Lotsa T's for Some, Not Very Many for Others?

[26 Year Gap]

I think being at either extreme is not a good place to be. Technicals are not something to brag about. You don't win a Most Technicals Assessed Award. And you don't get a Perfect Attendance Award for having a T-free season, either.

[BillyMac]

The coaches know me. I've been to the rodeo many, many, many times, in thirty-one years. They know that I will work my butt off for them, and their players. They know that when I make an occasional mistake, that I will allow them to question me, and that I will own up to my mistake. But they also know that I will not allow myself, or my partner, to be abused. No technical fouls so far this year, only a few last year. Reputation. Familiarity.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

I think being at either extreme is not a good place to be. Technicals are not something to brag about. You don't win a Most Technicals Assessed Award. And you don't get a Perfect Attendance Award for having a T-free season, either.

Yep.

Peace

[jTheUmp]

You're forgetting one:

... it's just random coincidence, in that sometimes you get a string of games or a string of situations that require technical fouls, and sometimes you can go an entire month without a T-worthy situation.

Like my situation, for example: 4 Ts this season, 3 of which came in a single 8th grade game (one 'slam-the-ball-down-and-almost-hit-the-official-with-it-as-a-show-of-disgust' whacking, one T for yelling "get out of my face" at an opponent who was just guarding her in the post, and one "you gotta be f-cking kidding me" directed at the officials immediately after the second T).

The 4th T was an administrative T for adding a number to the book.

Other then that, I've been lucky thus far that I've had teams (and coaches) who are more interested in playing and coaching the game than they are in trying to work the officials.

[rockyroad]

It also seems (from the aforementioned thread) that most of the T's are coming in lower level games - Jr. High, rec. league, sub-varsity, etc. So someone who works a steady diet of those games - and the less experienced coaches who are on the bench - will probably have more T's than someone working strictly Varsity or College ball.

[Sharpshooternes]

I haven't been doing this for too long (second year HS) but I think good control early on prevents a lot of garbage plays later. If you can make it through your game with out the coaches being disgusted and the crowd not booing the entire time, you are probably doing a decent job. If you don't have to dish out a lot of technical fouls AND aren't putting up with a bunch of garbage from the players and coaches, this seems like pretty good balance.
I have only had to call a couple of intentional fouls and one girl for swearing. She was from an inner city school which has some of the rougher crowd. The coach came up to us before the start of the game and said, "Don't hesitate to give my players a T for swearing or anything else." Made me kinda chuckle. It didn't get out of control though.

[doubleringer]

First of all, I try not to think about "dishing out" technical fouls. A T is just another foul in the game of basketball. We don't give them out, we assess them when earned.

As far as finding rhyme or reason to why some call more than others, I think there are too many variables to come up with an answer. Some of it has to do with the schedule you work, a lot has to do with your experience level, and let's face it, some nights coaches and players just don't want to act in a sportsmanlike manner, and some nights we don't want to put up with it.

[zm1283]

I know several guys who have no problem whacking a player but will take a lot of abuse from coaches without addressing their behavior. It's kind of weird really.

I agree with the OP. Most officials fall into those categories. As for myself, I have had fewer coach technicals last year and this year. That probably has something to do with me being better than I was a few years ago and seeing the same coaches/teams multiple times per season. Not saying I'm great, but I'm sure as we improve over the years, there are fewer objectionable calls.

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

It also seems (from the aforementioned thread) that most of the T's are coming in lower level games - Jr. High, rec. league, sub-varsity, etc. So someone who works a steady diet of those games - and the less experienced coaches who are on the bench - will probably have more T's than someone working strictly Varsity or College ball.

+1. Had an 8th grade girls game last night. We should have whacked both coaches for ABS after warning both, and my partner had to go to game management about a fan.

[gdudik]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

+1. Had an 8th grade girls game last night. We should have whacked both coaches for ABS after warning both, and my partner had to go to game management about a fan.

You say you should have whacked both. Why didn't you? If you say you should have whacked them, they obviously deserved it. Why did you let unsporting behavior go unpunished?

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by gdudik

You say you should have whacked both. Why didn't you? If you say you should have whacked them, they obviously deserved it. Why did you let unsporting behavior go unpunished?

Hindsight is 20/400 or something like that...

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by gdudik

You say you should have whacked both. Why didn't you? If you say you should have whacked them, they obviously deserved it. Why did you let unsporting behavior go unpunished?

Not sure. I was hoping the warnings would do it. I was also a little surprised that it was happening in an 8th grade game. I could tell my partner was reluctant, so I should have made sure that as a crew we were strong.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by gdudik

You say you should have whacked both. Why didn't you? If you say you should have whacked them, they obviously deserved it. Why did you let unsporting behavior go unpunished?

So he acknowledges he learned a lesson. Good for him (or her). Now, let's dump on him.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

one "you gotta be f-cking kidding me" directed at the officials...

From a middle schooler?

That would likely result in a flagrant T in these parts.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

After 25 years, I've learned one thing -- it has very little to do with me and everything to do with how "in control" players and coaches are.

Would it be a fair statement to say, it can have much to do with how "in control" you are?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bainsey

From a middle schooler?

That would likely result in a flagrant T in these parts.


Would it be a fair statement to say, it can have much to do with how "in control" you are?

No, I don't think so. Of course I feel I'm always in control. It's our job to be.

I've had 3 technicals this season and all were because of poor choices made by the coaches involved. Other seasons I'd go the whole season without a technical. It's a pretty meaningless statistic *unless* you say you've never called one in XX years or you say you've called 45 in a season in which case I'd probably wonder why.