Best way to approach a referee

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by dkmz17

Recently, I was involved in a summer league game with 9th and 10th grade girls. The rules for the games are NFHS rules, except that the clock only stops on time outs until the last 2 minutes of each half, at which time the timing is handled as per NFHS rules. Also, the summer league rules specifically state that after a time out by the coaches or an official time out, the clock will restart as it normally would after a dead ball.

I think you have to find out what normally means. Normally according to the summer rules (running clock), or normal according to NHFS rules?

If normal = your summer rules, and had play not been complicated by your granted TO request, the clock would have ran during the FTAs. When resuming play, the player getting control of the ball for the first FT is the logical act to re-start the clock.

If normal = NHFS, then I think the clock should remain stopped during the FTAs, and re-started as you were hoping, depending on the last shot being successful or unsuccessful.

Originally Posted by dkmz17

What can or should be done by a coach in that circumstance?

What can be done? You can bring it up to the officials. You can write to the league after the game is over.

What should be done? If you think a rule is being mis-applied, always speak up. Officials make mistakes, though we do tremendously strive to minimize them. Ultimately, you have to accept their ruling, though.

Originally Posted by dkmz17

How do you "handle" a referee that misapplies a rule etc., during a game, especially if it is a circumstance that will repeat during the game.

Always speak with respect to an official. Raising your voice is unnecessary. Believing that you may enter the playing surface is a no-no. (If an official doesn't een acknowledge you, they are likely a bit over their heads, and if you absolutely need to enter the playing surface, then do so respectfully.) Whenever I speak with a coach, and before I even acknowledge the content on his/her complaint, I walk him/her back to the sideline. I will speak one-on-one with the head coach only (read: assistant coaches are not to speak). I will only acknowledge a rule application and perhaps an interpretation, not a judg(e?)ment call.

Myself, I like the academic approach to officiating. There is tonnes of material behind a rule, such as the intent, spirit, etc. Appealing to that side of me will garnish a better conversation. Every official is different, though. Ultimately, you have to accept my ruling, though.