This happened tonight
 

My partner and I refereed the game between OHMS and NWMS tonight. XXXX XXXXXXX is the coach for the OHMS 7th grade team.

Early in the first quarter I called a three second violation on NWMS. While I was counting the seconds the player was in the key, Mr. XXXXX was loudly saying, "Three seconds! Three seconds!" When I made the call I looked at him and said, "I've got it!"

Later in the first half, I called a three second violation on OHMS. He asked me which player and I told him. I was then the new trail right in front of the OHMS bench. As soon as I arrived there, he was counting out loud (and not quietly), "One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand."

I blew my whistle and administered a technical. He said, "I was just counting to myself!" I reported to the table since I was right there and then moved to talk to my partner. Mr. XXXXXXX asked me for an explanation. I explained, "That was unsportsmanlike conduct." He said, "Why? Because I'm wanting you to call it the same both sides?" I repeated, "It was unsportsmanlike conduct" and moved away.

There were no further issues that game.

This was my report. Anyone who might have done something differently?

Rita

My advice is be careful to be too quick in assessing a T. I would warn him, or tell him to knock it off unless it was so obvious that he was trying to show you up...
A 3 second call or two would not be enough to push my buttons...

i agree - not sure I would have issued the T on this one. I would have warned him and if he did it again I would have given the T.

Robby

I don't have a problem with it. That's just stupid. He had it coming.

Sometimes we forget that we are dealing with a 7th Grade Coach and not a high school or college coach that might know better not to count. I think this is a "talk to" (warning).

Good T, IMO. You'd already asked him to stop, and he continued anyway.

I'm reading it as the same coach making this mistake. When she told him "I've got it," that's his warning.

Depends on the history with the coach. I like the "T" in this case.

I still haven't given one yet this year.....

7th grade coach? All the more reason for giving him the T after telling him to stop.

When did he tell him to stop counting? "I've got it" is not telling him to stop.

i agree with the "t". however, not only have i not given my first "t" this year, i haven't called three seconds in a 7th grade game/first quarter in several years. talk the kids out of there and the coaches will see you working...

"I've got it" is just that in my book. YMMV of course. He obviously either didn't understand or care.

Frankly, his response to the T might have drawn a 2nd.

"Because I'm wanting you to call it the same both sides?"

Again, in a 7th grade game, it would have likely gone down the same way with me.

Agreed. I haven't had a counter in about 15 years. He drew a technical when he said, "1. 2. 3. Can't you count to 3?" My thought was, "I can count to T."

I'd be thrilled if they rewrote the 3-second rule in a way that shut up coaches who think we should be actively looking for players with one toe over the lane line opposite the ball. (This only happens in lower level and girls varsity games, IMO.)

IMHO - the call was good. He waited for you - then got in your ear, was obnoxious, was making an azz of himself - and succeeded. If you let it go it just encourages him to continue and encourages his players and asst. coaches to do the same. In this case I am not inclined to "give a warning". He was asking for it - you gave it to him - good for you. As you stated - no further problems.

As far as the "I was counting to myself" comment - tell him to count quietly next time!! :D

You've never run into a player at that level that just didn't listen?

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

There's only one reason he counted out loud....

....to show you up in front of everyone in the gym. "I was counting to myself" is proof.....

Whack....

How about..."Coach we are done counting out loud, if you continue it will be a technical foul."

How about "WHACK - coach we are done counting out loud, if you continue it will be another technical foul. :p

The OP's remark was sufficient warning, IMO. A quibbler can always find something to pick at, including in your remark ("You said 'we' are done, but that doesn't imply that I'm done."). Homey don't play that game.

This Kinda says it all. A good T is one that makes your game better.

We had a coach who came at my partner at halftime while we were standing at midcourt. The guy is a newer/greener official than me and I stepped in and walked the coach away and essentially told him to get to the locker room.

At halftime, I had a chat with a D-I official who happens to work at the school. He asked me if I had specifically warned the coach. I hadn't. Perhaps it would've been a useful thing -- at the time I was most interested in getting him away from my partner (who made a great call, BTW) and to the locker room so we could clear out ourselves.

I'm not a big fan of phrases like "you've been warned" or "this is your warning" but I know that different areas and different levels have requirements and you should just go with what's done locally.

On Further Thought, Nevermind ...
 

The captains always listen to every word we say at the pregame captain's meeting. Right?

It's why my meeting lasts about 15 seconds.

Personally, I don't care if she'd had further problems after this call, it would have still been a good T. I don't much care for that standard ("a good T makes your game better.")

Unsporting behavior needs to be dealt with. It will normally make the game better, but if it doesn't that doesn't mean it was a bad T.

Reading is so fundamental
 

This is what I get for trying to comprehend late at night. Re-reading the OP with a modicum more consciousness I think you're probably right. I hate when that happens. :o

About as much as your partners if you're the R......

+1

Most technical fouls call themselves. Just call the damn "T"s without analyzing the hell outa them. They're just another call, as has been already pointed out umpteen times by various esteemed and astute members.

I have no problem with that T. Just like middle school players need to learn how to play the game, some middle school coaches need to learn how to coach. (Most notably acceptable and non acceptable behavior)
I agree that most T's take care of themselves.
As for more warnings: (facetious, sorta)
"Coach, I am trying to count to 3 but everytime I get to 2 you keep interrupting me with YOUR count and I have to start over again!"
"Coach, if you are counting to yourself, please use your inside voice!"
As a rule of thumb, if I hear a coach start counting, I stop counting, but that is just me HA:D

I've used the "I've got it, coach" a few times when actually making the call (3 seconds, traveling, 5 seconds, it doesn't matter) and it usually gets the point through.

Yep...had a MS coach earlier this year who made the remark that our assignor had assigned this game with a little "overkill"...apparently in reference to us doing Varsity Basketball in the area.

Then he preceded to tell me, during the game, that the opposing 7th grader was "in the key". (His big toe was over the lane line opposite ball)

I asked him if he "was going to tell me how to officiate this game"? He was smart enough to know, that was enough.

Exactly...and they usuually get a STOP sign with the statement...for visual effect.;)

As a rule of thumb, I just go ahead and make the call that's appropriate for the situation and then deal with the coach that's trying to influence me. But that is just me.

And yeah, I saw the :D.

I prefer to go with a long delay between my whistle and the violation mechanic accompanied by a look of distain on my face directed at the coach. :cool:

That works also...;)

Fixed it for ya . Didn't want the guys correcting one of my mentors !:p

Of course it is. "I have it, I'll make the call when it needs to be made, I don't need you to count."

It ain't that hard to understand that.

Yep, and if he doesn't understand what I mean this time, he will next time.