Wow...that was eaisier than I thought.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by ranjo

There are so many ways for an experienced coach to get an advantage. Things that come to mind are: Causing small delays with questions about who the proper free throw shooter is, if the clock properly started or stopped,the correct position of the pocession arrow, the application of a particular rule, or to try to get a player re-entered into the game when he is not eligible.

Um, no, a coach can't really gain any kind of an advantage in those situations if an official knows the rules and how to apply them. If a coach wants to stop the game to ask those questions, then just charge 'em with a time-out in each instance, as the rules provide. They'll quit that nonsense in a hurry.

Rule 5-8-4 and case book plays 5.8.4SitA&B covers any timing,scoring and AP questions, and in the other situation you just deny entrance to the sub. There's no real reason not to keep the game flowing.

[bgtg19]

I'll just echo what others are saying. The "better" the level of play, the "easier" it is to officiate the game. I even find game management "easier." What I think many others are referring to in reference to the difficulty of managing the game is the fact that you have to be truly prepared to handle *any* circumstances, including unusual situations, arcane rules, difficult coaches, etc. Confront any of these things without being fully prepared and things could quickly spiral downward.

Most of us, as we improve and advance, have an inflated sense of how prepared we are. Wisdom often comes from experience. And the best experience -- even better than reading on these forums -- is to be on the court.

Best wishes.

[LarryS]

Fortunately for me, since this was camp and the real coaches can't be on the bench yet (they just sit a row back and yell ), all I really had to worry about was the foul calls and the mechanics. I fully understand that I have a way to go before I get that type of match-up on my regular season schedule.

Maybe I am being niave, but based on my two person experience in varsity games (which is not extensive), the coaches are not that much more difficult to deal with. That may very well change when I start getting the bigger games, but so far what I see is that they expect a consistently well officiated game, they want to be heard when they feel they have a legitamate gripe, they expect a higher level of performance (physical) on your part, that you can explain a situation should there be a need and that you conduct yourself professionally.

All those are things I want out of me as well.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by LarryS

Fortunately for me, since this was camp and the real coaches can't be on the bench yet (they just sit a row back and yell ), all I really had to worry about was the foul calls and the mechanics. I fully understand that I have a way to go before I get that type of match-up on my regular season schedule.

Maybe I am being niave, but based on my two person experience in varsity games (which is not extensive), the coaches are not that much more difficult to deal with. That may very well change when I start getting the bigger games, but so far what I see is that they expect a consistently well officiated game, they want to be heard when they feel they have a legitamate gripe, they expect a higher level of performance (physical) on your part, that you can explain a situation should there be a need and that you conduct yourself professionally.

All those are things I want out of me as well.

Larry, it sounds like you get it. I think many younger officials see the bigger games, see they really are easier to call, and think, "That was easy!" But what they don't realize is they don't have the experience to handle the difficult situations that may arise, whether it's handling problem coaches and players, or acting professionally on and off the court. You still need to have those experiences under your belt before you can say you're ready. I used to think I was ready after a few years, but now the more I know, the more
I know I really wasn't ready then.

[bgtg19]

Originally Posted by LarryS

Maybe I am being niave, but based on my two person experience in varsity games (which is not extensive), the coaches are not that much more difficult to deal with.

I agree that coaches, generally, are NOT more difficult to deal with at the varsity level. If anything, the coaches generally are more knowledgeable. I find that varsity coaches spend a greater percentage of their time/effort on coaching (v. whining about the officiating) than do sub-varsity coaches. Again, generally speaking, varsity coaches are more professional.

And I agree with you Larry that much of what is expected by varsity coaches ought to be, and is, expected by us.

[RonRef]

Originally Posted by bgtg19

I agree that coaches, generally, are NOT more difficult to deal with at the varsity level. If anything, the coaches generally are more knowledgeable. I find that varsity coaches spend a greater percentage of their time/effort on coaching (v. whining about the officiating) than do sub-varsity coaches. Again, generally speaking, varsity coaches are more professional.

And I agree with you Larry that much of what is expected by varsity coaches ought to be, and is, expected by us.

Where do you live because we have just as many whacko coaches at the varsity level as we do at the lower levels. Dealing with coaches in hostile environments is just one more aspect of the game that is more difficult at the varsity level and higher.

[Ref Daddy]

Try not to view it as 'hostile" but "competitive".. I find if I change my wording - it really does help.

Perhaps its more competitive at varsity level as opposed to more of learning the game at lower levels.

I try to think of "expressive" coach's as being very competitive. Easier to prepare for and deal with.

Now when s/he is in my partners or my face ranting we are the worst officiating crew ever - and cheating their team, etc - it went hostile and I got a little hand signal to fix that.