coaches "working" officials

[JCrow]

One of my 10th Grade players this year in the YBL has the habit of "resting" his hand on the hip of a driving defender. He doesn't push off or affect the dribbler - he just puts a "lazy" hand on him. He has the potential to be a very point guard. I told him in practice that if the driver shoots that most Refs will call this a foul as there was a POE out a few years back on it.

First game, a kid on the other team drives. My guy gives him the lazy-hand....TWEET...3-point play. We lose in OT.

Superbowl. Here's a part of the NFL's rule on Pass Interfernce:

(b) Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.

Granted, Seattle's receiver would have caught that pass regardless of his PI move BUT it was a legit call. His technique was flawed. The Seattle Coach thinks the Refs stole his Superbowl but did he spend enough time coaching proper technique with his receivers to avoid such a disaster in the ultimate game?

Coaches that go after Refs are just ducking responsibility.
Had I worked more with my PG on that "lazy hand".....had I been more creative in practice (maybe make him wear a mitten one practice).....my Team might have won that game.

Likewise, Mike Holgram should have worked harder on his receivers' technique. A sloppy technique cost him 6 in the Superbowl not the Ref.

As a Coach...I just have to believe that working on technique & fundamentals pays off higher than using manipulation verbage on the Refs. It's working on legitimately getting better at something and not being a weasel.