Coach won't tolerate players getting technicals

[BktBallRef]

A local coach is sitting players down when they get a technical foul. His stand isn't popular with the parents. Who would have guessed, right? Anyway, thought I'd share the article, written by a friend of mine, the local prep sports editor.

Applauding Poole’s stance on conduct

[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.

[mplagrow]

I applaud it. He's teaching his players self-discipline. It will make them better players in the long run because they will learn to keep their focus. I spent a few years in a difficult urban environment, and the first thing that the kids had to learn was to have respect for themselves and rise above difficult circumstances. I imagine he's dealing with similar issues.

I agree that it may be harsh to sit someone a whole extra game because of a T, but it appears that this is a habitual problem with some of these kids.
It also would seem that it is more than the occasional emotional reaction.
Some of what these kids see on TV in the NBA, makes them believe some of their reactions and attitudes which generate a T, are acceptable.
I think the coach is doing what he needs to do to control his players. More power to him.
If we as officials wouldn't tolerate even the little comments from some of these players, it would be hypocritical of us to question the disciplinary methods of this coach.

[rockyroad]

More power to him!! I always applaud situations like this where someone sets high standards for the youth of our country...he has pretty much the same code that ALL of the coaches in the league I played in way back when used (of course, this was back in the late 70's)...all 9 schools in the league had the same policy - get an unsporting T and you sit the rest of the game. Get it in the 4th qtr. or OT and you sat the first half of your next game. The AD's and coaches enforced it, too - trust me, I know!! I hope other coaches in your area pick it up, Tony!

[Old School]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

More power to him!! I always applaud situations like this where someone sets high standards for the youth of our country...!

Very well said, I concur completely and for what coach Poole's doing too. A signed contract that he makes the parents sign, not a bad idea. Obviously, they are having problems in this area and he is attempting to get control of it. Believe me when I say this will make our job easier, more on this later.

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. 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 is the very reason why I applaud the coach who attempts to solve his problems before they reach the court. So much is expected of officials. They now want us to solve their kids behavior problems.

But what burns me more than anything else is when some of us say giving a player a T is going to make them a better person in life. Playing a game of bball is not the same as problems you have in your everyday life and we really need to backup off of that. It's ridiculous. It's just a game. If someone is a bad person on the floor doesn't mean they are a bad person in life or vice-versa. Also, administrators, coaches, and parents need to get their players (or staff personal) straighten out before they reach the floor. Quit putting this burden on the officials to straighten out in the games.

Case in point, I'm working a girls HS game and the home team coach is trying to start a riot. I'm trying to get thru the game without accessing a T, I'm working with it. Games just about other, close game. I go talk to the A/D on a injury timeout, and I ask, why is this person coaching? She's out of line. He tells me to give her a T and that will give him the ammunition he needs to get rid of her. Now the A/D knows this coach is OOL, but it's now my problem. Now I got to deal with her crazy azz in this game. How about you take care of business before I get here, and all I got to do is worry about refereeing the game.

Just my 2 cents....

[K-Bach]

I don't believe that any official (other than you) would be so unprofessional as to evaluate a coach's behaviour to their AD; I find it even less likely that any AD would discuss staffing matters with an official. What do I know though; I'm in Canada.

Regardless, because your comments may cause newer officials to act ignorantly:

1) You weren't "working with it," Schooly.
2) You were being worked and, in the long run, making life difficult for other officials.
3) Your job is to administer the rules of the game; the AD's job is to deal with their athletes and coaches.

Therefore, it's your job to administer the T when valid and it's the AD's job to deal with the coaches.

[sj]

From the article....

“If they want to go to the next level, coaches see that. Coaches don’t want to have to put up with that. How you act, how you carry yourself, will dictate a lot of things as far as your future goes.’’

I had a scout who works for a college scouting service tell me that if he sees a kid get a technical foul the kid automatically goes off their list because college coaches have told them that they don't even want to hear about them or deal with them. This service gets a lot of calls from smaller colleges as well as bigger schools. So it sounds like there is some truth in this statement. It will be interesting to watch to see if in fact the number of T's drop this year and the coming years,

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by PYRef

Some of what these kids see on TV in the NBA, makes them believe some of their reactions and attitudes which generate a T, are acceptable.

I have to agree with this statement. As a student, I was a part of a high school and college team where the coaches were "old school" with player-official interaction. Some of the stuff that went on now would not happen under their watch.

But yes, I think that as the NBA players whine and complain on every possession about calls and no-calls, it's trickled down to lower levels witht he thought that it must be acceptable.

Not sure what I think of the coach that's the subject of this thread, but if it teaches his kids not to get T's, so be it. But hopefully he makes allowance for the situation. I'd be less likely to sit a kid that got a T for hanging on the rim than I would for mouthing off to an official.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I'd be less likely to sit a kid that got a T for hanging on the rim than I would for mouthing off to an official.

Stat-man, note what Bktballref said about the policy:

He continues his policy of a one game suspension for any player who receives an unsporting technical foul.

I think the coach agrees with you. Hanging on the rim is dumb, but not unsporting.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

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.

They aren't talking about kids playing with emotion. They're talking about kids acting in an unsporting manner. They are two completely different things. Completely different.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

They aren't talking about kids playing with emotion. They're talking about kids acting in an unsporting manner. They are two completely different things. Completely different.

No, not at all. When emotions get out of hand - that's what causes the unsporting manner. Not an excuse, but certainly how it happens. I think a kid getting pi$$ed at himself for a stupid mistake - slams the ball and tries to catch and misses the ball - get's whacked. Does that deserve sitting that game plus one more? No way. Yes, that's an unsporting act - but emotions out of control. Sorry, I disagree - not completely different.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I think a kid getting pi$$ed at himself for a stupid mistake - slams the ball and tries to catch and misses the ball - get's whacked. Does that deserve sitting that game plus one more? No way.

I guess I need to go back and read the story. I don't recall that it said he sat kids for such a reason.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I think a kid getting pi$$ed at himself for a stupid mistake - slams the ball and tries to catch and misses the ball - get's whacked. Does that deserve sitting that game plus one more? No way.

Regardless of whether the kid deserves it or not if he plays for this coach he'll think twice next time about slamming the ball down, won't he?

I don't know about you, but to me that's a good thing. Part of being a responsible, productive adult is knowing when to keep your emotions in check and your mouth shut.

[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.