personal communication with coaches

[SmokeEater]

I have asked for a coaches feedback only once in 27 years. He just so happened to have been my Coach in High school and 2 years in college. I was taught by this gentleman for a total of 8 years and have known him since I was 13 years old. He has taught my oldest son in High School. I was confident that he knew me and I was comfortable with what ever he told me would be unbiased and knowledgeable. That being said when I asked for the opinion I had been officiating for 22 years already and I ensured he was not coaching but observing a game for recruiting purposes.

The feedback I got was favorable and he did point out some quirks he thought may lead to questioning by coaches. It did help me to better understand the coaches perspective.

That was my experience I am sure others would be different.

[Terrapins Fan]

In our association we are rated by the coaches.

Personally I hate it.


Why?

Because if you have a problem with a coach are you going to get a good rating? No.

If you "T" up a coach he is going to give you a bad score for that game. The only way to get a good score if you hold the coach in your hands like a new born baby. JMO

[Junker]

I agree with most. A pet peeve of mine at the state level is that we are evaluated for the most part by AD's and coaches, few of which really have an idea what they are looking for. Find another official or a mentor to come watch you or find someone to hold a camera and go home for self evaluation. I'm not sure where you are in your career, but early on I talked to a couple of really good crews and they let me come work the JV game in a JV/V double header. I worked the JV game as they rotated in and out working with me. They had lots of good stuff to talk to me about in between games. Following that I watched the varsity game and asked a few questions at the half and following the game. Great way to learn.

[gordon30307]

In Illinois it's to our advantage to be rated by Coaches.It seems that the more ratings that you have the better your percentile. Problem is most Coaches don't bother to do this. I do email both Coaches and ask them to rate the crew. Are they qualified to rate us? Probably not in terms of mechanics or applying rules but if you're not working hard and are unapproachable that they can evaluate.

I've yet to do it in basketball but I have emailed Baseball Coaches case plays when they disagree with me on how I applied a rule. I didn't want them to think I didn't know what I was doing. I've never asked them "how did I do". Frankly they will think what they think. I just do my best.

[REFVA]

My association holds the coaches opinion in very high regard. To the point if you do "T" him/her up they request that you don't do their games. That puts us officials in a bad position and i know it is in the back of my mind when a coach gets to a point where they diserve a T and I'm hesitatnt to give it out.

I spoke out at our last meeting last week about bench decorum and the assignor and commissioner both looked at me like you better not follow that rule. Keep in mind they didn't say it but the look made it very clear. tough to do your job unless you have everyone calling from the same sheet of rules.