The mantra I have always been taught and taught to others is "A REASONABLE question gets a reasonable response"...a question like the one in the OP is most certainly not reasonable - that coach was trying to pick a fight or just plain being an a$$-hat. They don't need a response, and in most cases any response will just cause more problems.

Snaqwells likes this

Without seeing the play in person who are we to say it's not a reasonable question? What's the harm in saying, "Coach, your kid was out of bounds when he touched it." If he does something after that to be a PitA then deal with it accordingly but just because a question has an obvious answer doesn't mean it isn't reasonable.

That's essentially what I said as I made the call. The coach's question was not reasonable by any definition.

He already knew that his player was oob when he touched the ball. That wasn't the question that he asked. If you honestly believe that the question that was asked was reasonable, then :rolleyes:

ha!!!

Here's just what this forum needs:
 

lol...http://forum.officiating.com/images/icons/icon14.gif

The same way we make other decisions about what we answer or decide the context of any question asked by a coach.

Peace

The question in the OP says "How can it be out of bounds if he didn't have possession?" Obviously he knew his kid was out of bounds. There doesn't appear to be anything antagonistic in the question. Assuming the coach hadn't been a pain up until that point, saying what I said earlier or, better yet, "Coach, that doesn't matter" as you're moving in the other direction isn't going to kill anyone.

If he's been a pain up to that point I can see saying "Coach, please..." or something to that effect but the question itself taken as it's presented here doesn't appear to be unreasonable. Silly, yes, but not unreasonable. Not answering it, or at least acknowledging it, provides ammunition for the coach to say "I asked a legitimate question and didn't get an answer."

+1

Possession is not required for an OOB violation, coach.

The response to his potential "complaint" is simple. "It wasn't a legitimate question." Besides, the ball was live, and he wasn't asking me (the calling official), he was asking my partner as he transitioned into new lead.

You may have missed it, as it wasn't in the OP, but this should answer your implied question:

I'll add that while it's possible for such a question to be asked in sincerity, I have a hard time believing a coach actually is confused about this particular rule.

I can also add that his tone was certainly antagonistic.

This gives an acknowledgement and also tells him that you know he's being an a$$-hat.

Ooops I meant to end that with a question mark. Answering questions (when the answer is obvious) with a question isnt a bad thing in these situations.

Coach: Thats not a travel?
Me: What foot did you have as the pivot, coach?

They never know the answer & the convo stops there.

Oh, this coach knew. He screamed about a travel no-call where the opponent picked up his pivot foot before shooting. "He picked up his pivot foot!" Next opportunity (when the coach was calm), my partner took a moment to explain to him the rule about picking up the pivot foot.

Be careful. In some cases, it doesn't matter which foot you or the coach had as the pivot foot as it would be a travel either way.

Examples: a player holding the ball with both feet on the floor and both feet are moved....call either one the pivot and it is still a travel. I see this type of travel in post moves and on perimeter shots. In the post, it is often called a power step, but often the timing of the dribble and the step is off or there is no dribble at all. On the perimeter I often see it when a player catches the ball in front front of the 3 point line who then hops back for a 3-point shot without dribbling.

Again, you don't need to know the pivot foot to call some travels.