"This is my livelihood..."

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

+1...but with a question....

What if the coach keeps repeating the comment?

That would be "prolonged" in the 3 P's (personal, prolonged, profane). The temptation (although I wouldn't act on it), would be to tell him I heard him the first 5 times he said it.

[Mark Padgett]

Official: "That's a T, coach."
Coach: "But this is my livelihood."
Official: "Well, stop being so lively and you won't get another."

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

That would be "prolonged" in the 3 P's (personal, prolonged, profane). The temptation (although I wouldn't act on it), would be to tell him I heard him the first 5 times he said it.

Or "Really? I hope you didn't already quit your day job"

[Texas Aggie]

but what other reason is there for a coach to say something like that other than to diminish our efforts? Perhaps even to say we are cheating somehow

This is sort of what I'm getting at. The other implication is something like, "whenever you make a call that goes against my team, my livelihood is harmed." These are emotional pleas for calls that have little, if anything to do with whether the calls are correct. In Texas public schools, all coaches are full time faculty members. Varsity Football head coaches are usually just that, with an additional title of administrator to allow them to make a higher salary than teachers. All these guys THINK the coaching job is their livelihood, while for the head football coaches, it pretty much is.

When I've heard clinicians talk about these things, its been more of a "what we are hearing from coaches," rather than a "think about it from their perspective."

I'm not hearing this directly from coaches as much as I'm hearing it from supervisors and assignors who talk with coaches, but I'm sure we will all hear it at some point. I bring the topic up because this is something I haven't heard much before recently in my 20+ years in officiating in several sports at all levels. I'm also trying to figure out, from a coach's perspective, what they are trying to get out of the question or comment -- i.e. how exactly do they want us to respond?

[Adam]

I wonder if this won't be something they try, at first, with assigners when calling with complaints?

[Multiple Sports]

1 st post so be nice.

Have heard from a retired well respected D - 1 official on the east coast that we need to consider something along these lines. For example, if a guy is getting his tail kicked by 30 at home we need to be understanding. He might be 4 and 21 in February.
He could be in the last year of his contract and doesn't see eye to eye with his A.D. And don't forget his assistants. One of those guys might be a head coach one day and he might help you get in a league.

Not saying that I agree, but sometimes if we use some people skills it may go a long way with developing a relationship.

Now as far as a hs coach - no way would I take that b.s.

Great no longer a virgin !!!!!!

[Adam]

AFAIC, "this is my livelihood" has nothing to do with how much crap I'm going to take. They're using it to try to manipulate calls. If a coach is 4-21 in February, and on his way out, why should I take more crap than I would from a coach who is 21-4? They're both adults who are capable of acting like adults.