talking to coaches

[ken roberts]

Game management is one of the primary areas in which i'm trying to improve. As Matt says, you need to remain approachable to coaches. Whenever there is an unusual ruling (e.g. correctable error, accidental whistle, etc.), you should be proactive and go over and explain the call to both coaches at once.

In other cases, a quick comment to a coach as you're running by can help settle him down (e.g. "Coach, he can't travel if he doesn't have the ball.").

If they're throwing a hissy fit, then by all means either ignore them, give them a stop sign accompanied by "Coach, that's enough", or issue a T.

One of the best things you can do to learn this game management is to watch lots of games, especially at the varsity level. You'll then learn what works and what doesn't work with a variety of different situations and with a variety of different coach personality types.

The screen you described seems to be legal, as there was no contact. But, if A2 was hindering B1's sight or movement, you could call an intentional foul.

Intentional foul? I would pay good money to see you sell that call successfully. Just call the common foul.