Assistant coaches
 

If an assistant coach comes onto the court to ask you about 1.) rules question, or 2.)how something is being enforced, and he asks very politely, how do you respond? Do you respond differently for a varsity game than you would for subvarsity?

I'm being very polite and professional to anyone who shows me the same courtesy, provided it's at the appropriate time. The idea that assistant coaches are to be seen and not heard simply doesn't work nowdays. Work with them if you can, they could be the buffer between you and a volatile coach.

CLH

Is the ball live or is the ball dead like during a timeout. This makes a huge difference if you ask me.

As a general rule I will answer a question of an assistant if the HC is not available like during a timeout. If both coaches are talking or able to address me, I will not listen to the AC at all. As a matter of fact I might remind them that their role is to assist the HC and not assist me or my partners. And no I take a similar position at all levels. Varsity game the AC usually knows their role or the HC will remind them on their own.

Peace

General rules/enforcement question or something related to a play in that game?

I would be more likely to answer a question about a specific play in that game than I would a general question. If it's about a play in the game be aware he's most likely out there because the coach told him to go ask.

I know questions like this really aren't intended for responses applying to rec leagues, but I thought I'd just mention this. Despite all the sarcastic comments I usually make about how I treat coaches in our local kids rec league, the truth is that I appreciate all of them because they volunteer a great deal of their time to help our kids. I'm always ready to answer virtually any question they have (and it's almost always a rules question) as long as they are "nice" about it. Whether it's the HC or the AC is irrelevant. In fact, I know a lot of them personally from working the league with them over the years and I've found that the more questions I answer, the smoother the games go and the more attention we can pay to seeing to it that the kids have fun.

There - that's my one decent post for this year. I got it out of my system.

You very politely ask him to return to his seat and have him direct the question to the head coach and if there is still a question, the head coach will get the ruling.

I'll talk to ANY team personnel (coach, assistant, trainer, substitute, etc.) if the question is respectful, appropriate, and at an acceptable time. What is appropriate varies depending on thier role. The head coaches get the most liberty and trainers/subs the least. No need to make enemies for no good reason.

Example.... If the assistant, during a time out, wants a quick explanation about why we keep calling their center for a travel, I'll tell them. If they start to debate the point, the discussion is immediately over and I'll create space between us....directing them to remain at thier bench area (if necessary).

I agree with Camron and others, with the one addition that I will not let them stay out on the court. I will walk them back to their bench area and then have the brief discussion with them. Usually they are asking the question so they can tell the player(s) what they are doing that needs to stop or change. If it will make the game better, discuss it with them - just not out in the middle of the court. That just opens too many cans of worms...

If asked respectfully at the appropriate time, what's the harm in answering? I'm surprised nobody's mentioned that assistants often become head coaches with long memories...treat one like a d*ck needlessly and you'll likely have an adversary for a long time.

Live ball or dead ball makes a huge diff. Please clarify the context.

Camron - is your answer usually, "because he's traveling"? :)

Agreed. And more specifically, is this during a timeout or not.

I'm pretty sure the OP is intending the most acceptable situation; during a timeout or intermission. Otherwise, it's a no-brainer when he walks onto the court. Too late to even warn at that point.

I feel the same way for my rec leagues...I attend the preseason coaches meeting to put my face before the league coaches so they can ask some questions. This has helped keep some of the in game yappin' to a minimum because they get my philosophy about youth sports and the league's philosophy on sportsmanship first hand. A lot of these guys don't seem to realize that if they don't get mouthy, the kids don't get mouthy and either do the parents. The coach really sets the tone for the team in this regard.

Asking questions is one thing...yelling at me about calls is a whole 'nother story! ;)

I don't talk to assistant coaches. I'm not rude about it but direct. I have great relationships with coaches and assistants - even some that joke wth me about not talking to them. If they come out and insist on talking - then I'm a little more rude and sometimes downright obnoxious. I have a buddy that I work with a great deal who is worse about it than I am - and we were working a game where the assistant was one of his buddies. One time down the floor, he leaned down and made a comment to his buddy who said - "Sorry, I can't talk to you - my buddy's a prick about letting us lowlife assistants talk to refs!":p

Whenever one of our kid's coaches asks me how he (or she) can tell if they've had a successful season, I tell them this. At the end of the season ask your players two questions. First, did you have fun. Second, do you want to come back and play again next year. If all the players answer yes to both questions, then you had a successful season.

That's all there is to it.

Answer any civil question from anyone on the team.

ACs have a way of becoming HCs. JV coaches have a way of becoming V coaches. ;)

Pretty stupid question.

If a coach comes out to question a call during a live ball you'll do what, exactly?

