I need it as a tool.

And that's how I use it.

Isn't it usually pretty obvious when the coach is misbehaving?

Snaq
 

Didnt know I was dealing with kids when I officiate? Not my job to stroke their ego and if its so obvious OH WELL.

If you dont like doing it not a big deal but I dont treat coaches with kid gloves. They lost that right when they hit puberty and started complaining about everything they so feel like on the court.

If they cant act like an adult not my problem. There is nothing inflamatory being said and if the coach wants to take it that way I cannot control it. Just like I cannot control what a coach chooses to do I cannot control how he might "take" something.

You're right, they're adults and I prefer to treat them as such. Putting the hand up treats them like children, IMO. Again, it's my opinion gathered from my limited life experience. I'm not stoking their ego, I'm just refraining from treating them like an obstinant child.

I don't treat them with kid gloves, I talk to them as peers. My whole point is, unless the coaches in your area have learned that this is an accepted signal, I think it's a bad idea. If they have learned that it's just a signal no different than the "foul tip" or "not-closely-guarded" signals, then use it.

Well then, maybe I'll try it next game. :)

Your local listings are obviously different on this one. I can live with that.

My reputation like yours must preceed me. I have my 49 and 50th game this weekend and so far this year, 1 player T. In 29 years of officiating I have only ejected a coach once.

So moral of the story is call the T's when they are needed early in your career and eventually everyone will know how to behave when they see you on the floor.