AAU Issues

[Old School]

Originally Posted by AZ_REF

Last year we had a large national AAU Tournament here. The play was good but the coaches were slightly out of line. At least three were removed from gyms by the Police Officers at the University hosting the event.

They're coming back this year. We asked our supervisor to discuss penalties for ejection with the Tournament Director. In regular season high school ball, if you get ejected you sit 1 game. We suggested that if a coach gets ejected he sits a game and if he's ejected twice, he's done for the tourney. The director refused and told us that the problem coaches weren't coming back anyways. Does anyone have similar rules for AAU Tournaments where you are?

Wow, and I thought I was the only one that has ever had to call in the police. I had a similar tournament last year and a coach from out of state was out of line. He bought in 3 teams which was quite a bill, including airfare. He was a piece of work and basically got upset when his team lost, you know, the immature type. Not a lot you can do accept discuss the situation with the tournament director. Be careful here with how hard you push because you could push yourself out if you're not careful. The coach is bringing in more business than you so you know who's going to win the argument with the host.

Actually, in the AAU, they don't put up with out of control coaches. There is some accountability here, but my program was a private program not affiliated with the AAU, so I'm stuck with what the host decides to do about it. If you are faced with this type of situation, just T him up when they get out of line, let the chips fall where they may. He gets 2 T's, he's got to leave the gym. Stand behind that. If he's the only coach like in my case, go get a parent to come sit on the bench. My point is, he's not sitting on that bench with 2 technicals. I would not worry about the fact that he gets to coach the next game. Hopefully, it won't be yours and if another set of officials gives him a T in the tournament that votes good for you.

Now, in the rare event, and I mention this because it could actually happen. But in the rare event, this guy gets tossed in a semi-final game and his team wins, and I'm working the final game. He ain't coaching that final game. I would let him back into the gym, but he ain't sitting on the bench and I would try to enforce this even if I wasn't the officials working the final game. Of course, the final decision rests with the hosts and I would abide by any decision that was made.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Old School

Now, in the rare event, and I mention this because it could actually happen. But in the rare event, this guy gets tossed in a semi-final game and his team wins, and I'm working the final game. He ain't coaching that final game. I would let him back into the gym, but he ain't sitting on the bench and I would try to enforce this even if I wasn't the officials working the final game. Of course, the final decision rests with the hosts and I would abide by any decision that was made.

This post was less than horrible until this final, self-contradicting paragraph. You've got no jurisdiction to enforce this, don't get involved. Even making the attempt makes you look vindictive.

BTW, I wouldn't be too careful with these guys. If they're that out of line, and the tournament management doesn't want you to deal with it, you can find better things to do with your time; like gardening or something. That doesn't sound like the case, however.

[BayStateRef]

As much as AAU is a business, well-run businesses do not tolerate behavior that makes the business unwelcome. This is from the rules of one of the AAU programs around here:

Our certified IAABO officials are instructed not to tolerate any negative feedback from coaches, parents or players. Please be advised, that offenders will be promptly removed from the gym and banned from the remainder of the tournament.

This tournament director means it. He also attracts excellent teams...so the marketplace is certainly working.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BayStateRef

This tournament director means it. He also attracts excellent teams...so the marketplace is certainly working.

The marketplace is only working for the tournaments that have responsible tournament directors and also hire qualified officials. In my experience, that does not apply to the majority of AAU tournaments. Most of them want to get their officials as cheaply as possible, and they don't care who they hire to officiate their games as long as they get covered. That's why you can get the Old Schools of the world out there masquerading as officials.