Dealing With Coaches

[BillyMac]

Reasons To Not Give A Technical Foul
You can address a coach before it becomes a problem. A quiet word can go a long way in preventing a
technical foul.
When coaches complain, ask yourself, is the call questionable, is the call wrong. If they have a legitimate
gripe, then allow them some latitude. Be courteous. Do not argue. Be firm and fair
If you know a coach is upset then move away from him or her, even if it means that you and your partner
are not switching or rotating properly.
Warnings can be very effective in preventing situations from escalating. Don't tolerate a lot before a
warning.
Lend a reasonable ear. Coaches like to be heard. If you ignore them then they become more frustrated and are
more likely to lose control.
If an assistant is out of line, then you can speak to the head coach and ask them to help you out.
If a player is out of line then let the coach know. Tell them you've warned their player. That way if you
do give a technical foul, then the coach isn't surprised. Most good coaches will speak to the player first.
If you have had a rough day and know your fuse is short, keep that in mind before you do anything rash.
Ask yourself, does the situation come under one of the top reasons to give a technical foul.
If necessary, give an initial strong warning. Let your partner know about the warning.

Reasons To Give A Technical Foul
There are many different factors to consider when deciding to give a technical foul. Generally, there are
three areas of coach's behavior that need attention: when a coach makes it personal, when a coach draws attention to himself or herself, and when a coach's complaints are persistent.

Some technical fouls are easy. They are black and white situations that leave little room for negotiation:
Using profanity or language that is abusive, vulgar, or obscene.
A coach questions your integrity.
Inciting an undesirable crowd reaction.
A coach is embarrassing an official.
A coach or player has been warned and has not heeded the warning.
Leaving the confines of the coaching box and complaining.
A coach demonstrates displeasure with your partner and their back is turned.

Other technical fouls are not as black and white. In some situations, a warning may be appropriate
before the technical foul is given:
A coach or player continually demonstrates signals or asks for calls.
If they have interfered with the game or your concentration, then they have usually gone too far.
If giving a technical will help give structure back to the game and if it will have a calming effect on things.

Ways To Give A Technical Foul
Calling a technical foul should be no different then calling any other foul. It is simply a rule that requires
a penalty. Maintain a calm attitude, have poise and presence. Don’t personalize it. Don't embarrass the
coach by being demonstrative.
Take your time. Don’t over react. Always sound the whistle and stop the clock with a foul signal. Signal
the technical foul. Take a deep breath to calm yourself. Proceed to the reporting area, report the technical
foul clearly to the table, and leave the area. Never look at a coach when you give a technical foul.
Confer with your partner. If the technical foul is charged to the head coach or bench personnel, have your
partner inform the coach of the loss of the coaching box.
Explanations, it needed should be done by partner. When asked, always explain technical fouls on players
to coaches.

Proceed with the administration of the penalty. After technical fouls, put the ball in play immediately.
The calling official may want to stay away from the coach for a few minutes, even if it means not making
a switch, or making an unneeded switch, after the administration of the technical foul penalty has been
completed.
Because a coach has been penalized with a technical foul does not mean that the coach is allowed
rebuttal time.
Make them earn the second technical foul. Don't be reluctant to give the second technical foul if it
is warranted.

Original Source: The Greater Philadelphia Basketball Official's Association

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Top Reasons To Not Give A Technical Foul

Am I the only one who hates the name of this list? It comes across as "top ten excuses not to give..."

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Am I the only one who hates the name of this list?

I hate all lists like this for officials. Imo the concept is stoopid. Our job is to R-E-A-C-T! We don't have time to stop and mentally go over a pile of vague directions that may or may not even be applicable to the situation we're facing to decide which one might be best. And if anybody thinks that we do have the time to mentally go through all those reasons to give or not give a "T" before making a decision, well, they just ain't in touch with the realities of the job we have to do out there imo.

Paralysis through analysis!

OK for the classroom. Not so good out on the floor.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

OK for the classroom.

