I'm not sure you can be too quick on the trigger in an 8th grade game. I have no problem with him whacking a coach for that statement at that level. In a V game that coach would be finished complaining for the night and I would alert my partners to that fact.

It was to quick. I might use that occasion to make a suggestion to the inexperienced partner. Never ask for something to be repeated; you invited that comment. It is easy when they give you a You Suck comment, that is an automatic T. I like to have the whole gym see a coach earn a Technical.

I don't think so. Maybe it was his way of telling the players to be strong with the ball? He isn't directly commenting on your officiating, I would ignore it. Just call the fouls when his players "knock them the hell out."

Interesting. I keep replaying this in my mind - but I do stand by the T. If he says it during a TO or something I'm going to ignore it. But when he said it during a dead ball, for the whole gym to hear, I felt I had to get it.

I could be wrong, that's just how I see it.

In a JV game I have no problem with that T at all. In a varsity game, I'm ignoring it. Just my opinion of course.

Good point. I like to hear opposing opinions. It's good to hear other sides or other solutions to a situation.

60 games in a row is a lot of games to go without a technical foul. Every game is different, and perhaps you're just on a streak of good luck. I write here just to remind you that, as a first year official, you may not have a real good sense of when to/when not to issue the T. (Then again, if you've been "around the game" even while not officiating, you might have this good sense.) Ask experienced officials in your area whether they would issue Ts given various circumstances you've faced. In the end, be glad when you go through the good streaks and be ready to call the foul when and where it is warranted. Thanks for joining the ranks.

I think most officials, at least the ones that last, go through phases. The first year is spent taking too much. The second year is spent not taking anything. In the third year we start to figure out how and when to use T's and/or talking to manage the game. Sounds to me like this partner is in phase 2. That's a hopeful sign for the future.

I think this is a very true statement. I know I had my season when I threw a few unwarranted ones.

Math Equation:

AC + "YOU" = T

Assistant Coaches should never be addressing the officials about calls. If its not too beligerent, I will politely tell the Head Coach that if HE has as question about an incident, I will be glad to discuss it with him, but he better get control of his bench before it comes back to haunt him.