more philosophy

[bbcoach7]

Originally Posted by beachbum

I just finished my second year, so bear with me, and this question may need to be answered by coaches or former coaches.

why is it that when coaches are loosing a game, they seem to blame the officials for their problems? they will make statements like "this is the worst officiating I have seen".

Most coaches will admit, in a non game situation that without exception, officials try to call the games fair. yet, during the game they act as though we are being paid to make the outcome different.

Then the game ends, and the same coaches will say "good game ref", like nothing happened. If we acted like them, we would be banned from the sport!!!

I'm a coach, so allow me to please take a crack at this despite my handicap. Generally speaking, referee's are not emotionally engaged with the outcome of a game, or the performance of the players. Coaches are emotionally involved. And despite our obvious flaws, personality defects and tendency to howl like monkeys, we are people to, capable of behaving like dumb asses.

This is apparently a difficult concept, but when ordinary average people (non-refs) are emtionally involved with something, they can sometimes be guilty of going too far and behaving like howler monkeys.

As far as a comment like, "this is the worst officiating I've ever seen," well maybe it was, but I doubt it very much, as these coaches probably say that again and again. You don't actually believe there's no such thing as a lousy ref do you? ANd I'm not talking about intent, everyone desires to perform well at whatever they do, but of course not everyone can.

The fact is just like there are lousy teams and awful coaches, there are actually referee's who are crappy. But that should never give any coach license to proclaim it out loud. I've come to the conclusion that a bad referee is just bad, not biased, not cheating, just lousy. He's bad on both ends of the court, but he's out there doing the best he can. And coaches who don't get that after a few seasons are idiots in my opinion.

Seriously, if I was in your shoes, I'd find it very difficult to maintain composure like you guys do in the face of stupid comments and accusations. But then you're not emotionally involved in the game so that must make it a little easier to suffer fools.

I've found ref's 2-3 times after games this season to apologize for something I've said. Obviously nothing that bad, as I've only been whacked 2 times in 8 years and not at all this season. A good rule of thumb I believe is that if I wouln't make the comment outside on the street to another grown man, then I have no business making it in the gym during a game. It's about basic respect. Kids come and go. Games come and go. But you (Ref) and I (coach) are going to be here a while (year after year) and I'd be an idiot to cultivate an atmosphere of hostility (wait... I'm a coach & that qualifies me automatically in here).