T or let it ride?

[Nevadaref]

An amusing story about "Thank you, coach."

I soccer ref buddy of mine is from England. The mentality over there regarding what is acceptable dissent is vastly different from the US. They really tolerate much more than we do. His normal response is simply, "Thank you, coach." He actually says that over and over and over. I would estimate that he says it in response to about 95% of the complaints from coaches or players.

Usually the person complaining realizes that he isn't going to get anything else out of him and so just stops complaining, but a couple of years ago one coach actually asked him, "Why do you keep saying that? I want a real answer!" His response was absolutely unbelievable!!!
He turned around and without missing a beat actually said, "Because they won't let me say, 'Shut the *#(& up, coach.' "

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

His normal response is simply, "Thank you, coach." He actually says that over and over and over. I would estimate that he says it in response to about 95% of the complaints from coaches or players.

Well, just for the record, I don't use it anywhere near that often. I use it two or three times a week, with about 5 games per week.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Usually the person complaining realizes that he isn't going to get anything else out of him and so just stops complaining,

See, bz? I'm not the only one that finds this useful.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

but a couple of years ago one coach actually asked him, "Why do you keep saying that? I want a real answer!" His response was absolutely unbelievable!!!
He turned around and without missing a beat actually said, "Because they won't let me say, 'Shut the *#(& up, coach.' "

LOL!! Well, that's not my reason, but it's cute.

[IREFU2]

Pointing to the score board is just asking for trouble and baiting him as well. As officials, we dont want to seem like we are treating the coach like a child i.e. telling him to sit down. Just acknowledge him or give him a warning....

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

I had a T today that I'd like some feedback on....didn't really want to call it cause I'd not had much issue with the coach but but I felt the he put me in a bad position and basically challenged me....

First half team fouls were 9-4.....Early in the second half with team fouls 2-2.... ...Coach of team that had 9 in the first is barking about a no call I had at the other end on a rebound by his C.......As I set up at T to put the ball in, in front of his bench due to a tipped pass OOB... he asks me "Are you going to call any fouls on them today?"...Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing it's 2-2..I pointed to it...His response was "What does that mean?"...I said "Coach, it means we've been calling fouls on both ends of the floor....sit down and coach your team from the bench the rest of the game.

His response was "I'm NOT sitting down unless you T me up"

In 7 years, I don't think I've ever had a coach say that to me....They've certainly earned Ts from me...It's kind of along the lines of threating a coach with a T which I would never do but that's how I felt when he said it...Almost as if to see if I was willing to exercise my option to T....

SO what do you think...

I think that you made two mistakes.
1. You should never officiate according to the scoreboard. Fouls, violations, or otherwise. Your pointing to the scoreboard was wrong. If the coach had pointed to the scoreboard in the first half when the fouls were 4-9 against him as evidence that you were calling more on one end, would you have been happy or felt that his action was appropriate? Your attempted use of the board as evidence wasn't either.

2. The coach was absolutely correct that you have no right to instruct him to sit down if he is in a state that utilizes the coaching box (other than Kansas ). His response to you was completely right and you should have simply said, "You're right, coach. I apologize," and then quickly inbounded the ball. The coach's complaining about the noncall on the other end wasn't good, but you certainly didn't manage the situation well. This should never have escalated to a T. JMO.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

First half team fouls were 9-4.....Early in the second half with team fouls 2-2.... ...Coach of team that had 9 in the first is barking about a no call I had at the other end on a rebound by his C.......As I set up at T to put the ball in, in front of his bench due to a tipped pass OOB... he asks me "Are you going to call any fouls on them today?"...Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing it's 2-2..I pointed to it...His response was "What does that mean?"...I said "Coach, it means we've been calling fouls on both ends of the floor....sit down and coach your team from the bench the rest of the game.

His response was "I'm NOT sitting down unless you T me up"



SO what do you think...

I think that you should have issued a warning on his first comment highlighted above. That warning is two words--"That's enough." He questioned your integrity by intimating that you're favoring the other team. If he comments further, simply give him the technical foul.

Just way too much talking on your part.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

I had a T today that I'd like some feedback on....didn't really want to call it cause I'd not had much issue with the coach but but I felt the he put me in a bad position and basically challenged me....

First half team fouls were 9-4.....Early in the second half with team fouls 2-2.... ...Coach of team that had 9 in the first is barking about a no call I had at the other end on a rebound by his C.......As I set up at T to put the ball in, in front of his bench due to a tipped pass OOB... he asks me "Are you going to call any fouls on them today?"...Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing it's 2-2..I pointed to it...His response was "What does that mean?"...I said "Coach, it means we've been calling fouls on both ends of the floor....sit down and coach your team from the bench the rest of the game.

His response was "I'm NOT sitting down unless you T me up"

In 7 years, I don't think I've ever had a coach say that to me....They've certainly earned Ts from me...It's kind of along the lines of threating a coach with a T which I would never do but that's how I felt when he said it...Almost as if to see if I was willing to exercise my option to T....

SO what do you think...

I had a thirty year veteran today and he blew his whistle, stopped play, and told the coach to sit down for the rest of the game. No T, just sit down, and to make matters worse yells out, "this is just a sixth grade game" which set all the parents off.

T 'em up or forget it.