Escorted out of gym by police tonight

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This situation almost always doesn't end well.

I was shocked that the coach came in our locker room after the game. He was a first yr, young, JV coach (it was one of my first games too). After my report, I was told his school later officially reprimanded him.

I returned later that year to do another game and was very anxious...... It seemed to have been all forgotten, or at least misremembered.

Certainly a learning experience that's for sure.


I was told after the fist Gulf War, Colin Powell said, "Even Saddam Hussein has value. He can always be used as a bad example."

[chartrusepengui]

whether or not a call was "questionable" does not excuse inappropriate behavior of the coach or player. You called what you saw and did what you thought was right. Don't let that eat at you. If it was a mistake - so be it. It will not be the last one you make.

When this happens - keep hands to yourself, mouth professional and use the authorities as you did. If you are professional you will not need to worry about being sued either.

We had an incident last season where I called a flagrant personal foul on a player for A1 going to face of B1 with elbow and making contact - live ball sit. Coach went nuts and got a T. Following game he and his ***'t coach came after us swinging. We were heading to locker room located behind bench area and we were trapped with ***'t coming from one direction, coach from the other and we had to pass one to get to door. We hopped the chairs for the bench and went to center court and waited for police. A fan had called 911. We were threatened with legal action ....... etc. Cops came - one escourted us to locker room and to cars after changing. The other escourted players/coaches to bus. Turn's out the ***'t coach was 25 yr old son of coach and the player with flagrant was his nephew.

Cops were definately backing us as officials. Ironically, the fan that called 911 on the coach was the principal of that school. Next day we both received calls of apology and later a letter that indicatied coach had been fired for his actions. The worst thing we could have done was to act unprofessionally with word or action and escalate the situation. The only fallout we received was that we had to change a regional tournament game and drive further. We had been assigned at that school and didn't think it was a good idea to go there. State agreed with us and the state traded games with another set of officials at another site.

[artar]

Wow, what I rough experience for you! (post directly above). I am going to print that out and remember it as I go through the season. Thank you for the post.

[chartrusepengui]

Actually the hardest part was trying to NOT respond verbally and wondering just how far to go to physically protect yourself. We chose jumping chairs and basically running to center of court away from them as a better choice than physically defending ourselves. That was the first time since 1983 that anything like that has happened to me. FYI - it didn't happen in '83 - that is just when I started officiating.

[IowaMike]

Originally Posted by chartrusepengui

Actually the hardest part was trying to NOT respond verbally and wondering just how far to go to physically protect yourself. We chose jumping chairs and basically running to center of court away from them as a better choice than physically defending ourselves. That was the first time since 1983 that anything like that has happened to me. FYI - it didn't happen in '83 - that is just when I started officiating.

Avoiding confrontation is always the best choice as an official. I never respond to fans. A physical confrontation is the last thing any of us should want. You said you were wondering how far to go to physically protect yourself. For me, if someone comes at me swinging or grabs me, I'm going to put them down. I'm not taking a beating from anyone and nobody else should either. I'll do what it takes to neutralize an attacker so that I can get out of the area in one piece. We have had two incidents in my area in the past 5 or 6 years. One official was choked by a fan while leaving the floor and another was assaulted after the game in the dressing room by the father of a player from the losing team. Both of these were varsity games. I will always walk away as an official, but if somebody puts hands on us I think we have every right to protect ourselves.

Personally, I have never felt like I was in any kind of danger in the 9 years I have been doing this. I think it is a pretty rare a-hole that crosses the line into violence. Some of you guys have had really bad experiences that I am thankful I have been fortunate enough to miss out on.

[bbcof83]

Don't let it eat at you, artar. It sounds like you had the balls to take care of business in a heated situation and that's not always easy for a first year official. Way to go. Get back out on the court and continue to improve every game.

[artar]

That seems like a long time to go (since you started in 83) without an incident like that chartrusepengui. Definitely your description of fleeing from the coaches made them look bad and like you said, the coach was fired. It really tested my nerves last night. I was very fortunate to have an experienced ref at the game guide me through it all and settle me down.

Thanks for the comment bbcof83.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by artar

That seems like a long time to go (since you started in 83) without an incident like that chartrusepengui.

I've had "experiences" with coaches, T'd them but never had anything like that. As you gain experience, you will question yourself less in situations that become heated.

[Adam]

I've had one coach come into a locker room to request my name. I've had a parent ask for my name at an AAU game so she could report me to AAU. I've had a coach come to the locker room to try to get some clarification on a ruling. I've had one escort, after a player fight, more out of precaution. The home coach in that fight was mad that two of his players were ejected when only one from the other team (the one who started the mess) was; and was screaming down the hall as we left. He reminded me that we messed up the free throws, which was funny, because his team benefited from the screw up.

[Berkut]

I remember my very first year officiating, I had several rec games one day, doing them by myself, girls youth, IIRC.

Anyway, girls game, and I don't even remember why, but some parent/coach got mad about some call or another. I ended up Ting up a coach, and while I was reporting the T, a parent who was leaning against the wall next to the bench said something to me as I walked by.

I couldn't really hear him, and he wasn't yelling or anything, so I turned and said "Excuse me?"

He stepped forward, and said in a quiet tone, "I said you were a ****ing *******."

At this point I notice that he is

A) Rather smelly,
B) Dressed like a bum, and
C) Carrying a rather large knife in a sheath at his belt.

Yes, I know, I am clueless to not notice any of this before I spoke to him - but honestly, I was not even aware anyone was all that upset. The coach I just T'ed wasn't even particularly angry.

So I turn away, walk back to the center of the court away from him, and indicate that there is an officials time out. I then tell the head coach (who I just T'ed) that the gentleman in question would be leaving the gym.

The coach has no idea what is going on, so I repeat myself. The guy in question says (loudly now) "I am not leaving - you cannot make me leave!". I say something like "We are not going to continue until he is gone".

The coach tells him to leave, and he does - as he goes he says "I will be waiting for you!", which I ignore.

I finish the game and the next one, put on my jacket and leave. He is sitting outside the door, but either ignored me or did not recognize me.

Looking back on it, I made a variety of mistakes.

1) I should never have responded to whatever it was he muttered at me to begin with. What good ever comes from talking to parents/fans????
2) I should not have thrown him out - I should have gotten whoever was in charge to deal with throwing them out.
3) In retrospect, why didn't I call the cops before I left? It was probably pretty stupid to just walk out of the gym like that after he said he was going to wait for me.

Live and learn though. Nothing ever came of it, fortunately.