players with 4 fouls

[TheOracle]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Players talk.

Coach: "Hey, Bobby, what'd the ref say to you?"
Bobby: "He said I have four fouls and to play smart."

And that's just Bobby's coach that's going to be upset with you.

Yeah, that's coaching the kids. If that's okay where you ref, so be it; but it wouldn't be okay any place I've reffed.
Coach: "Hey, Billy, what'd the ref say to #24 red?"
Billy: "He said he had 4 fouls and to play smart."

Coach: "That's three seconds!"
Official: "Coach, I can't have you officiating from the bench like that."
Coach: "Why not, you've been coaching from the court."

You can make that case. I've not had any problems with what I do. If anything, the coaches I deal with appreciate preventative officiating, and the players know I'm trying to help them. I guess it is all how you are perceived by the coaches and players. If your judgment or people skills are off, you are correct, you can get bit. I still think that this is the right approach. If you can learn to do it, game management and relationships with the players and coaches becomes very simple.

BTW, I'd never respond to a coach yelling 3 seconds.