Sore Losers/Game Management (kinda long)

[Back In The Saddle]

I worked probably my 8th and 9th games tonight. Felt good; things are starting to flow. Thank you to everybody for your advice on refereeing the defense and working wide. Near the end of the second game, I was starting to see plays much more clearly.

The second game was a mismatch. The losing team was out played, out run, out shot, out rebounded, and out manned. They did distinguish themselves by committing many more fouls than the other team

Some of them were stupid, really obvious fouls. (Where do kids learn to give the defender a big ol' belly-bump as he blows past them. Coaches, do you teach this?)

As the game goes on and the losing team is 30-40 points behind, the parents and coaches start carping. With 2 mins left in the game, I'd had enough and gave the coach the stop sign and told him that I would not listen to even a single word more. I was out near the far end of the foul line, in front of his bench when I did this, loud enough for all to hear. It shut them all up, at least.

Surely there is a better way to "manage" this situation. What do experienced refs do to keep games like this from turning sour?