Was my partner too quick on the trigger?

Raymond

Mark Padgett wrote
OK - maybe I should have rephrased that. 😛 Last night, boys 8th grade A competitive game. Not much coming from the benches at all. Middle of Q3, home team ahead by 7 and there's a timeout. My partner is at the table reporting it and I'm going over with the ball to the throw in spot. Suddenly, he turns to me and says that there's a "bench technical" on white and we'll come out of the TO with two shots and the ball. I start to walk towards him to ask what happened but he tells me he'll tell me later. Meanwhile, the home HC has his arms up and is saying "What was that for? Can I please get an explanation?"

We shoot the T and continue the game. After the quarter, he tells me what happened. When he went to report the TO, the HC said to him, "You're missing a lot of calls out there." My partner turned and said, "What did you say?". The AC then said, "He said you're missing a lot of calls out there." WHACK! That was it. He called a T on the AC.

As I said, neither bench had been a problem prior to that point. Do you think a T was justified? Upon my inquiry, my partner said their tone wasn't particularly sarcastic or nasty but pretty straight forward.

I should mention that this guy is in his second year of officiating, if that makes any difference.

As you guys know, I'm usually not one to complain about giving out technicals, but I don't think even I would have done it then. I think a warning would have been sufficient. Oh yeah, the fun part was that I informed the HC he was seat belted. That went over really well.

The 'T' may or may not have been warranted, but I rather work with a 2nd year official who has the guts to call a 'T'. He/She can learn to dial it back if needed; but at least you know he/she has it in them to take care of business when the situation arises.

Chess Ref

BadNewsRef wrote
The 'T' may or may not have been warranted, but I rather work with a 2nd year official who has the guts to call a 'T'. He/She can learn to dial it back if needed; but at least you know he/she has it in them to take care of business when the situation arises.

Hey thats me. I learned about taking care of bidness right here. In the real world I don't see alot of taking care of bidness.

So I read, I experimented,I'm learning. Did and do I still give out quick T's ?

yep. But it's all good cause I know when I have jumped too quick. But only 1 quick and undeserving T this.

stosh

emmett921 wrote
I'm a first year official and gave out my first Technical tonight in a Freshman boys game, competetive prep-school rivals. The visiting coach wanted a call for a push off during a loose ball. As the play was happening he called out "Come on you didn't see that.", then coming back by him the other way after a turnover about 8 seconds later I heard "You suck.", so I called a T. At the half he came up and asked about the T, I told him saying "You suck" to an official is pretty clear. At that point he said he had said "You saw it" and not "You suck". He may have said that, based on the fact that he approached me at the half to ask about it, but it didn't sound like it during the action. Should I have asked for an explanation at the time, given him a warning or what?

If he said "you suck" it's automatic, and he knows that.

If he said "You saw it", depending on tone, he might have earned one anyway.

It doesn't really matter what he said, it what you hear that matters. If he wasn't questioning your judgement in the first place none of it would have happened. It's only a foul call and it's part of the game; it's not the end of the world to get one "wrong" once in a while.

Bearfanmike20

I'm a first year guy. I've done about 60 games.

Not one T. Yes.. coaches complain, but I've yet to hear a magic word, or have them read a decible level that wasn't quelmed with a simple "thats enough coach".

Thats just me. I've come close... but they all seem to know that look that I give them... and they shut it.

I'm SURE I'll have to eventually, but havn't had to yet.

ILRef80

Last week, I had a JV coach scream to his players "next time they touch you, knock them the hell out!". He was telling one of my partners about how we were missing some moving screens. None of the 3 of us really saw anything but, that type of comment deserves a T every time, wouldn't you guys say?

Junker

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.

bgleason@neonin

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.

Junker

ILRef80 wrote
Last week, I had a JV coach scream to his players "next time they touch you, knock them the hell out!". He was telling one of my partners about how we were missing some moving screens. None of the 3 of us really saw anything but, that type of comment deserves a T every time, wouldn't you guys say?

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."

ILRef80

Junker wrote
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.

Junker

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.

ILRef80

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

bgtg19

Bearfanmike20 wrote
I'm a first year guy. I've done about 60 games.

Not one T. Yes.. coaches complain, but I've yet to hear a magic word, or have them read a decible level that wasn't quelmed with a simple "thats enough coach".

Thats just me. I've come close... but they all seem to know that look that I give them... and they shut it.

I'm SURE I'll have to eventually, but havn't had to yet.

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.

Back In The Saddle

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.

Junker

Back In The Saddle wrote
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.

Ignats75

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.

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