Coach refuses to sit down

[deecee]

julie why is is silly for the coach to argue like that and not silly for the official to make such a request. This thread actually touches me in places Michael Jackson would love to have explored 20 years ago but I received a T for the exact same reason. I think sometimes we get on coaches here just because we are supposed to but the answer to the question that was posed is that from what information we are given the T was not warranted.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

The coaching box is one of the greatest tools we have as officials when a coach gets out of line. If a coach is on me for anything, he better be in the box, because that's the first place I'm going to tell him to go.

Had a sitch last weekend where I called an intentional foul on a kid cutting through the low block that threw an elbow on his opponent. I knew the coach was going to want an explanation and he was half way to the scorers table by the time I got up to report the foul. First thing I did was send the coach back to his box. He turned and started going, and I was on my way to follow him when he turned and started bellowing at me about "seeing the whole play." His tirade ended with a what I will call a 2 footed stomp, which promptly earned him a T. This was early in the 2nd quarter. To his credit, he remained seated as required for the rest of the game as his team won a close game.

Just out of curiousity, the original coaching box was 6 feet. Now, without my books handy, I believe the rule reads that the box may be "up to 14 feet" in length. Our state has remained at 6 feet. Anyone else done that, or use something in between?

[Ignats75]

Yes its standard to Have a captains meeting separate from the coaches. So for varsity we go Captains at 12:00; book at 10:00, coaches at 3:00. For JV/Frosh we go Book at 10:00 captains at 8:00 coaches at 3:00.

[Nevadaref]

NV: Book at 10, Captains at 3, Coaches at 2.

[bgtg19]

Earlier this year, I asked a coach to have a seat on the bench. He stared at me and did not move. I said: "Coach, please take your seat on the bench." He again stared and did not move. I said: "Coach, I'm not looking for trouble, but this is the third and final time I'm going to say this. Please take your seat on the bench." I then placed my whistle in my mouth. When he did not immediately comply with my request, I granted him a T. Of course, this particular coach was an assistant coach. (A partner was talking to the head coach and this assistant was trying to enter their conversation.)

As for head coaches, if there is a coaching box privilege that has not been lost, we officials are in the wrong if we ask a coach in her or his box to "sit down" while they are in the box. We can and should address what else is happening (e.g., what is being said), but not the fact that the head coach is standing.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

NV: Book at 10, Captains at 3, Coaches at 2.

Ditto for VA.

[Turk182]

There has to be more to this story, and I witnessed this exact same thing happen in a JR. Varsity tournament this year. The said coach had been ranting at the official the entire game, the official had called the foul on the said coaches player and the coach went nuts while standing in his box. The official told the coach "that's enough coach, you need to sit down", the coach replied, "you can't make me sit down" The technical was given and the coach sat down and didn't say another word the rest of the game.

[cmathews]

maybe bring a fire suppresent because I have a can of gas and am about to apply it to the fire LOL.....

I personally would like to see the coaching box abolished...(ok here comes the gasoline)...I think they should be able to roam as they do in the college ranks...I personally don't care to look and make sure the coach is in their "cage"....I understand that some think it is a tool...I am of the mind, if they say something inappropriate, I don't care if they are in or out of their box, if it deserves a "T", they get it, regardless of where they are located. I also am of the mind, that if they are coaching, I don't really care where they are...yes I direct them back to the box, but it would be much easier to not have to worry about it.....

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by deecee

julie why is is silly for the coach to argue like that and not silly for the official to make such a request. This thread actually touches me in places Michael Jackson would love to have explored 20 years ago but I received a T for the exact same reason. I think sometimes we get on coaches here just because we are supposed to but the answer to the question that was posed is that from what information we are given the T was not warranted.

I'm just saying that from the coach's point of view, pragmatically, it seems wise to me to just skip this battle. With a ref that's on the verge, why put him over the edge?

[deecee]

response to rain --

in theory yes, and that would be the nice, easy thing for the coach to do. But the official is way out of line IMO.

My T I received in this instance

about 4 minutes in the second quarter -- I ask the ref "What was different about the contact on that side of the floor than what just happend here?" (it was the same block/charge that both went against my team.) I asked the question calmly and respectfully. His response "coach I have heard enough and you better sit down for the rest of the half."

I responded with "I just asked you a question and you cannot force me to sit down." WHACK -- I just sat down as there was not point. Communication works 2 ways.

I get annoyed when I see officials order and boss coaches around outside of their scope of responsibility. WE are there to make sure the game is played fair and on even grounds.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by deecee

response to rain --

in theory yes, and that would be the nice, easy thing for the coach to do. But the official is way out of line IMO.

Juulie didn't disagree with this. The ref was out of line, in all likelihood. The coach had the right to stand. But, it's never going to do any good to argue. In your situation, I'd have sat down. Then, as soon as play started, I would have stood and coached my team; not saying a word to the refs. If he Ts me up for coaching in the coaching box, then I've got a better argument for the governing authorities.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by deecee

My T I received in this instance

about 4 minutes in the second quarter -- I ask the ref "What was different about the contact on that side of the floor than what just happend here?" (it was the same block/charge that both went against my team.) I asked the question calmly and respectfully. His response "coach I have heard enough and you better sit down for the rest of the half."

Well, considering that you questioned the official's judgment and integrity by intimating that he was favoring the other team, I'd say that some kind of warning was in order. Unfortunately, he gave you the wrong kind of warning, but you should have known anyway that any response that you made at this point to a pissed-off ref was gonna get you whacked.

It's fine to ask what your defender did wrong to get called for blocking. Instead, you just basically used the old "call it both ways" instead. Some officials, and that includes me and the one in your game, don't take too kindly to that one.

[deecee]

JR -- I didnt use the old "call it both ways" -- it was the same exact play, in the same location of the court with the same sevrity of contact. I think thats a fair question. If event A leads to penalty B that is fine but when it leads to penalty C or D I would like a clarification and I would hope if I was officiating and a coach asked me the same question I would respond with WHY the calls were different. He doesnt have to agree but its a fair question and its legit dialogue between coach and official IMO.

[Adam]

I wouldn't mind a the question as posed by deecee. It's far better than crying, "call it both ways." It actually assumes there's a difference and wants to know what the difference was.

[BillyMac]

CMatthews: I almost agree with you. I wouldn't mind if the NFHS extended the box all the way down to the endline, after all, a lot of coaching can be done from there, the coach can coach his or her defense in the first half and his or her offense in the second half. I just don't want coaches standing in front of or near the scorer's table. It would be distracting to both the scorekeepers and the officials.