"That was a WEAK foul!!!"

[Tio]

Originally Posted by Chris Whitten

May have kicked a technical foul last night. Very competitive MS boys game. B spectators quite vocal, bordering on abusive/personal comments toward officials. A1 is driving across the lane when he is hacked on the arm By B1 as he is gathering the ball. Coach B is immediately asking me what B1 did. After reporting the foul, I explained the call to him. He huffs and stomps off yelling, "That was a WEAK foul!!!" I took it as directed at me and my call (and possibly inciting his already boisterous crowd). After meeting with my partner and going over the foul shooting order, etc., Coach B called me over (calmly) and contended that he was yelling at his player. Until that moment I had not considered that as a possibility. I explained the way I perceived it and we moved on. After that we had a better game.

I love how coaches and players will take a swipe at officiating/calls and claim they were talking to their team. If a coach says to his player "the refs suck." How is that any different than if it is said to your face?

On this play, I would only advise the following. If you KNOW that you got the play right (foul) then my tolerance for objection goes WAY down. If it was a tough play, then I will let the coach vent if done so professionally. The stomping around is unacceptable bench decorum and the T is warranted on those merits alone. Not to mention, you are having issues with the crowd and poor coach behavior only incites the crowd and makes it worse. I think you did the right thing.