Write unsportsmanship warning in book

[RookieDude]

We were having some refreshments, after the Saturday night games, at a local watering hole...and something came up that I said I would put to the experts here.

We got a transfer from a pretty big association on the other side of the state.
He's done some small college stuff, and seems to be a very good H.S. official with good judgment/mechanics/and rule knowledge.

He mentioned that when he gets a coach that is being "frisky"...one of the tools he has used is to verbally warn the coach about his unsportsmanlike attitude...and the official then tells the scorekeeper to write the warning in the book.

Is this a "tool" that is used in your neck of the woods...actually writing the warning in the book?

FWIW...I told him I could see that working for him...but, really didn't see any NFHS backing for it.

Maybe we don't need their backing for everything....or maybe there is an old interp that says we can use this tool...after further review, it seems that I remember some kind of verbal warning written in the book in the past.

[JugglingReferee]

While I do appreciate the benefit of having specifics of accounts that are outside the norm (or expected) written down, I personally have never thought about doing this sort of thing. My verbal communication will be enough of a tool.

PS: "their", not "there"

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

We were having some refreshments, after the Saturday night games, at a local watering hole...and something came up that I said I would put to the experts here.

We got a transfer from a pretty big association on the other side of the state.
He's done some small college stuff, and seems to be a very good H.S. official with good judgment/mechanics/and rule knowledge.

He mentioned that when he gets a coach that is being "frisky"...one of the tools he has used is to verbally warn the coach about his unsportsmanlike attitude...and the official then tells the scorekeeper to write the warning in the book.

Is this a "tool" that is used in your neck of the woods...actually writing the warning in the book?

FWIW...I told him I could see that working for him...but, really didn't see any NFHS backing for it.

Maybe we don't need there backing for everything....or maybe there is an old interp that says we can use this tool...after further review, it seems that I remember some kind of verbal warning written in the book in the past.

We've been doing it for three years. If we give a coach the stop sign with a "Coach, I've heard enough," or whatever, you formalize the warning by having the scorer note the warning and time in the scorebook. I would also inform both partners.

It serves a two fold purpose.

1- More times than not, we don't end up having to T the guy.

2- If we do, and the coach calls the assignor the next day to complain, the first thing the assignor will say is "Coach, do you have your scorebook with you?"

I was skeptical at first but it's worked very well.

Of course, there are still things that are going to get a T with or without a warning. That's not taken away from us.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

...If we do, and the coach calls the assignor the next day to complain, the first thing the assignor will say is "Coach, did he warn you. Look in your scorebook."

...and the Coach says, "No, as a matter of fact the other Coach got a warning...and your guy just up and WHACKED me...now how is that fair"?

I hear you Tony...it seems like it could be a good "tool". I just think it could open up another can of worms. Now you may have to explain why he didn't get "his written warning".

I guess it's not to hard to explain different levels of un-sportsmanship...so maybe I'm all wet on the explanation thing.

Thanks for the input...I'll pass it on.

[IREFU2]

I believe by rule, the only warnings are added to the book are Delay warnings. But, it does sound like a good tool to use.

[Raymond]

Something you may want to discuss with your supervisor. I know for a fact one supervisor who despises this practice.

[refguy]

I know of at least one D1 supervisor that wants this warning in the book too.

[PIAA REF]

Although it may be good in theory via rule it would be incorrect for high school. Remember the only unsportsmanlike warning for players or coaches is during our pregame speach. That speach is to be their warning. If they do not comply by rule it is to be a T. (I am not saying that I always follow that, I am just stating the rule)

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

...and the Coach says, "No, as a matter of fact the other Coach got a warning...and your guy just up and WHACKED me...now how is that fair"?

I hear you Tony...it seems like it could be a good "tool". I just think it could open up another can of worms. Now you may have to explain why he didn't get "his written warning".

As long as I follow what the assignor has said to do, that's not my concern. That's for the assignor to address.

Originally Posted by PIAA REF

Although it may be good in theory via rule it would be incorrect for high school. Remember the only unsportsmanlike warning for players or coaches is during our pregame speach. That speach is to be their warning. If they do not comply by rule it is to be a T. (I am not saying that I always follow that, I am just stating the rule)

There is no rule concerning this. It's a mechanic that we use and is approved by our state association. There's nothing that's "incorrect" about using it.

[OHBBREF]

The warning to a coach is an NCAA procedure, If you warn a coach for being out of the box or his inappropriate decorum it is to be put in the book so that if/when you have to serve T it is apparent.
the rules however are clear that no warning is required, so that if necessary feel free to call the butler over the first time the coach tries to be a knucklehead and have him serve it up.

[refguy]

Originally Posted by OHBBREF

The warning to a coach is an NCAA procedure, If you warn a coach for being out of the box or his inappropriate decorum it is to be put in the book so that if/when you have to serve T it is apparent.
the rules however are clear that no warning is required, so that if necessary feel free to call the butler over the first time the coach tries to be a knucklehead and have him serve it up.

Do you have a rules or case book reference?