Communicating with Coaches
 

I am a more frequent reader than poster here. In many of the threads I see refs referencing their comments to/with coaches. Some of you clearly call the game with minimal interaction while others are sarcastic, especially with the belligerent coaches (and maybe it's just what you'd like to say...).

Regardless, I believe a number of our less respected refs have little or no interaction with the coaches (many of our refs SPRINT off the court after the game...). Many of our most revered refs are great "game managers" which requires regular coach interaction. My questions: is there room for sarcasm, especially in a tense game? Do any of you find value in "managing" the coach in pre- and/or post-game? And, do you use their first names during games or always refer to them as coach? Other input besides answers to these questions are welcome.

Thanks.

Smoke signals works well in some contests.

There is a big difference between sarcasm and humor. I recommend humor. Being sarcastic with a belligerent coach will gain you nothing, you've jumped into his/her sandbox. I like to try a little humor, if it doesn't work, I'm all business as they're not in the mood for any banter. If they cross the line, you know what to do.

Sprinting off the court has nothing to do with communication with coaches. You don't want to communicate with the coaches after a ballgame in most cases.

Having said that, you have to do what fits your own personality. My communication with coaches is pretty limited. I'm not good at joking around or being sarcastic. So my communication is mostly short, one-line all-business answers.

Your mileage my vary.

You underestimate yourself......a witty ditty.

I've never had to sprint off the floor. I have jogged off the floor to get around the crowd storming the floor after a big win. I too don't like to see other officials "sprint" off the floor. Generally, my crew and I get together and walk off the floor.

** I have had police walk me to my vehicle after a game in St. Paul (I won't tell you the school name to be fair) because the crowd was a little rough/crazy that night.

I have absolutely no respect for officials that get sarcastic with coaches. Sarcasm has no place in the game of basketball. Officials who get sarcastic should be dealt with harshly. I would never support a partner who got sarcastic and I would never get sarcastic myself. It is the height of being unprofessional.

BTW - I'm being sarcastic.

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Surprise, surprise...

I don't manage a coach in pre-game. Pre-game with coach is limited to how's the season going, are your kids ready, box is marked-please stay in it, have a good game. There is no post game unless it's by accident on the way out, and then I don't go looking for interaction but won't avoid it either, in which case it will be limited to small talk. Nothing good can come from "managing" a coach post-game.

edited: I don't sprint off court but there is no reason to hang around either. I usually hear wings and a beverage from the local establishment calling my name so no need to hang around.

Mregor

Humor at the coach's expense is seldom amusing. Humor at the official's expense can work for some officials. If you're not able to pull it off routinely in your life off the court, I would not recommend it during the heat of battle. Also generally ill-advised with a new coach or for younger officials.

And: most of you mean to use 'facetious' and not 'sarcastic', unless you're out to hurt people's feelings with your irony. :p

Concur with Scrapper.

I have a very short (30 sec) introduction with the coach pre-game - kids properly equipped, report subs to the table, let us know the type of time out, practice sportsmanship, good luck.

I limit my conversation during the game, but will answer questions if asked and allow them to vent a bit.

While I'm pretty good with humor, I too try to be mostly business on the court. Helps me avoid problems.

That being said, I have seen one very respected official in our Association who is very approachable on the court to the coaches who like to chat-up his ear when he is table-side - that is his method and after many yrs he is good at it. You need to do what is right for you.

I get off the court as fast as I go up and down the floor. Why slow down in this one instance? To show you aren't in a hurry to get off? What's the point? I can say it's never a walk for me unless I'm 10 feet from the door.

As soon as the game is over, all 2 (3) officials should be heading for the door. What drives me nuts is when I'm working with a hand-shaker or ball-retriever and I'm having to wait while that guy does his thing, even though we pregamed something else.

Treat the like grown ups, not like kids. Respond to questions, not statements.

I think that one of the biggest complaints coaches have about officials is, "Officials won't talk to me." This can be a slippery slope, but the officials that I have tried to emulate were the ones who were willing to admit a mistake every now and then, concede that they MAY not have had a great angle on a particular play, and were willing to give at least a brief explanation on a tight/controversial play. There can be a fine line between answer a question every once in a while and explaining call after call.

I will always address the coach as "coach" unless I am in close proximity to him/her in a situation in which they are the only one that will hear. In these cases, I will frequently use their first name. It is a little more personal.

I will joke about a play -- especially if it has to do with the officiating crew -- with a coach from time to time. Generally, you know it's pretty safe if the coach is smiling or laughing about something that just happened.

BUT, as some have already indicated, using humor should come with the warning, "PROFESSIONAL at work, use caution."