I do not think it is being a prick to tell a coach anything politely. If you are always open to questions from AC, you will be answering questions all night in the heated moments as well. AC needs to coach, not for getting information from us. As a matter of fact there is no obligation to give any information to any coaches if we do not want to.

Peace

First, I don't recall a question. Did you see a ??? at the end of the COMMENT? I was echoing a previous comment.

Second, you are the T, bench side during the first throw of a 2-shot FT. The ball is just being bounced to the thrower (at the throwers disposal), the player is taking a breath and bouncing the ball, and the AC politely stands up and comes to you, slightly on the court, and asks a simple non threatening question. I do believe that would be a live ball situation, but then again....

Please avoid inflammatory language like "stupid" as it has a way of reflecting back.

Based on the other active thread right now, he's standing without coaching his players, so he's getting whacked in KS, right?

Post deleted by Brad ... Technical foul for taunting (aka flamebait)

Then do so equally across the board, Brad

You give him a polite answer to his question, and then inform him that he has also earned a technical foul for standing up when he is not allowed to do so.

2006-07 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

5. Rules Enforcement and Proper Use of Signals.
...
A. Rules Enforcement.
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Coaching Box – In states that authorize the use of the optional coaching box, the head coach is the only person on the bench that is permitted to stand and must remain in the coaching box. All other bench personnel must remain seated at all times except when a team member is reporting to the scorer's table, during time-outs or intermissions, and to spontaneously react to a play.

Good post. However, our fellow poster called me stupid for suggesting a coach could even come onto the floor during a live ball situation. I explained the above situation. I agree with your assesment, however.

In Kansas, that's a warning and a technical foul.

Bingo. No more callers. We have a winner!

This is just a general rules enforcement question. The situation I was thinking of was a dead ball situation, cuz that's when it happens most often. I actually don't ever recall an AC approaching me to ask a question during live ball. In that sitch, I would most likely T (standing up no-no).

No, he said the question was stupid. He didn't say you are stupid.

His point wasn't that it couldn't actually happen; but that if it does happen, you don't have to decide whether to answer the question. It's a T.

And your question was implied in your "depends" statement.

I totally disagree and it is kicking what the rule book states as per NevadaRef.

Around here, during the game the AC is not acknowledged. Most officials treat intermissions & half-time differently & will communicate with or through an AC.

IMO, when the AC gets HC status we are asking for trouble & sooner or later will have to address it in a negative way. I think is better to not get there.

As an assistant in previous years, I've never had a problem asking an official something. Of course, it's usually to clarify something so I can prove to my players that the refs aren't out to cheat them, something like "how late was he? a step late or nowhere close?" on a charge attempt called a block or "too much space?" between player and opponent on a over the back (yal love this phrase!) no-call on a rebound. plus im polite and not obnoxious (usually). According to some of the above posts, I probably shouldve been called for 5 T's a game if we go look at the game tape.

As long as you're polite, and ask at appropriate times, you're fine. At least around here. Also, if I know that correcting your players is really why you're asking, then I will be giving you LOTS of leeway.

My mistake. It was a stupid comment.

As is your sitch. But let's play. What I'll do depends on the game scenario and the question. Just as in a dead ball sitch. See...that's why your comment is stupid. Get it now?

What would you do? Call Mistress Francine on your cell for guidance? Make sure you tell her your being a good boy so you don't lose any games.

Anyways, I guess we'll have to wait for you to be out of "time out" to reflect this one back, won't we.

Question along this line - I have been asked to speak to the REC League Coaches this week and I have accepted (same philosophy as discussed above). I intend to thank them for their volunteering, talk sportsmanship, review rule changes and POE's, and answer questions. Do others do this too? Shy away or avoid it? Just curious.

My biggest concern is most if not ALL of the other REC refs do it for fun and really don't know the rules. So, if I can't get a session with them, it puts them/me in a spot as now the coaches will tell them they're wrong. I have offered to hold a trng session for refs too - so far nothing from the league.

It might be a good idea to keep some sort of minutes of the meeting and make those available to the other officials. That way they know what was discussed and if there is something they don't know they at least have an opportunity to follow up with a question.

I think the biggest problem with rec league officials is not being consistent with their calls. Very seldom will the complexities discussed here come into play. So a very basic understanding of the rules is probably sufficient as long as there is consistency. Oh, and this is where that myth of traveling or illegal dribble keeps getting fueled on designated out of bounds spots. Fix that one if you can.:)

I'd say focus on the myths with the rec league officials; such as traveling during a throwin, shooter retrieving his own airball, being first to touch the ball after being out of bounds, etc. These are the things coaches and fans are usually wrong about; and they're the things newer refs tend to get wrong as well.

I'd present it to them in terms of, "this is what we've given the coaches."

Thanks Snaq. I'm also going to talk about my favorite pet peeves coaches always holler for - "over the back" and "moving screen."