It's not often I agree with the "other side" but I would likely try to shut the coach down with something other than a technical. A technical here would be like throwing gas on a fire.
Real life example from the other night:
Partner called a foul the other night in the middle of traffic. I had the shooter but not the fouler (we were in the bonus). Partner reported the wrong number.
So, being it was a girls game, I stepped up and said softly to one of the likely candidates, "You know who that was on?" "Me, she said." Girls are usually honest in this position (guys, I wouldn't try this) and the coach didn't know I had asked (he probably did later, and I really don't care). I told my partner and he reported it. It was foul #4 on the player, and the coach started with my partner. Nothing over the top, but an "are you sure. I think you got the wrong player." Normally, it would've gone on a bit too long, but....
It looked bad, we didn't do our jobs, and that, my friends, is where the leash gets loosened at bit, for a very short time. Whacking him right there, right away, is almost the equivalent of baiting him for the technical.
Coaches have a vested interest in the game and they should expect certain things to go right, like us actually reporting the right person to the table. Reporting the wrong person, especially if that player is one of the more talented or is in foul trouble is not good. And that person ALWAYS is the wrong person, for whatever reason -- we never get the sub who just came in, will play 5 minutes, and has 5 fouls to burn.
I was working football three years ago and one of my crew members had an inadvertent whistle that cost the team 15 yards. I had to go to the head coach and explain his choices and he started right away. I stopped him and told him I'd let him vent for 30 seconds after he told me his choice, but that I wouldn't tolerate anything after that. If he didn't turn the page (as we as officials needed to), he was going to get flagged. Then I shut up and let him vent for 30 seconds. He knew better than to be profane and personal and just vented. After thirty seconds, I reminded him that it's over and now we're going to continue the game. And we all did. But I made sure I looked him in the eye and at least pretended to listen to every word he said.
I would recommend walking over to the coach, telling him that "I screwed up," but it won't help anyone if he tries to embarrass me or show me up and that if he wants to vent, I'll give him a few seconds as long as he doesn't show me up and that he turns the page.
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