Which is exactly what it was designed for, rookie officials. freddie_g2001 doesn't need this list, he's been around the block several times, but others may.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Which is exactly what it was designed for, rookie officials.

I would hate to have a T situation in a game be the first time I had thought about where my line was.

Wait a minute, I think that is the way it happened. My face went flush, my temper rose and I thought about saying lots of cuss words. Fortunately I didn't. But if I had been more prepared, I may have been . . . more prepared.

Don't let JR 'bust your chops' about your lists without standing up for their usefulness. He's just a mean ol' grouch with lot of basketball rules knowledge and little tact. Rules Rulz, or something like that.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Which is exactly what it was designed for, rookie officials. freddie_g2001 doesn't need this list, he's been around the block several times, but others may.

I saw the "Communication with Coaches" list for the first time back in 2008 (my first year). The list helped develop my game management skills tremendously, and I'm sure helped me in keeping some coaches under control and in some instances enabled me to avoid having to whistle a T.
I still have the copy I printed out two years ago (along with JRut's pre-game discussion recap) and I re-read both of them before the start of the season.

[Upward ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Which is exactly what it was designed for, rookie officials. freddie_g2001 doesn't need this list, he's been around the block several times, but others may.

I find them helpful before hand as examples, and to have some options ahead of time . I tend to react with attitude when someone gives me some crap and I definitely want to remain calm and professional instead of reactionary. Thats my theory and I'm sticking with it !

[Rob1968]

Because I train and mentor a lot of younger officials, I find such lists to be helpful, in the classroom.
In a game, I have 3 quick thoughts regarding a situation that may warrant a "T":
If I give this T, will it make this game better?
If I give this T, will it make my performance in this game better?
Would I expect my partner(s) to put up with this behavior?
If it's yes, yes, no, it's a T.
I also tell younger officials that if they have to give a player or coach a T, that needs to be the calmest moment of the official's entire day, and game.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Rob1968

Because I train and mentor a lot of younger officials, I find such lists to be helpful, in the classroom.
In a game, I have 3 quick thoughts regarding a situation that may warrant a "T":
If I give this T, will it make this game better?
If I give this T, will it make my performance in this game better?
Would I expect my partner(s) to put up with this behavior?
If it's yes, yes, no, it's a T.
I also tell younger officials that if they have to give a player or coach a T, that needs to be the calmest moment of the official's entire day, and game.

These lists are a substitute for experience. As JR points out, experienced officials do not need lists, because they can just react appropriately based on their experience.

Noobs need lists because they don't have experience, and the lists give them some basis for calls. And some lists are better than others. My personal fave is the three P's.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

I hate all lists like this for officials. Imo the concept is stoopid. Our job is to R-E-A-C-T! We don't have time to stop and mentally go over a pile of vague directions that may or may not even be applicable to the situation we're facing to decide which one might be best. And if anybody thinks that we do have the time to mentally go through all those reasons to give or not give a "T" before making a decision, well, they just ain't in touch with the realities of the job we have to do out there imo.

Paralysis through analysis!

OK for the classroom. Not so good out on the floor.

Agreed. But it seems like a good reference. The sort of thing that when you have a "bad coach night" you might review to see if there is a tool or two there that might help next time, and make a mental note of it.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Am I the only one who hates the name of this list?

Me too. I've kept "top" in because it was listed as such in the original source, The Greater Philadelphia Basketball Official's Association. I've never liked it. I'll get rid of "top", but still give credit to the guys in the City of Brotherly Love.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Me too. I've kept "top" in because it was listed as such in the original source, The Greater Philadelphia Basketball Official's Association. I've never liked it. I'll get rid of "top", but still give credit to the guys in the City of Brotherly Love.

For the record, it's not "top" that bothers me; it's "reasons." No official should ever be thinking of reasons not to call a T, especially newer officials.

As for the communication list, it is what it is; I don't mind that one. It's a good starting point, IMO, but that's it.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Am I the only one who hates the name of this list? It comes across as "top ten excuses not to give..."

You are not. I hate lists like this in general. They do not always apply to a lot of situations.

Peace