Coach Citing the Foul Counts
 

First year ref.

I know in general we do not respond to comments.

How far do I let a coach go with giving me the foul totals per team as in "my team has a lot and the other team doesn't have many? Do I simply not comment?

My inclination is to let it go but I'm curious as to how others handle it.

If they keep mentioning the foul count I will address it. Sometimes I'll just say something like "Coach, I am aware of what the foul count is." and if things continue I'll tell them that they don't need to make any further comments regarding the foul count.

I'm cognizant of that fact, sir/ma'am... is there a question?

Spence:

At this point in your career just let it go. When you get to be an old geezer like me, I will sometimes ask the coach: "And your point is?" But my recommendation is to just let it go. If the coach had any sense he would tell his players to stop fouling. But I remember a boys' H.S. JV summer league game, where the team that was getting blown out at half time had committed 18 fouls to its opponents 4 fouls. The losing coach came up to my partner and me and asked: "What am I supposed to tell my players about the foul totals?" He was obviously not happy with the officiating. I told him with a straight face: "Tell them to stop fouling." His lower jaw hit the floor and away we went to enjoy some Gatorade. :D

MTD, Sr.

That is something you learn with experience when you need to address it, IMO. I can't concretely say when I do or don't address it, because I don't have particular criteria. However, there are moments when I'll address a comment a coach makes. Most often I will address it by just listening though.

Last night I had a great GV game with a top ranked team in the state and a conference rival. The visiting coach didn't like the unequal proportion of fouls his team earned. I let him have his say and said that we are calling what we see. I added that perhaps his girls were being a little more aggressive on defense than the other team as well. He agreed, end of discussion. I don't make it a habit to explain things like this but sometimes it helps the situation.

So I guess the answer to your question is that you have to feel out the situation and with experience you'll know when you may need to address it or just listen.

-Josh

A great reply I got from a college supervisor this year at camp was "Coach, I don't count 'em, I just call 'em". Of course he also told us officials to always be aware of the count to be aware of bonus situations. I do agree with the others who have said, as a newbie, let it go.

I have heard people say "I don't count 'em, Coach. I just call 'em." It makes your point, but it's kind of a smart-a$$ thing to say. So you might stay away from that one. Something that I have said that seems to work for me is, "Nobody knows it more than we do, Coach." That tells them that you're aware of it and that you might even "realize" that it's out of whack. (Doesn't mean you're going to try to even it out, of course. . .)

The gentleman below is correct, just ignore it for now. But just wait, as you advance you will be introduced to paranoia at levels you can never imagine, where they will actually tell you that you personally have called X fouls against them and Y fouls against their opponent, and ask for an explanation. That is always a treat!

"Coach, if you don't be quiet, the difference will be one more."

Don't you all think a nod of the head which acknowledges that you indeed heard the coach is better than "letting it go/ignoring" the coach? Especially for a first year official...

I agree...Just acknowledging that you heard him is sufficient.

-Josh

Do you really use the word 'cognizant'?

Yes, why what's up?

That just seems like a very odd word to use when jogging past a coach...

Fair enough... works for me though :)

cog•ni•zant:
knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience ; also : MINDFUL
synonyms see AWARE