Great night
 

Worked a crosstown rivalry game with my older brother (my all time favorite partner) and an up and coming official last night. Gym was packed (about 2000 people) and LOUD all night. Visitor started out on 11-1 run to open game and home clawed back all night beofre taking their first lead in the 4th quarter and pulling out a win. Coaches coached, players played and we stayed out of the way. Soooo much fun.

Bad news for BITS, Orem was visiting team.

My favorite kind of game!

Coaches coach? Rare :D

When I have a coach's meeting I simply say "Coaches coach, players play and officials officiate - as long as we do what we came here to do tonight and not the other person's job, we should have a good game" :D Unfortunately some coaches still think we officials need help with our job :rolleyes:

Calling Snaq's signature....

Hardly. I don't get into any rules - just let the coaches know up front that we aren't going to spent that night listening to them gripe at every call. Actually I have had less issues with coaches since using that line than I did before.

It fits in the signature, far as I'm concerned.

As I see it, telling coaches you aren't going to take any crap plants the seed that they're going to have a reason to give you crap in the first place. Or that you're unapproachable, which can be even worse.

"Hi (Bill), Rich, good to see you again. (Are all your players properly attired?) Good luck tonight."

It doesn't vary from night to night. Except when I'm the R and I add the part in parentheses. And the name of the coach isn't always Bill, of course.

Your opinion of course - doesn't mean I have to agree with you or accept it.

I don't say it in a harsh way and I say it to coaches that I have officiated with for years and we all understand what we mean by it. Again no issues.

If it is a new coach or someone I seldom call their games, I simply say "Let's play a good clean game, any questions?" and leave it at that.

I couldn't possibly care if you agree or accept. It's just my opinion.

At least we agree on something

Does it work? I mean, do you get less grief from coaches, in general, when you use the line? Not that it matters a whole lot, I won't be adding it; but I know some officials in my area that use a variation of it when they're R.

When I'm R, my coach meeting is almost as short as my captains meeting. We have to give them each a card with our names written on them. 5 seconds on sportsmanship (required by the state), 5 seconds on attire, a quick word on timeouts (I've noticed this helps with moving the game along), good luck coach, and we're done.

I'm interested in the level of games that he calls. I know that in my games the coaches wouldn't react to this well. You'd be branded unapproachable or worse.

You may hear less from the coach, but the assignor might hear more.

Yes it seems to work BUT understand this is said to coaches that I have worked with for years so they understand what I mean and expect and they also know they can still approach me about a call and I am okay with that. BTW, this is not my line, I learned it from a seasoned official a while back - seemed to work well with him so with permission I started using it.

I would not say it to a coach that is a coach I have never been around ,etc. As I said, I simply say to them "let play a good clean game, any questions?" .

I have very few issues with coaches. I answer their questions if appropriate but if they have worked with me before they also know I am not going to let them question every call/no call during a game. The crew I am on continually is requested by schools so obviously we are doing something right.

I do HS mainly but will also work JV and MS if needed - I am not insulted to be asked to do a MS game like so many officials are. My assigner has never had a complaint about me - or if he has it hasn't been enough to bring to me and I call as often as I want - never in want for games.

OK, so I can gather you're a varsity official, then. I guess my question is (since the coaches are very familiar with you) -- does it really buy you anything? They know you, know what game you call, etc. They like you cause they ask for you. I think they know not to give your crew any grief, phrase or no phrase.

It doesn't change things for you, but a lot of newer officials read advice like this and think it's great and there's no pitfalls involved in using it. Just saying that there can be.

Fair enough about the familiarity aspect, but have you noticed these same familiar coaches complain more if you don't use it?

I'm off tonight -- I'd work middle school or JV or FR tonight if there was a game close to home needing an official.

I'm not a huge fan of working lower level games except in emergencies. There's a lot of new, learning officials that need the work and I don't need to be competing with them for games. When an assigner is in a bind, of course, is another story altogether.

From that perspective I will agree with you. Maybe it doesn't gain me much - it probably has become more of my byline than anything. I might try NOT saying ti tonight and see what happens - they may give me a odd look :)

You do; however, bring up a good point - I would not suggest a rookie official use this line. I would suggest they keep it very simple - an introduction, ensure players are legal and wish them the best and let it go at that.

I think one fo the most important things an official can do to be a good offical (besides knowing the game backwards and forwards) is to be approachable by a coach. I learned early on NOT to ignore coach's questions - at least acknowledge you heard them even if you don't agree. Of course if they continually are harping, let them knwo you hear them by giving them a warning :D

I agree but I also see it as an opportunity to help mentor a new official so he/she can move up the ladder. I was fortunate to work with good seasoned officials when I was starting and was glad they were willing to work lower level games with a rookie that barely knew how to blow a whistle :)

I'll agree with that. That's why every Sat I do four U13 Rec games usually with four different partenrs each week. Hopefully, I'm looked at like that.

I remember my first game when my partner asked me why I keep Ting up the coach when all he wants is a time out? Hey, what'd I know? :o

Had a Varsity girls/boys Saturday night and I didn't do my usual spill in the coach's meeting - just said "let's play a good clean game and have fun". Both coaches know me well and one said (laughing) "since you didn't give your usual words, does that mean I can question all your calls tonight?". We smiled and that was it. Had a great game although we had to start the game with a T because a player was left off the roster :rolleyes:

You're the U13? Court must be crowded.:D

But Ireland Does ...
 

We don't even have a U2 here in the Consitution State.

I'm guessing you meant 'spiel'? Or do you have a pre-game drinking problem? :D

Well, he gets a DOG warning if it's a spill.

Yes that is what I meant - but there are times I need a drink after a game :D

Now Coach, Who Would Spill Water On Purpose ???
 

Had my very first one last week. After I reported the DOG warning, and told the coach, he said, "But it was an accident".

[QUOTE=stripes;722256]Worked a crosstown rivalry game with my older brother (my all time favorite partner) and an up and coming official last night. Gym was packed (about 2000 people) and LOUD all night. Visitor started out on 11-1 run to open game and home clawed back all night beofre taking their first lead in the 4th quarter and pulling out a win. Coaches coached, players played and we stayed out of the way. Soooo much fun.

I want to reff where you do! Glad you had a great time! Its those games that remind me of why I reff. This last weekend was GI, GD, GO!!

Robby's words look like preventive officiating to me. What pitfalls do you mean, Rich?

I mean that if I'm the coach and the first words by an official to me are about questioning calls, I'm thinking that there'll be a need for me to question a lot of calls. To me, it's starting off on the wrong foot with a coach. I'd rather smile, shake his hand, and wish him and his team well and nothing more. At the varsity level, he should know by now how to talk to an official.

+1

It's certainly not the right thing to mention first -- first impressions and all -- but I see nothing wrong with a casual mention of what's expected from questioning. I have something similar at the end of my meeting, which Snaqs has embellished and immortalized in his sig. It works for me, too.

By the way, Robby, don't y'all pronounce spiel "spill" down there, anyway?