Varsity coach abusing JV official

[johnyd]

Girls JV game. Varsity coach is watching the game in stands sitting with varsity players. Opponent drives to the hoop and ball is soundly blocked by the JV center. Unfortunately her momentum carries her into and flattens the airborn shooter. Partner, rightfully calls the body foul.

The big mouth Varsity coach goes nuts. Screaming at the top of his lungs, "Worst call I ever seen. No wonder you guys are JV officials. You guys are horrible. Go back to CYO. etc."

What should we have done? What could we rightfully do?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by johnyd

What should we have done? What could we rightfully do?

Toss him. JV coach gets promoted for the evening.

[Adam]

Varsity coach is a spectator. If what was said would cause you to have a spectator removed, have him removed. If you would ignore it from a spectator, ignore it during the game.

Be sure and report this behavior to your assignor and your state. It's poor form, unprofessional, and manifests what is probably an instinctual desire to blame the refs when his team loses.

[Ignats75]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Varsity coach is a spectator. If what was said would cause you to have a spectator removed, have him removed. If you would ignore it from a spectator, ignore it during the game.

Be sure and report this behavior to your assignor and your state. It's poor form, unprofessional, and manifests what is probably an instinctual desire to blame the refs when his team loses.

I tend to trust my instincts. My initial reaction was to agree with byron. Then when I read Snaqwells post it was a reasoned and measured response as most of his are.

However, as I thought about this situation, I started to think (dangerous I know).

Everyone in that gym knows who that coach is. He should be held to a higher standard than some student or fan. Toss him. I'm not sure whether he can be banned from the Varsity game (if its next) or not, since he wasn't ejected as bench personnel. Thats probbly up to the AD or principal. I would not only file a report with the assignor (in Northern Ohio, assignors serve as league commissioners) but also with the state association, in Ohio that would be the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). Let them feel free to assess any penalties due him.

[26 Year Gap]

You certainly would ask the varsity officials if they heard his comments. And if they didn't, you should fill them in. Then you should go get some popcorn and hope they allow you in the gym [with the popcorn] for the nightcap. Guaranteed that someone is going to be seated in the first quarter. No way a long leash is going to be given to someone like that.

[jdmara]

I would report this to the state and let them deal with this clown. The state will support the officials and he'll feel the wrath!

-Josh

[wanja]

Its a whole lot easier to summarily toss a varsity coach from where we are at compared to what the JV officials on the floor have to deal with. This is an opportunity to find some solid middle ground of not being intimidated but also not being rash. First suggestion is to request that the site supervisor advise the coach to knock it off. If he persists, then toss him. Everybody gets to save some face and hopefully the game continues without further abuse.

[Mark Padgett]

You wait around for the V game, sit in the stands and yell out stuff like:

"You call that an offense? Isn't anybody coaching these poor kids?"

"Hey - where's the defense? That's the worst coaching I've ever seen."

"I've seen better coaching in the CYO!"

"Get a coach. They sell them at WalMart - OOPS! That's were you got this one."

etc.

[StripesOhio]

I'd say a comment to the JV coach to ask his "boss" to settle down. If that doesn't stop it, ask the AD or admin on site. Last resort, let the guy retire to his office until the varisty game. But I'd 100% let the Varsity officiating crew know about his attitude.

[JRutledge]

In my state, I would write them up. But if I knew it was the varsity coach, get rid of him/her and feel nothing about it. He/she is a representative of the team and I would not treat them as a normal fan. And if I was the varsity official to follow, he/she would be on a short leash. Because he/she would have displayed unacceptable behavior and they would not get a chance to act like a fool with me. And if he/she does not like that, they should not act like an azz for everyone to see.

Peace

[Juulie Downs]

I had a JV game where the varsity coach would sit on the bench for a while, then roam up and down in front of the bench, then sit up in the stands. He was coaching, talking on the phone, yelling at us, working on a clipboard, and totally not responding well to me or my partner. I whacked him once when he had been on the bench and had gotten up to yell at me. Finally I told the JV coach, that person is not a coach and may not address me in any way, and it's you that need to control him. About that time the AD intervened and got the guy to sit down in the stands and stay there, although he still had a few comments. After the game, I told the AD, "You'd better talk to the referee commissioner about how to keep the lines a little more clear, and what the consequences might be if it doesn't get worked out."

[NewNCref]

Originally Posted by johnyd

What should we have done? What could we rightfully do?

Had a similar situation to this in our area last year. In the JVB game (at this site, they play JVG, JVB, VG, VB all in one night), home team receives second warning for delay in the 4th quarter, and is assessed a technical foul. VG's head coach goes nuts, and officials toss the VGs head coach, as she came down out of the stands to yell at them. The officials believed (and I agree) that even if the coach was just a spectator, the actions of the coach necessitated her removal. Coach was removed from the remainder of the JVB game, and was allowed to coach the VG's game following.

But to answer your question, I'm going to find it a little easier to toss the varsity head coach than just another spectator. If you can get site management to cool them down, then do it, but if the head coach wants to berate you, then oblige them and let them spend the rest of the game in the locker room.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Varsity coach is a spectator. If what was said would cause you to have a spectator removed, have him removed. If you would ignore it from a spectator, ignore it during the game.

Not here, he's not. He's part of the basketball program at that school and is responsible for his conduct. We are told to ring him up and toss

I had a girls varsity assistant pop off at me during a boys varsity game two weeks ago. Whack! SInce he was sitting immediately behind the boys bench, coach lost his box as well. I got full backing from the booking agent.

If we didn't have the policy in place, I would have game management remove him.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Not here, he's not. He's part of the basketball program at that school and is responsible for his conduct. We are told to ring him up and toss

I had a girls varsity assistant pop off at me during a boys varsity game two weeks ago. Whack! SInce he was sitting immediately behind the boys bench, coach lost his box as well. I got full backing from the booking agent.

If we didn't have the policy in place, I would have game management remove him.

You beat me to it. This warrants a technical foul against the team from that school which is playing as well as removal of the offending adult.

This is about the example which is being set for the kids. If you say anything about sporting behavior in your pregame meeting, then you MUST deal sternly with this unacceptable conduct.

[Adam]

I should have gone with my first instinct, which is to have GM escort him out. I don't disagree with the fact that he's held to a higher standard. And it sounds like the coach here was beyond what I'd take from a spectator anyway.

Regardless, the varsity crew (I forgot to add this one) gets a full report, the assigner gets a full report, and the state gets a full report. If the assigner agrees, I'll copy the AD in on it as well, but that would be up to my assigner.