Responding to Coach Speak

[IREFU2]

First of all, remember that we dont answer statements, only questions. Plus, if he keeps asking you that same questions, then you will have to deal with that as well. Using quick phrases and responses will only get you in deep water. Treat the coach with respect and demand respect back as well and you will be okay. Just my 2 cents...

[grunewar]

Go to the below link and start at the beginning to see some really good responses and info on this topic.

Communication w/ Coaches

[Nevadaref]

Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Why do you keep saying, 'Thank you, coach'?"

Official: "Because they won't let me say, 'STFU, coach'!"

[Mark Padgett]

My all time favorite is still this one. When a coach says something absolutely ridiculous to you, the reply is, "Coach, I'd respond to that but I left my English-Gibberish dictionary at home."

Another is "Coach, there are only two people in this entire gym who don't care who wins - my partner & me. We only care about one thing - that at the end of regulation time, one team has at least one point more than the other."

And, there's always the old standby, "Sorry coach, we're not allowed to call it both ways. We can only call it one way - the right way."

OK, one more. "Coach, let's trade places. You come out here and call the game and I'll sit on the bench and act like an idiot."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

We only care about one thing, that at the end of regulation time, one team has at least one point more than the other."

Sigh.

[Back In The Saddle]

While we don't usually want to respond to statements, we do normally want to acknowledge them in some way. As was pointed out already, the coach wants to know that he's been heard. Otherwise his/her frustration level starts to build because he feels you are ignoring him/her.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

While we don't usually want to respond to statements, we do normally want to acknowledge them in some way. As was pointed out already, the coach wants to know that he's been heard. Otherwise his/her frustration level starts to build because he feels you are ignoring him/her.

So how do we go about doing this? Just an "I hear you coach" or is there a "better" way?

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Blah, blah, blah."

Official: "Thank you, coach."

...
Coach: "Why do you keep saying, 'Thank you, coach'?"

Official: "Because they won't let me say, 'STFU, coach'!"

Classic

[OHBBREF]

Originally Posted by IREFU2

First of all, remember that we dont answer statements, only questions. Plus, if he keeps asking you that same questions, then you will have to deal with that as well. Using quick phrases and responses will only get you in deep water. Treat the coach with respect and demand respect back as well and you will be okay. Just my 2 cents...

Do not address statements by a coach, there are the great stories of how Ref X got Coach Y with a particular zinger last week.
Well it didn't do the ref any good, because what he didn't tell you is the coach rode him just as or harder the rest of the game and he had to listen to the supervisor/assignor or AD after the game talk about an exagerated version of what was really said. So just don't do it, silence can't be misquoted.

"Is there a question in there coach?" and move on is about all I ever say.

In pre-game we address with captains and coaches that we will answer questions if asked in a respectful manner.

We are busy enough on the floor that we do not need to split our attention between the action and trading barbs with coaches. especially new guys just starting out. We are going to do one or both poorly. Better to concentrate on just one thing.

make your reputation as a great official not the the court jester.

[IREFU2]

Originally Posted by OHBBREF

Do not address statements by a coach, there are the great stories of how Ref X got Coach Y with a particular zinger last week.
Well it didn't do the ref any good, because what he didn't tell you is the coach rode him just as or harder the rest of the game and he had to listen to the supervisor/assignor or AD after the game talk about an exagerated version of what was really said. So just don't do it, silence can't be misquoted.

"Is there a question in there coach?" and move on is about all I ever say.

In pre-game we address with captains and coaches that we will answer questions if asked in a respectful manner.

We are busy enough on the floor that we do not need to split our attention between the action and trading barbs with coaches. especially new guys just starting out. We are going to do one or both poorly. Better to concentrate on just one thing.

make your reputation as a great official not the the court jester.

Ummm....thats what I said!!!!

[OHBBREF]

Originally Posted by IREFU2

Ummm....thats what I said!!!!

I just put an explaination point on it!

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by OHBBREF

I just put an explaination point on it!

Is that a merging of exclamation and explanation?