Lots of good advice. One thing I'll add is that coaches most often just want to be heard. So when a coach is trying to tell you something, even though you may not have a response for him, let him know he's been heard. A simple "Okay" or "I hear you" or a head nod lets the coach know you've heard him.

The flip side is that if he makes a comment, and he feels like you didn't hear him, he'll make it again. And then louder. And may keep escalating until he feels like you've actually heard what he had to say. At this point you've probably got a problem, when if you had acknowledged him earlier he probably would have moved on.

Shut-up.

Meanie.

There Would Be Some Goofy Calls ...
 

I don't, but do they need officials?

Thanks
 

Thanks for all of the great information and I hope to put it all to work for my fifth season of officiating.

Not sure why, but I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I don't think an official should be saying"I owe you one" to a coach. If I was the other coach and I heard that I'd be wondering where mine was.

When I kick a call, and a coach calls me on it, I'll say something like "I missed it Coach". I am never going to use a phrase like I owe you. Comes down to the end of the game, you make a tough call against the other team, now you have a coach asking you if that was the one you owed him? All they have to do is hit the handle, because this game is in the toilet.

I'm not "one of those guys" either, stripes. So I just don't try to be. I've been officiating for 16 years, and I often still struggle in the coach/official exchanges. Since I don't do well with witty one-liners or quick "gotcha" phrases, I just don't try them. I am basically all-business. Boring, but pretty efficicient.

Answer a legitimate question, ignore everything else, except as other have said, to nod or say "I'll look for it, Coach".

I guess my only point (I know, there's a point?) is not to worry too much about it. As long as your interactions aren't antagonistic, you're probably doing ok.

Thanks Topeka (Kansas) Officials Association ...
 

Thanks, but I can't take credit. The original source was the Topeka (Kansas) Officials Association. I just did a little editing.

Also, the one, and only, humorous comment that I might make to a coach, and only under the right circumstances, is when a coach complains about an alternating possession arrow, when I know that I'm 100% right: "Coach. We'll make sure that you'll get two of the next three". I learned that line here on the Forum. I wonder who first came up with that line? It's a good one.

To me, it's like dealing with customers at the day job. You have customers who will say things when their service, food, product has something wrong/issue with it...You have to use some tact and people skills, give some reassurance and move on. I don't like "owing one" for the above mentione reason....When are you going to make it known that, "That" was the one you made up?

I agree with the answer questions not comments...."That's gotta be a foul!" is my favorite...I keep going and they'll usually answer their own question when I don't respond. :D

I use some wit/funny stuff if I know the coaches....

NEVER, BUT NEVER EVER USE THE PHRASE "I OWE YOU ONE".

This reeks of an intention to have a make up call.

Holy smokes... horrible line to use on a coach. "I missed it coach. I will work harder" is fine and as far as it should go.

Unlike Mark Padgett's "O" Word ...
 

These are three words that should never, I mean never, be stated in a game, or, for that matter, on this Forum website. They can be toxic when used together. Like mixing household chemicals.