well earned T immediately. He was not yelling at anyone, just frustrated. Coaches and parents totally understood and it did end up costing home the game. In a varsity game, if there was any way I could avoid this T by talking to the kid, I would have, but not at the lower level.

It's not the word, it's the attitude.

Continued Update
 

Just to let you folks are up to speed. I did speak to the team last night and did apologize again. My points of emphasis were:

1) I did not know the rules (head coach only speaks to officials, asst. coach can't stand except to applaud and you can't stand after a T.)
2) The T that was originally given was due to actions prior to the last statement.
3) Although in my opinion the official was quick in the second T, he was applying the rules as written.
4) Now my actions put the head coach in a heck of a predicament the rest of game. He couldn't stand to speak to the officials and taken literally, maybe not at all.

The difficulty for me is that almost half the team was ill last night so I will need to bring this up again to those girls at the next opportunity. I have ordered a set of rules and case book from the state, and will read them ASAP. I called the head of the Y Sports to speak to him about it. He had arrived at the venue 20 minutes after our game. His exact quote "..that was you. Never would have guessed it." He also said that the two officials were father and son, and although he gave me two Ts the father is usually the reserved one.

I will still speak to them before the game, and informed them with what I have learned. Like, Iowa State fans forget about recent games with Kansas and remember only wins over Nebraska. Its got to hurt the Northern Iowa is higher ranked. Let's all tip back a Natural Light and toast the Panthers.

Thanks to all.

I agree with Junker, I don't put up with any crap at rec ball levels. At HS level I will do my best not to give a T if I can avoid it yet still resolve the situation.

The Y should order rule books for all of the coaches. I am sure they charge you enough to play in the league. Might be enough money to buy one for each player (parent).

Very true, if the coach is laughing at the referee and saying WOW, he is showing up the official in front of the kids and fans. A T is warranted, especially in Y-ball.

I really do appreciate the comments that you all have given. The head coach and I have talked about what happened, and we both feel that whatever came out of our mouths next was going to cause a T to be called. I truly can't even recall why "WOW" came out of my mouth. To be honest, the other team had a player with great skill and I found myself many times remarking about her play. I know that it wasn't said with an attitude, and I wasn't looking at him. BUT, we deserved one earlier. That being said, I am still a little dumbfounded about the second T. He got his point across with the first.

Some additional items that I found out this evening. The week previous to this, these same two officials had to clear out half the stands because of the behavior of some of the fans. I imagine that, plus my conduct put this guy over the edge. He probably didn't want a repeat of what happened the previous week. He didn't mention it after the fact, but it may have been on his mind.

We will turn this into a positive. Thanks again.

I appreciate that. It looks like this season is turning out to be a sabbatical from officiating. We're just now getting settled with the move, and I haven't had a chance to call the association here in Grand Junction. I'll probably give him a call this week and touch base, get a feel for whether it would be worth joining this late in the year.

One of my only regrets this year, with the move out here, is the step back I'm taking with officiating. That and I'm just getting fatter without the exercise.

Husker John,
First off, nice job with the Natty Light comment! Well done! I agree that the Panthers may be the best team in the state at the moment. Secondly, I'm very impressed with the way you handled this. We all wish that more coaches would act like you, especially taking responsiblity for your actions. That is excellent modeling for you players. Keep up the good work. Also, great idea on getting the rules books. As long as you're at it, why not work some games? There's more to the job than just knowing the rules. It's obvious that you enjoy the game and agree that sportsmanship is extremely important. Sounds like an official to me.

Me an official? I did some through the YMCA, and a church league while in college, 20+ years ago. Not sure if there is time now with two kids very active in numerous sports. I have considered it for football in the past, and may consider it for bball in the future.

Thanks for the encouragement. I had to explain the natty light comment to my wife. She said its that kind of remark that gets me in trouble with officials in the first place. Creighton wins last night (2 over UNI) not bad for a team that lost a preseason all-american at the beginning of the season, and NE wins at Okie State moves ahead of IA State in the Big 12. All is well in Huskerland.

So Nebraska is now a basketball state?

Might as well be now that they are no longer a football state.

Go 'Clones! State beat Iowa, UNI, and Drake - that would make them the best team in the state.

Speaking of embarrassing ISU personalities, Berryman was just released from the FB team again .... arghhhh!!!