Competitive youth tournament

[#olderthanilook]

6th gr boys.

Coach for team A requests to ask a question while teams are lining up for 2 FTs and asks something like this: it seems like every time down the floor, you guys are calling a foul (notice that wasn't a question, lol) "Coach, there is a lot of contact and we are getting the stuff that changes speed/direction, slows down or displaces. And we will always protect shooters." He then says, "well, this is only D3 league ball (competitive, but not the highest skill level)." I say, "the kids have to adjust to the way we are calling the game".

Aftewards, a parent (perhaps even a grandparent) from Team A walks over to me and my partner and says, "You know, we've played 4 games already this weekend, and....you two are the best officials we've had yet. You guys actually call fouls instead of letting the kids run wild and letting the game get too physical and out of control. It seems like the other officials want to just stand around and watch the game. Thanks for doing a great job."

Btw, Team A won the game.

I said "thanks" and that was that.

The irony was quite humorous.

[maven]

I would have waited for the question, and then answered it as briefly as possible.

Cool that some parents supported the officials for a change.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by maven

I would have waited for the question, and then answered it as briefly as possible.

Cool that some parents supported the officials for a change.

I've played it that way in the past, but that can come off as having an attitude. So, I indulged him.

[maven]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

I've played it that way in the past, but that can come off as having an attitude. So, I indulged him.

Oh sure, I've heard that too. Then I started to smile more.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by maven

Oh sure, I've heard that too. Then I started to smile more.

I had a back court violation in the 2nd game. The Coach says, "wasn't my player in the front court before he caught the ball?"

Me: "No, coach."

Coach: "Don't patronize me."

[maven]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

I had a back court violation in the 2nd game. The Coach says, "wasn't my player in the front court before he caught the ball?"

Me: "No, coach."

Coach: "Don't patronize me."

See? You probably weren't smiling.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

Coach: "Don't patronize me."

He's right. Don't patronize him. Technicalize him. If that doesn't work, ejecticalize him.

[#olderthanilook]

Awesome advice, clowns!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

I've played it that way in the past, but that can come off as having an attitude. So, I indulged him.

You could always ask, "What's your question, coach?"

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by Adam

You could always ask, "What's your question, coach?"

That works well at the varsity level...the youth level - not so much. Just get incredulous looks of bewilderment. Youth coaches are a special breed.

Sunday morning, I had a coach yell across the court as we are heading the other way (I'm the new trail), "Hey, please watch for the reaching." I said, "They can reach all they want, coach." with a big smile on my face.

Later, during FTs, he asks why reaching isn't a foul. So I told him why. He was blown away. Then asked if it's a reaching foul when a defender reaches and hits his player on the arm while dribbling. I said "no". "But, I'd call a "holding" or "Pushing foul". His eyes got big and says that it's all semantics. Whatever, coach. I smiled and moved on.

But, I know where these guys get the stuff - during oen of my son's tournament games this weekend, one of the officials reported an "over the back" foul to the table where I was working the scorebook on several occassions.

[26 Year Gap]

Was it really competitive?

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Was it really competitive?

Padgett's alter ego?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by #olderthanilook

That works well at the varsity level...the youth level - not so much. Just get incredulous looks of bewilderment. Youth coaches are a special breed.

Sunday morning, I had a coach yell across the court as we are heading the other way (I'm the new trail), "Hey, please watch for the reaching." I said, "They can reach all they want, coach." with a big smile on my face.

Later, during FTs, he asks why reaching isn't a foul. So I told him why. He was blown away. Then asked if it's a reaching foul when a defender reaches and hits his player on the arm while dribbling. I said "no". "But, I'd call a "holding" or "Pushing foul". His eyes got big and says that it's all semantics. Whatever, coach. I smiled and moved on.

But, I know where these guys get the stuff - during oen of my son's tournament games this weekend, one of the officials reported an "over the back" foul to the table where I was working the scorebook on several occassions.

"Coach, if you have a question. I'll try to answer, otherwise I have a game to call."

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

Was it really competitive?

yep

[Rich]

You see officials who try to call the fewest number of fouls possible at all levels.

I've had games with fewer than 15 fouls total. I've had games with more than 50. My goal is to try to have a good decision for every foul / no foul situation and worry very little about how many fouls are called.