Feedback on coach interaction

[Rufus]

I try not to let coaches get under my skin, question my ethics/integrity, or get away with acting like a child on the sideline (stamping feet, etc.). For the most part I try to ignore them and answer questions they may during the game and leave it at that.

At the camp I attended a couple of weeks ago one line I heard was, I thought, pretty good. If you've already answered a coach's question but he keeps hammering you on the call (or has been chirping for a while I guess) the line they came up was to announce loud enough for your partner(s) to hear "Blue coach is done officiating tonight". The meaning, of course, is the same as a stop sign, but this way everyone knows when/if you T him up that they know why it's happened. Obviously this is something you pre-game.

I used this in a game last night and it worked well (i.e., a chirpy coach kept his mouth shut for the rest of the game), but I'm curious regarding any feedback you all might have on this approach.

[Jurassic Referee]

Why not just say "Coach, that's enough"? That puts the onus on the coach to get off your azz. It's also his warning. If he's dumb enough to continue, he then deserves what he gets. And what he gets should be an immediate "T" if he keeps yapping at you.

And you can say "Coach, that's enough" loud enough for your partners to hear and get the meaning also.

Personally, I'm not fond of comments like "You're done officiating tonight". You're sureashell inviting a return comment from the coach like "Well, somebody has to officiate. You're not". And then you have to deal with that one.

The fewer neutral words used, the better.

JMO.

[Indianaref]

Just warn the coach, then tell your partner(s) that the Blue Coach has been warned. If he keeps it up, then you T.

[CLH]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Why not just say "Coach, that's enough"? That puts the onus on the coach to get off your azz. It's also his warning. If he's dumb enough to continue, he then deserves what he gets. And what he gets should be an immediate "T" if he keeps yapping at you.

And you can say "Coach, that's enough" loud enough for your partners to hear and get the meaning also.

Personally, I'm not fond of comments like "You're done officiating tonight". You're sureashell inviting a return comment from the coach like "Well, somebody has to officiate. You're not". And then you have to deal with that one.

The fewer neutral words used, the better.

JMO.

Totally agree, you're only baiting the coach into another snippy comment using these types of one liners. Just warn or wack him and be done with it. Noone is impressed with your clever comebacks, they seldom work.

[bradfordwilkins]

I start with "I hear you coach"

Then go to "That's enough coach"

Then "tweet... WHACK"

Normally they are spread out over the quarter or half or game even.

AAU tournament this past weekend had all 3 of them in a 30 second span less than 2 minutes into the game. The first two didn't work at stopping his yelling and stomping, the third did. No problems rest of game.

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by bradfordwilkins

I start with "I hear you coach"

Then go to "That's enough coach"

Then "tweet... WHACK"

Normally they are spread out over the quarter or half or game even.

AAU tournament this past weekend had all 3 of them in a 30 second span less than 2 minutes into the game. The first two didn't work at stopping his yelling and stomping, the third did. No problems rest of game.

Good stuff!

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by The Rooster

Good stuff!

The three W's, wave, warn, then whack.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Indianaref

The three W's, wave, warn, then whack.

I can't tell you how bad we need the "technical foul" concept in baseball and softball. We have to go straight from "Cut it out" to "Go sit in the air-conditioning". No way to penalize a coach's TEAM for his antics.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Why not just say "Coach, that's enough"?

Exactly. After this, childlike objections magically become, "excuse me, sir..."

What also works for me, with stern eye contact and a hand to the chest: "Coach, I got this."

[Tio]

I am not a big fan of the stop sign. It works for some and that is great.

If you have a coach that wants to be a fourth member of your crew, I would say "Coach, you are distracting us from doing our job." "I am happy to answer your questions/concerns, but we can't have a conversation on every play."

The key is that the behavior needs to be addressed. Find your style and what works best for you. In general, if you are "mad" at a coach, you probably let things go too far.

[Rufus]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. I had never heard that one before but I agree it's better to keep things simple.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by Tio

I am not a big fan of the stop sign. It works for some and that is great.

If you have a coach that wants to be a fourth member of your crew, I would say "Coach, you are distracting us from doing our job." "I am happy to answer your questions/concerns, but we can't have a conversation on every play."

The key is that the behavior needs to be addressed. Find your style and what works best for you. In general, if you are "mad" at a coach, you probably let things go too far.

As a fan of said stop sign, I will disagree. It is also acts as a visual reminder, and most people do better when they see something along with hearing it. It also takes away the argument from a coach that "I wasn't warned". Now if they go back to the game film/tape/8mm/video you will clearly be seen 'warning' the coach about his/her behavior and that will end the discussion right there.
Now, I am NOT saying that you need to give a warning everytime, I am just referencing the use/non use of the stop sign. On the downside, if you are a taller official, and the coach is a lot shorter, make sure when you give them the stop sign it doesn't end up at face level.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Rufus

At the camp I attended a couple of weeks ago ...
they came up was to announce loud enough for your partner(s) to hear "Blue coach is done officiating tonight".

My feedback is that people who believe in teaching comments such as that should not be running camps.

[Adam]

Also, and this is just a thought, but directing your warning to the partners and the rest of the gym really comes across as demeaning and dismissive. IMO, it's better to warn the coach and inform your parters than it is to phrase your warning as a statement to your partners.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Judtech

As a fan of said stop sign, I will disagree. It is also acts as a visual reminder, and most people do better when they see something along with hearing it. It also takes away the argument from a coach that "I wasn't warned". Now if they go back to the game film/tape/8mm/video you will clearly be seen 'warning' the coach about his/her behavior and that will end the discussion right there.
Now, I am NOT saying that you need to give a warning everytime, I am just referencing the use/non use of the stop sign. On the downside, if you are a taller official, and the coach is a lot shorter, make sure when you give them the stop sign it doesn't end up at face level.

1. The argument from the coach that "I wasn't warned" is answered far more easily. I won't even need the tape. "Coach, we're/he's/she's not required to warn you for unsporting behavior."
2. If you need tape to back you up to your assigner, then either you need to find an assigner who trusts your word or your assigner needs to find an official whom he trusts.
3. Some people find the stop sign effective, I haven't. I've used it, and each time I've issued a T immediately afterwards. The coach is an adult, and adults do not like being dismissed with the hand.
4. If this is an accepted mechanic in your area and the coaches understand it as a warning, fine. That hasn't been the case for me in any of the three metro areas in which I've worked.