Coach won't tolerate players getting technicals

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Just a note- this coach's teams have won their conference title or finish second in each of the past 10 seasons. During that stretch, his teams have been to the state finals twice and to the semi's on two other occasions. Rarely a year goes by that he doesn't have 2 or 3 kids sign with D-1 or D-2 schools. That includes ACC and SEC schools. He's also sent a number of kids to Winthrop, a team that everybody hates to see in their NCAA bracket.

In short, I don't think he's a fly by night act. He's obviously been successful with his philosophies.

That's great for him. I don't think I said he was WRONG - but I said that I personally felt it was extreme - I wouldn't do it but he's the coach of the team.

[BktBallRef]

I don't remember writing that you said he was wrong. Further, I'm not sure how you can say you wouldn't do something when you aren't in his shoes. You don't know what the situation is so how do you know what you would do?

It may appear extreme from an outsider looking in. But from having worked this team, both during the season and in a local summer league, I can assure you they're not being penalized for "emotional mistakes." In two games in the summer league this year, I recall 3 T's that I called and an ejection in another game. THe kids were out of control.

This is a case of a coach putting his foot down when it needed to be put down.

[BillyMac]

I often officiate for a local Catholic school league. Weeknight games are called "varsity" games and involve players up to eighth grade. Weekend games are called "junior varsity" games and involve much younger players. The assigner for these "junior varsity" games wants them to be officiated in an "educational manner". In one particular play, my partner called a fifth grade player for a travelling violation, after which the player responded "No way", and tossed the ball away from both me and my partner. I went over to the player and attempted to speak to him about tossing the ball to the nearest official in such a situation, however, he kept ignoring me, and kept walking away from me. I had no plans on giving him a technical foul, nor was I going to ask him to go get the ball for my partner, which I have done in the past. Since he ignored me and kept walking away from me, I blew my whistle, and called a technical foul for his unsportmanlike "No way" and for him not tossing the ball to the nearest official, thus delaying the game. It was just a regular technical foul, not flagrant, but it happened to be his fifth, so he was disqualified from the game. Later, when I was near the player's coach, the coach thanked me for giving his player a technical, and that maybe this would straighten out his bad attitude. Also, later, while I was near a sideline, an adult, who identified herself as the player's mother, also thanked me for giving her son a technical foul, because he could be real stubborn at times, even at home. This was the first technical foul that I called this season, in any level game, high school varsity, Catholic school "varsity", and Catholic school "junior varsity", to either a player or a coach. I've heard Forum members say to call a technical foul if it's going to make the game better. In this case it certainly did.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Later, when I was near the player's coach, the coach thanked me for giving his player a technical, and that maybe this would straighten out his bad attitude.

I nailed a 5th grader once in a YMCA game for yelling "These guys suck!" after he didn't agree with something. Coach pulled him for a while, and after the game, his Dad made him apologize to me.
Much better than the parents of the kid my partner hit with a flagrant personal this year; who called the home school's AD and complained that he (the AD) was taking away her son's "right" to play.

[JRutledge]

I do not give many technical fouls and I applaud this action. If a kid cannot control their behavior then they do not need to be on the court. It is not hard to not get called for a T. It is very easy to do. These kids need to realize that they are not in the pros and just play the game. There is too much whining from kids over the silliest things. Good for the coach no matter what kind of T is given.

Peace

[Huntin' Ref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I nailed a 5th grader once in a YMCA game for yelling "These guys suck!" after he didn't agree with something. Coach pulled him for a while, and after the game, his Dad made him apologize to me.
Much better than the parents of the kid my partner hit with a flagrant personal this year; who called the home school's AD and complained that he (the AD) was taking away her son's "right" to play.

Being a known ref in my community I get asked to volunteer for YMCA or youth rec tournaments from time to time. I always help them out if my schedule is open. Well, a few years ago, I had a 6th grade kid slam the ball and say "whatever" when I called travel on him. I promptly gave him a technical foul....which meant he was done for the game in this league.

As I report the foul, his father (who was also the coach) says "your reffing takes the fun out of the game." The gentleman running the tournament told the coach he had to leave the gym for his inappropriate remarks. When I left the gym (5 hours later) the father was waiting for me outside. He chewed me out up and down for embarrassing him and his family. He was a real jerk and I had had enough so I said "no, you have always been an embarrassment and if you don't change soon, your son will be as well."

[Ron Giacoma]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I coached HS ball for 15 years. That seems a bit harsh to me. Certainly sends a message though. I always wanted my teams to play with emotion - add to that the fact that these are kids - they are going to make emotional mistakes. While I agree that they need to learn there are consequences for their actions - I think the damage it does to the team in that game is enough. There are specific rules set up inside the game to handle the situation. I always removed a player immediately after a "T" to settle them down and would always talk to them before they went back in the game. While this is certainly within the coach's ability to do, I personally think this is pretty extreme.

How could this be Harsh ????? After the kids second Technical we are going to do the same thing -by Rule. I think it is the best thing to do. Harsh is when he/she violates later in life.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Ron Giacoma

How could this be Harsh ????? After the kids second Technical we are going to do the same thing -by Rule. I think it is the best thing to do. Harsh is when he/she violates later in life.

First of all, we are never going to do the same thing. He disqualifies himself after receiving 2 in the same game and we do not make him sit out any games after that. Anything like that is done by a governing authority - not the officials.

I said that I think it's harsh - yes. Notice the pronoun "I" - meaning my opinion. If you read my post through, I give the coach his "due" by stating that he is sending a message and also state that he is well within his rights to enact this punishment. I'll take that a step farther and say that the kids have no right to complain since they signed a contract stating that. That being said - I still believe - and this is only MY opinion - that it is harsh. I don't believe the punishment fits the crime. Again, I'm not and never have worked in an inner-city environment but that's just the way I think.

[BktBallRef]

I have since learned that there were other incidents that led to the multiple game suspension for the one player. Believe me, it was well deserved.

He continues his policy of a one game suspension for any player who receives an unsporting technical foul. I have not seen any technicals in the boxscores for this team since the coach took a harder line.

Must be working!