Sometimes coaches floor you with their humor. 3 person. Close ball game. 2nd half, I'm going to new lead tableside. Team B is pressing Team A in Team A's backcourt. I'm just about to the free throw line extended, helping with the press. Something happens near tableside endline in the backcourt. Coach A, who I'm right near, says that I have to call that foul. I said "Coach, I'm 75 feet away as you are. I have a partner 10 feet away from the play. I'm not going to make a call." He says " Ok.........but how about if you were 74 feet away??"

As far as sprinting off the floor, I've never sprinted...maybe a fast jog. What is there to hang around for? They are not going to stop the post game celebration to acknowledge the wonderful job done by the referees, and if the home team lost, you don't want to hang around and let the home team coach give you an earful.

I like it when during pre-game the officials make a point to initiate communication with me. There's just something that happens when you actually look someone in the eyes, shake hands and introduce yourself. It fosters some respect. I'm way less likely to make an innapropriate comment to "Jim" who I just had a pleasant moment with in pre-game than I am with someone who doesn't bother, or worse seems to assume through body language that it's going to be an contentious relationship.

Certainly I don't expect it. I believe what this topic really is about is communication skills, and ultimately leadership.

I always intoduce myself. I keep my comments pre-game and during the game short and professional.

I'm way less likely to give a T to a coach who doesn't say anything inappropriate then one who does.:rolleyes:

We normally have the same 2 officials do the boys varsity after we play the girls varsity....so they are at the division line watching the boys warmup by the time I am done with our girls in the locker room. I at a minimum shake hands and say thanks.

I love the personable "humor type" and the "business like" styles I see from each pair of officials we get. I adapt to them just as the girls also adapt to their "types" of calls.

Last week our AD was outta town so I ended announcing the starters. I then said please stand for the national anthem and handed the mic to Mr. Ref. (An official doing our game I have known for 14-15 years.) His partner was still laughing trying to do the toss.

The biggest problem is that there is not alot of time to talk when the game is on. I am trying to focus on my job and the coach is trying to ask a question or YELL. Most coaches try to talk while the ball is in play. They don't want to talk during a time out as it is the time they have with their players.

I have been trying to figure out how to communicate with a coach when there is action and he is asking questions. Most of the time he is just venting anyways. It seems best the best time is during a foul shot.

Keep it short. It's like a set of skills. You'll figure it out eventually-hopefully sooner then later. Took me some time of concentrated energy to acquire the short and sweet answer skill but I got it now. Practice it in ,maybe non violatile times.

If venting appropriately I nod and act interested in what they're saying.

If yelling....paraphrased " No yelling at us tonight."

Coach then goes "blah blah blah."

I repeat " No yelling at us tonight"

Next time I take care of it.

Last night GV coach starts the yelling stuff at the tip , I cruise her , give her the spiel. Next time down she starts the yelling again. No brainer . Tweet T.As I'm walking away from table I hear Assistant tell her " I told you homes doesn't play." :cool: For a white guy from the burbs I was tickled pink that I'm a homes.:) She stopped yelling . There was 7.13 on the clock, 1st quarter.

I disagree because I use sarcasm a lot when I feel it is appropriate and it works. It accomplishes the thing I want them to do, see how ridiculous their statements are. It is better to use sarcasm then it is to give a T if you do not hear from them anymore. It is about the person delivering the comments not the words all by itself.

Peace

He must be one of those idiots who seriously listens to the commentators on TV doing football, when those idiots say taking a delay of the game penalty pushes the FG team back a few more yards for a better angle on the goal posts, only coach is seriously directionally impaired in this situation.

This Is Difficult To Translate, This Is All I Can Do To Help ...
 

Facetious
1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : <just being facetious> 2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious <a facetious remark>

Sarcasm
1: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual

Irony
1: a pretense of ignorance and of willingness to learn from another assumed in order to make the other's false conceptions conspicuous by adroit questioning —called also Socratic irony
2 a: the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning
b: a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by irony
c: an ironic expression or utterance
3 a (1): incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result
(2): an event or result marked by such incongruity
b: incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also dramatic irony tragic irony

Enjoy The All You Can Eat Buffet After The Show Folks ...
 

Catholic middle school games:

Saturday: Two teams, both with blue jerseys, and blue shorts. One team wore pinnies over their jerseys. During a break, I bantered with some fans, who have come to know me over the years. I announce to them, "I got twenty dollars that says the team with the blue shorts will win". I got a good laugh.

Sunday: Two teams, both named Saint Mary, one team in home whites, the other in road blue. Again, I'm talking to some fans, again, who have come to know me over the years. I figure that I can be funny two days in a row, so I decided to announce that I had twenty dollars that says Saint Mary would win, but, for some reason, maybe old age, it comes out, "I got twenty dollars that says the blue team will win". They all look at me like I was nuts. I immediately tried my attempt at humor again, this time the correct way, but also adding what happened the day before, and how I screwed up the joke. They all laughed, but not at my joke, at me. At least I got the laugh I was looking for.