Whack him!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

FYI: I recently pulled this off the Tri-City (Washington State) officials web site. I haven't had much time to check it out to see if it fully matches my personal guidelines or the guidelines of my official's board. I thought that it could generate some good discussion among Forum members. What do you think ?

Technical Fouls

Top Ten Reasons To Not Give A Technical Foul
1. You can address a coach before it becomes a problem. A quiet word can go a long way in preventing.
2. Coaches are competitors they love challenges. Don't back yourself into a corner by saying be quiet or else. Instead offer a reason why you might be right.
3. When coaches complain ask yourself, is the call questionable, is the call wrong. If they have a legitimate grip then allow them some latitude.
4. If you know a coach is upset then move out on to the floor when in front of their bench.
5. Don't tolerate a lot before a warning. Warnings can be very effective in preventing situations from escalating.
6. Lend an ear. Coaches like to be heard. If you ignore them then they become more frustrated and are more likely to lose control.
7. If a coach says something and you are the only one who hears it, if you T them while they are sitting on the bench, then you get the worst of the situation.
8. If an assistant is out of line then you can speak to the head coach ask them to help you out.
9. If a player is out of line then let the coach know. Tell them you've warned their player. That way if you do give a T then the coach isn't surprised. Most good coaches will speak to the player first.
10. If you have had a rough day and know your fuse is short. Keep it in mind before you do anything rash. Ask yourself, does the situation come under one of the top ten reasons to give a T.

The Top Ten Reasons To Give A Technical Foul
Knowing when the right time to call a technical foul is half the battle.
There are many different factors to consider, when deciding to give a technical. Flow, time and score, language, the number of times a coach has complained, what the coach is complaining about, whether or not the coach wants one are all things that should be given consideration before calling a technical.

Generally there are three areas of coach's behavior that need attention:
When a coach makes it personal.
When a coach draws attention to himself or herself.
When a coach' s complaints are persistent.

Some technicals are easy. They are black and white situations that leave little room for negotiations.
1. Leaving the confines of the coaching box and complaining.
2. Using profanity or language that is abusive, vulgar or obscene.
3. If coach or player has been warned and has not heeded the warning.
4. A coach demonstrates displeasure with your partner and their back is turned.

Other technical fouls are not as black and white. In some situations a warning may be appropriate before the technical foul is given.
5. A coach or player continually demonstrates signals or asks for calls.
6. If you are being embarrassed.
7. If giving a T will help give structure back to the game. Will it have a calming effect on things.
8. A coach questions your integrity.
9. If they have interfered with the game or your concentration then usually they have gone to far.
10. Inciting an undesirable crowd reaction.

There's so much wrong with this, I'd have to start a blog to discuss it all. Here's a few highlights:

"Flow, time and score, language, the number of times a coach has complained, what the coach is complaining about, whether or not the coach wants one are all things that should be given consideration before calling a technical."

So if a coach swears at you, don't call the T if it's late in a close game. Bull****.

"A coach questions your integrity" (don't give a T)"

This is ridiculous. Anyone questions my integrity on the court - they're gone. Integrity is the main element of officiating. It cannot be questioned by a coach during a game without consequences. It amazes me that this organization would let this go but insist on calling a T if "A coach demonstrates displeasure with your partner and their back is turned." Where are their priorities?

[bronco]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

"Flow, time and score, language, the number of times a coach has complained, what the coach is complaining about, whether or not the coach wants one are all things that should be given consideration before calling a technical."

So if a coach swears at you, don't call the T if it's late in a close game. Bull****.

I don't think this means that you don't call the T in this situation, just that in some situations, it might be better to pass on the T. In your example, the T is a necessary call, but there are some borderline calls where some might call the T and some might not. This is just a list of things that a ref could consider before they called one.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by bronco

I don't think this means that you don't call the T in this situation, just that in some situations, it might be better to pass on the T. In your example, the T is a necessary call, but there are some borderline calls where some might call the T and some might not. This is just a list of things that a ref could consider before they called one.

Why is a "T" in the first quarter not a "T" at the end of the fourth quarter, if they were called for similar acts? That shows a complete lack of consistency in play calling imo. If you're gonna let the borderline ones go, then let 'em go the whole game and let 'em go for both teams. And if you're gonna call the borderline ones, then call 'em the whole game and call 'em on both teams.

I agree completely with Mark P. on that one. Flow, time, score and language should never be a factor when calling a "T". The severity of the act alone determines the "T". If it's a "T" at the start of the game, then it's a "T" at the end of the game.

[bronco]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Why is a "T" in the first quarter not a "T" at the end of the fourth quarter, if they were called for similar acts? That shows a complete lack of consistency in play calling imo. If you're gonna let the borderline ones go, then let 'em go the whole game and let 'em go for both teams. And if you're gonna call the borderline ones, then call 'em the whole game and call 'em on both teams.

I agree completely with Mark P. on that one. Flow, time, score and language should never be a factor when calling a "T". The severity of the act alone determines the "T". If it's a "T" at the start of the game, then it's a "T" at the end of the game.

I didn't mean that a T should be called in the 1st but not 4th quarter. What I was thinking in my head, and did not put into words very well, is that there is some discretion in calling Ts. That is why refs come on here all the time, and good refs will debate whether a T was warranted in a situation. That is what I was thinking about when I said that there were borderline calls on whether a T should be called or not.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by bronco

I didn't mean that a T should be called in the 1st but not 4th quarter. What I was thinking in my head, and did not put into words very well, is that there is some discretion in calling Ts. That is why refs come on here all the time, and good refs will debate whether a T was warranted in a situation. That is what I was thinking about when I said that there were borderline calls on whether a T should be called or not.

I knew what you were trying to say. There is always discretion in what you're gonna let a coach get away with. However, if you do call a borderline technical foul in the first quarter, then you should be calling similar borderline technical fouls in the fourth quarter. If you're not gonna call them in the first quarter, that's fine with me too- as long as you don't call them in the fourth quarter also. You don't change your "discretion" because of time, score, language, etc. That's what Tri-City is recommending that we should do.

My point was that whoever made up that list from Tri-City was completely wrong when they stated "Flow, time, score, language, the number of times a coach has complained, what the coach is complaining about, whether or not the coach wants one are all things that should be given consideration before calling a technical". That statement is completely ludicrous imo. Unfortunately, to me it also seems to mirror a trend that seems to be developing in the last few years, at least at the high school level. Some officials are looking for any reason at all NOT to have to call a technical foul, and they come up with crapola like the above to try and justify their lack of testicular fortitude. That's exactly why the NFHS rulesmakers have almost made Bench Decorum a permanent POE.

You simply call technical fouls on their own merit, and you should be calling them consistently on both teams from the start of the game to the finish. Everybody sets their own personal line as to what constitutes a technical. That's fine. When you do so though, you don't keep moving your line during the game.

JMO.

[bronco]

JR,

I think that I read the list, and saw it as a whole. You read it and picked out the "Flow, time of score, language" section, and I agree with you that that that should not affect whether a T is called or not. Overall, I think we agree with each other.