I like the 1st thread on talking to coaches during the game. I need to get better at it.

How about before and after the game? One partner I've had said he won't give his last name to the coaches. I feel I stand behind my game, no matter how bad I am, so I don't hesitate to introduce myself. (Like they couldn't find out who he was anyway...)

In a higher level game, I know I should get off the court quickly. In the lower levels, I would like to congratulate the kids and coaches on a good game. Perhaps this is inappropriate and I should still split as quickly as possible.

I'd be happy for input.

--bard

leave the floor asap
 

bard,

While you may have good intentions (wanting to congratulate the winners and tell the losers good effort), your sentiments will not always be appreciated by those involved in the game. Many times the participants are not able to "turn off" the emotional switch as soon as the game ends.

By you sticking around and making yourself accessable to players, coaches, and fans you are taking a chance to put yourself in a very uncomfortable and unfortunately, dangerous situation.

Get away from the court as soon as the game is over. If you want to talk to the participants after the game, find a time when everyone has recovered their "sanity" to do so.

Bard,IMHO the last thing that a coach wants to do before OR after a game is to strike up a meaningful relationship with an official.They usually have too much on their minds in both instances to worry about us(unless they think we screwed up).Be as quick as possible before the game and then get out of his hair.After the game,just get out.

I have been a member of two quite different associations. In one, we were cordial and professional in our dealings with coaches, regardless of when it was (before game, during, etc.) A lower profile was the preferred choice.

In my second association, we wear jackets with our names (first and last) on them and I routinely witness our members seeking out coaches before and/or after games and engage them in lengthly, often animated conversations. I prefer the former. "Hi. How's it going?" "Good luck next game." "See ya." I try to be as professional as possible in my dealing with coaches at all times and strictly limit contact and conversation with them.

First and last names on the jacket? Why not just add your home address and phone number for the hecklers convenience?

Dont forget your e-mail address as well!!

We're told as soon as the horn sounds and there are no problems at the table, get the HE## out of there!! I found that to be very sound advise..

Had a coach one night at one of those gyms that you drive three hours one way to get to and everyone dreads the ride. My partner was having a tough night and the coach starts in on me about him. Finally he said, what is that guy's name, I don't ever want him back here again. (In our association, coaches are given the option of scratching a couple of officials for the year.) Well, since I really didn't want to go back that way any time soon, I gave him my name, and sure enough, I haven't been back there in about three years.

ROFL!
 

Hoosier--That is excellent!!!

:D :D :D

That's 3 smileys! Very funny!

One point on lower level games. Frequently these are back-to-back style games, there is no place for a ref to go between games, and being within the gym is probably better than steping outside alone and waiting for the next game. I think in part that it is this dynamic that leads to a comfort level with talking with coaches after a game - you are right there anyway. But I would agree that you shouldn't go seek the coaches out because that may be asking for trouble. I know when refs are in the gym between games in the MS leagues I am in, half the coaches will thank them for their time/effort.

Interesting you should point that out this morning, Hawks Coach. I had just such a game last night. Between games the home coach came over and thanked me for being there. (And I'd screwed up at the end of the 1st game allowing the visitors a time out after the ball had been given to home for a throw in. I did my apology to the coach before the time out was over...)

Its best to walk off the court after the game, and all parties concerned would ask themselves "who were the officials?"

Yes, that is the policy, but (as Hawks Coach pointed out) sometimes refs have to stick around for the next game.

I generally work 3 games a night back-to-back-to-back. After a game, I will quickly approve the score and step into an auxillary hallway to get a drink, trying to give the teams some time to calm down. Unfortunately, the teams are usually still there when I go back into the gym (one of the reasons I use a black jacket before and after the games :)).

That said, should I officiate any championship games, I'll pregame with my partner that if the game is close or heated, we get out of there at the end!

As rook working 3rd - 8th, we have a lot of dbl and triple headers. No where to "RUN" to between games. I usually go behind the scorers table and sit down for a few while people clear out. Sometimes a coach has a ques but most times I try not to draw attention. This has seemed to work well for me. Someday i'll have a locker room to run to!!

I usually dont wish anyone a good game unless they seek me out to do the same.

Larks - Vet in training

You should probably demand for something.
 

In the area I live, all the schools have separate locker rooms for officials. They might not be the best accomidations, but they work.

Maybe your association should try to convince or demand better accomidations. One day it will cause a problem and not having a locker room will be the cause.

You guys deserve better than that.

Peace

Re: You should probably demand for something.
 

Exactly,Rut.Good point.A few years ago,our association had to do exactly what you said--send a letter out to all the schools and organizations that we cover,telling them to provide a private room for the officials.Worked for us.

These are lower level games - neither team has a locker room either. The league runs on a tight budget - rents a gym, that's it. You have no other area of the school (other than the public restrooms closest to the gym) and aren't allowed in other parts of the school. Considering the halftime is 3-5 minutes and the time between games runs about 5 minutes, it seems unnecessary to have some place for the officials to go. Coaches usually don't have time to be dealing with refs. And I don't think it has generally been a problem.

When we work rec games (and sometimes MS games), we don't have a separate place to go to between games. We usually wait behind the table. All of the HS have a separate space for us....although some of the spaces suck.

Those coaches are the half that lost, right?;)

Sven

Hawk,

You do not have to have an actual locker room to have a private place to get dressed. Officials need something to get them away from people that might want to confront them about calls and other things that happen in the game.

I have done varsity contests (this is usually when they spend the money on their budgets) and have gotten dressed in classrooms, teacher's lounges, spare rooms, office space, coaches offices and any other quite places they can put us. You need your own room and if they do not have one availible, make some place availible. You may not have a problem now, but when something happens that one time, you WILL have to consider it at that time. There are all kinds of liability issues you need to think of. And that one fan that attacks or a fight breaks out because you did not have this covered and you have to get lawyers involved to sette the matter, I bet then they will change that tune.

Finally, if a coach does not want to deal with a ref, then you better make someone in charge to deal with that. I know if it was individuals in my neck of the woods, you might find it hard to get officials without a place to go. Halftime is one thing, but after games is another all together. And you need to have some place private for them to go.

Something to think about.

Peace