Nose to Nose

[SMEngmann]

Stop signs won't help in this situation. We're not talking ABS, but an emotional play that took place. Sounds like, from the description that everything was too rushed, the signal, the official going to the table an both coaches arguing. Coach A is still arguing the slap, that's how fast this was. If this was a major elbow, the calling official needs to stay on the spot and make sure everything dies down, and decisively come up with a ruling. Sounds to me like he saw (or thought he saw) contact with the arm of the dribbler on the defender which was not flagrant, so he called the PC foul. Even if there was a bit of a slap first, the elbow is the more obvious call and the one that needs to be called.

Once the scene is cleared, if the official is under control, he can better deal with the coaches wanting an explanation. In my experience it's easier to more deliberately go to the table to report than it is to go immediately after a play (as I've learned and continue to learn from past experience). If a coach is irate right off the bat, as it sounds coach B was, he should be T'd right away, and nose to nose earns him an early exit. One T, in my opinion is not enough for nose to nose confrontation. If a partner saw the play, it would be a good idea to intercept the calling official on his way to the table to verify what the calling official, who's clearly emotional, was calling, and help out with the proper rule. From what I read, the crew failed and the coach should not have remained in the game.