A few years ago I was doing a boys freshman game; hotly contested for most of the game. Visiting team was pulling away in the fourth quarter, though, and had put their scrubs in with about 90 seconds remaining. Home team starts creeping back in it, and the visiting coach pulls the scrubs out after one of his kids gets fouled with about 45 seconds left. We’re shooting two, so the subs come in after the first free throw, and one of the scrubs doesn’t like being pulled so he kicks a chair and throws a water bottle onto the court.

Partner calls a flagrant T, coach apologizes and sends the kid to the locker room with an assistant coach. As we get ready to administer the second of the original two free throws, my partner says “two shots” to the shooter. As soon as he said it, he looked at me and we both knew he was wrong. Before he could correct himself, the home coach went ballistic. Partner walks over calmly and speaks through the coach’s antics, says, “Coach, we’ve got it handled. We’re getting it right, but we’re not going to have you show us up.” He walked the coach back to his bench while the coach stammered like a child, “but, but, but…”

Right now I’m not sure I wouldn’t T the coach.

I had this happen a few years ago -- a court with more lines on it than possible sports to play -- heel hits line, partner whistles a backcourt violation, realizes almost immediately it's an inadvertant whistle.

Coach said it happens a few times each season. Shrugged. Life went on.

I can't imagine a coach being a jerk about this. I wonder how a coach like this would act when he had a reason to be upset.

[quote=biz].. I think, in general, it makes the guys/gals in stripes seem more like people and not like the enemy.[/quote]

Yesssssss! From the mouth of a coach.
How many times today during normal conversations disagreements and so forth has anyone used a stop sign today? Didn't think so. :D Coaches are people and officials are people.

I put up the stop sign twice but I kept knocking my flat screen monitor over so I won't do it again.

btw Tom...you know what they say about coaches opininions, dontchya?

If you believe them when they say you're right.... :)

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I'm aware of how flawed human beings can be so I don't believe much of anything. Think about what kind of trust issues I have since I work with most guys for the first time being new.

If you later realize you had the wrong line, I would tell both coaches you made a mistake and put it back in play, like a do over. Don't make the same mistake again.

If you were correct, point out to the coach that he or she needs to pay closer attention.

It's not a do-over. It's an inadvertant whistle which is handled POI.

I agree. That should be understood, you'll do your best all the time. You wouldn't say, "Sorry coach, my heart's not really in it tonight!" Would you?:)

I'm guilty
 

We all kick a call once in awhile...unlike coaches. I had a situation about a month ago in a boys varsity game that ended up going to double OT (I know, my partner and I screwed up not only once, but twice :D ). Anyway, with about 2 minutes left in regulation, Team A was in the bonus and shooting a 1 and 1. I was administering the FT and when I entered the lane I told the players that it was two shots. For whatever reason my partner did not catch my mistake. Needless to say, the shooter missed the front end of the one and one and the ball was caught be a Team B player who then promptly handed it to me out of bounds. Immediately the Team B coach realizes the mistake and starts to scream that it was a one and one. I know how we handled the situation, but I would be interested in how you would do it.

Even though the game went to 2OT it was some of the most fun I've ever had in a game. I would definitely take a few more like this every year.

Trigger, from the sounds of it, I'd have gone AP.

How I respond to coach
 

First, the coach is communicating to get the call "correct" so, cut him/her some slack. Secondly, fix the error and tell the coach we will draw straws to pick which line to play in the 2nd quarter -then smile. It's just a game.

Communicating != "Going ballistic"

Unless you're a coach yourself :)

This is why you penalize!

I hope you were being sarcastic.

Seems to be a lot of that going around lately. The "hope," that is.