Simple solution to all of these problems. Prior to the game, ask each coach if they want to buy foul insurance.

NO. not impartial. NEVER.. LOL but.. if you call a violation on his guys the same all the way through the game a coach will recognize that.

...and again, why would I ask a coach to evaluate my performance? He'll have an opportunity to rate me.

Am I open to criticism? Absolutely. Do I evaluate my own performance during a game? Sure. Do I ask my partners for input if I think I'm not quite having the best game of my life? Yes. Do I ask a coach during or after a game what he thought of my game? Never.

The old rules interpreter for a board in Maryland used to give coaches a test before the season. He would always only have one or two that passed. If a coach can't pass a test similar to the one we take, how can they give an impartial evaluation?
In Mississippi the coaches do evaluate the officials. Those that know me I'm always in danger of getting a bad eval because I'm there to do the best job I can and I don't care what the coach says. On Saturday I had the opportunity to ask a coach when he actually did the evaluation. He told me that he never does it right after the game. He said he likes to wait, watch the film and then do it. If only all the coaches did it this way.

One thing that alarms me about this conversation is the same problem I see in officiating. Back in the day a term was often used - be seen and not heard. Currently, reading the rules makes an official think he/she knows enough to participate in conversations - conversations that discuss doing things on the court that they simply cannot do.
I said all of that to say this. There are experienced officials on this board that are giving their opinion and constantly meeting opposition. Think about this for a second. Someone who has experienced something is giving an opinion and someone who hasn't had the experience is disputing that. Doesn't make sense to me. The bottom line is coaches do not like officials. They are not your friends. Some might think those two statements are extreme and they may be. But those two statements are a lot closer to the truth than thinking a coach is going to give an unbiased opinion.

Gunman out!

I apologize for dipping my toes in the basketball waters; however, this seems to be a topic that covers multiple sports.

In my experience of officiating baseball, football, and coaching football (hey only two seasons, put the pitchforks away!) the amount of coaches that are able to do this are a small percentage. I've had the occasional losing coach tell me I've done a good job but the comments of "call it both ways" are much more common.

Aside from a few personal friends that are coaches, I would not actively solicit the opinions of coaches from games that you've worked. I would imagine that is only going to invite more problems than it would solve.

tomegun, well said!

On an unrelated note, I might have to get in on this basketball officiating thingy, you guys have way too much fun here.

Having said that you are in danger, we know you are a good official; does your assignor or commissioner back you up when you get poor evaluations? My experience is that most commissioner especially at the High school level will not back the official up and be afraid to go against the system because they may loose the contract if they oppose the coaches and the AD's. IMO that has been my experience. As you stated.

No, I felt really comfortable about how I was calling the game so while I was at T (2 person) on a free throw administration I discreetly asked him if he wanted to hang around for the varsity contest or if he would rather me hit the eject button now.

I know that wasn't procedure but...

Result:
I never heard another word from him that night. He's a great, brilliant HS coach & led his squad to the 5A Boys State Championship last season.

I did see him often over the summer as I worked all the Pro-AM & DPS summer leagues I could get my hands on & he showed respect each time our paths crossed.

Procedure? I would have to say that in this particular instance, who cares what "procedure" is! It worked, and it seems like the coach got your message loud and clear...sounds like something Bhuck Elics or Jon Diebler would do! Good on ya, mate.

Bhuck Elics is no Jon Diebler. Jon is on a whole 'nother plane. There's just no comparison.

Sorry, Bhuck but there it is.

I don't think he backs me up. I normally send emails to tell him, and explain, before he hears it elsewhere.
For instance, he was in the stands during a rivalry game last year. I'm at the C in front of a coach and one of my partners calls a non-shooting foul. The coach felt like it should have been a shooting foul. Because he didn't get a shooting foul he said, "See ref, that is just racial." Nobody was paying attention to our side of the court until I wheeled on him and whacked is ***! I'm black, the coach was black and my partner is white. There is NO place for that in high school basketball! There is no place for that on the planet! He got the foul for crying out loud. My partner is a racist because he didn't give him a shooting foul? The assigner seemed to vanish after the game. This coach was a problem - noticed I said was as in his *** got the boot - and the assigner didn't even bother to come into our dressing room to find out what happened.

Ooh, he went and said it!

I hear you.. we as officals are on an Island alone. Coaches don't like us, the players don't like us, the fans don't like us and our association leaders don't back us.

But everyday I enjoy getting on that court doing my job.

What are you talking about? WE aren't out there alone -- we don't like you either! It's just you refva. You out there all by yourself against the whole world. :D:D

Did you know Bhuck Elics backwards spells Scile Kcuhb?

Food for thought my friend...

Thank goodness you're misspelling it correctly...