Communicating with Coaches

[lmeadski]

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.

[deecee]

Smoke signals works well in some contests.

[Scrapper1]

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.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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.

[Huntin' Ref]

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.

[Mark Padgett]

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.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Huntin' Ref

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 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.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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.

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.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

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.

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fullor30

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.

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

[Mregor]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

Do any of you find value in "managing" the coach in pre- and/or post-game?

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

[mbyron]

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.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mbyron

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

Facetious
1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : 2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious

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

[BillyMac]

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.

[IREFU2]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

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.

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