Dealing with Coaches

[Back In The Saddle]

Tomegun,

In my experience I have found it beneficial to acknowledge some comments. I should qualify that, however. General play-by-play and mindless chirping pass without acknowledgement just fine. But comments directed right to the official, that express an actual identifiable expressable concern, those are what I acknowledge. "They're palming every time" or "23 is in the key all night" or "they're moving on their screens". That is the the kind of stuff I'm talking about. The coach has a concern (legitimate or not), wants it addressed, and needs to know that you heard him.

What I've found happens if I don't acknowledge him is that he'll bring it up the next 10 times I'm in front of him. It's annoying. It feels like he's harping. It gets under my skin. But often all he wants is some indication that I heard him.

It doesn't take much. A nod or shake of the head is often enough. You don't even have to do anything about his concern. But let him know somehow that you heard it.

YMMV