Pre-game Introduction
 

Any suggestions on what to say to coaches when I introduce myself to them ?

Here is my routine when I show up.

The sub varsity refs are responsible for getting the coaching box taped out and also the "x" for subs marked out. So I do that.

Now I introduce my self to the coaches.
I have been giving them a little spiel about only head coaches can stand and do they have any questions concerning the rules.

Is that enough or what ? No one has has really ever covered this with me beyond introduce yourself to the coaches ,

I also work in an area with like 120 high school so I see most of these coaches once maybe twice a year.

I guess I am looking for a preset routine for this .....

"Hi Coach, my name is Chess Ref. Good luck tonight."

They already know the rules (at least the ones they want to know) and you will hit the sportsmanship and legally equipped questions in the Coachs/Captians meeting. Don't get yourself into a questions and answers sessions as they will try to corner you on how handchecks, etc, will be called and then try to hold it against you during the game. An introduction is just that. If you want to say more, let them know that you want to hold the meeting at 4 minutes so if they plan to leave the floor, make sure they are back in time.

I only talk about rules if asked. Why would your opening offer such a gambit?

Round about
 

I will drop the questions and answer dialogue. Would anyone recommend a brief discussion on the coaching box and the assistant coach ?

Or should i save that for the first time the A$$'T coach steps on it ?

If I have a coach that I know can or will be tough to work for I sometimes say "Remember coach, good sportsmanship starts here"

Don't waste your breath on the meeting. As short as possible. Anytime you mention a rule in a pregame it will bite you on the a$$. The one time you aren't looking, the asst. from team B will be up and team A will jump your a$$ about it. Let it go. It's an introductory meeting, not a rules clinic. Introduce and get out . . .

It's good advice not to cover anything concerning the boxes. Put yourself in their place for a second. When they hear you tell them about a box rule that they are already extremely familiar with they might think to themselves that it's sort of an affront to their intelligence. I could be wrong and it might be different with different coaches but I think that's the way I would take it anyway.

I know guys that do state things about the coaching box and I have done so in the past. I usually want to say as little about rules during those meetings as possible so you do not have to make a big issue later. Now our state last year made a big deal about the coaching box and threatened post season assignments if not enforced to their liking, many officials including myself did make comments about the box. This year our state kind of backed off of such a strict expectation so now I do not say a word about the box. The only time I might say something if the box is not properly marked, but after that I leave it alone.

Peace

Me (to Coach): "[My Name]. Pleasure to meet you Coach. Best wishes to your team." Done and gone!

I try my best to stay away from anything a coach may use against me later.

Had a coach tell one of my co-officials something pretty funny one time . . .

Partner: "Good luck to you coach."
Coach: "With you on the floor, we're going to need it!" :rolleyes:

Turned out just fine, and the game was great.

I never wish any game participant, "Good luck".
I prefer to wish all parties and partners to "Have a good game".

Introduction at the time of the coaches meeting.

"I'm Juulie, this is my partner Debbie. We have two standard questions, players legally equipped, blah blah, and healthy sportsmanship blah blah blah?"

Sometimes I'll add, "A Point of Emphasis this year is bench decorum. Your assistants and the other team members may not address the officials, and must remain seated on the bench. If you deal with it, we won't have to."

"Hi Coach. The coaching box is marked. Use it all but please don't make it bigger than it is." (I have found that if you don't mention it in the coaches meeting, they will assume that you are not going to manage the coaching box)."

"Let us know what kind of time-out you want. If we don't see it by the time we get to the reporting area, you have a full time-out."

"Please have your huddle broke up by the second horn on a time-out."

"Have fun."

That's it.

What is unhealthy sportsmanship?:confused:

And why isn't that <b>sportswomanship</b>?:mad:

Sportspersonship.

I shake hands say my name, wait for partners then say "Coach do me a favor and stay in the box tonight, you're the only one standingup. Good luck."

I don't always remind them about the box, depends on how I feel about the game. I will do it if there are chairs outside the box between the box and the scorers table.

"good luck coach, have a good game" 5 minutes before the toss- cheers

Well, let's go to the book.

Officials manual, page 16.

103.
...
c. Avoid unnecessary visiting with spectators, coaches, etc., following introductions.

105. The Referee - Pregame Duties:
...
j. Verify with the head coach that team members are legally and properly equipped and that all participants are expected to exhibit proper sporting behavior.


(Now, let's go to time2ref's personal fantasy pre-game talk with the coaches....."I just want both of you coaches to know that each game, I work on a couple of things to help me improve. This game, I am working on T'ing up the coaches. You guys could help me out if you would go ahead and complain about each and every call or no-call. Feel free to leave the coaching box and make sure your assistants stand up and become very vocal. That way I can go ahead and get the mechanics of the Technical foul and coach ejection thing out of the way early in the game so I can go on to work on something else, like officiating the game........) WAKE up time2ref, your dreaming! LOL.

Once saw a d-II official tell an assistant coach, "Coach, yours is a sitting and no speaking role tonight. Thanks." 'Bout fell out of my seat.

Let's see, is that supposed to be a joke? My humor-indicator light seems to be burned out...

In our area, whenever we run into that situation, we just have game management move the chairs so that they are all inside the box. Otherwise, the coach often takes the first chair and he is out of the box as soon as he stands up.

My daughter's middle school sent home a memo for parents letting us know that they are stressing "sportspersonship" in gym class and sports events.

No joke.

Maybe not, but it's funny nonetheless.

No, I am quite serious. I am mad as hell about sexism and I'm not going to take it anymore.

Have Fun
 

I agree with Mick. It seems contrary to wish both teams "Good Luck", so I always say "Have Fun".

No more contrary than the coaches wishing each other good luck. ;)

No Less
 

No more and no less contrary.

Good Evening Coach, I am Mr. Wilson and My Partner is Mr. Doe. Are you going to use your box? Are all of your players properly equiped? Let us know on the time outs if you want a full or 30. Any questions? Good luck!

I never ask the "properly equipped" question. I will, however, inform the coaches of any equipment infraction I had to address in warm-ups.

Didn't the NF change it to "good sporting behavior?"

It's required in some areas.

Actually it's a FED requirement.

Yes, and some areas use FED (and some areas don't).

I usually tell coaches, "Both coaches know where the box is, if you want to be noticed out of it, you know the consequences."

I don't discuss the box until I see a little roamin'. Then while jogging by, I'll ask if they are "okay where the box is tonight".