stupid kid; stupid parent

[Tio]

Agree with Snaq.

If you ask him to repeat it you are baiting him. Either ignore it or T him on the spot. You cannot win with parents at any level. Those after-game conversations rarely go well and should be avoided at all costs.

[Adam]

For the record, I don't advocate ignoring. It needs to be addressed.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Tio

Agree with Snaq.

If you ask him to repeat it you are baiting him. Either ignore it or T him on the spot. You cannot win with parents at any level. Those after-game conversations rarely go well and should be avoided at all costs.

I agree with you. Nothing good can come of asking him to repeat himself. If you're not sure what he said, he just got a freebie. Good on him. If you heard him the first time, whack him and move on. I don't negotiate with players.

[reffish]

Stick him the first time, for sure, or he gets a freebie. As an educator, when you ask the student to repeat something you might have heard, giving him a chance to "back down" (this is now creating an environment of challenges and what teen is going to back down from a challenge {as a parent and middle school and high school teacher, this rarely happens}) don't be surprised on what you hear and especially don't punish the kid when you ask for clarification, just correct and move on. As an official, if you ask for clarification, don't stick the kid for being honest. It may seem weird, but this will build trust on the court and build a rapport with the players. If you are not seeking that and want to, well I am not sure what you are seeking, and want to the "that ref" according to players, then stick the kid when he answers your questions honestly and be satisfied that the kid has learned his lesson, or whatever you are trying to prove.