Where is the line for parents?

[The_Rookie]

Originally Posted by APG

My opinion, that's not even close to crossing the line for me. Your proverbial line may vary.

At what point does persistence and ongoing commentary come into play..getting closer to the line?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

At what point does persistence and ongoing commentary come into play..getting closer to the line?

I leave that to game management, but if you find it's distracting you, you can have GM give them an ultimatum. Frankly, I've learned to laugh at them. And I do it on the court.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Adam

I leave that to game management, but if you find it's distracting you, you can have GM give them an ultimatum. Frankly, I've learned to laugh at them. And I do it on the court.

My favourite is when the complain about something and I'd like to say "that's the NBA rule", but sometimes they want a call that doesn't exist at any level.

Or, "they changed that rule - 15 years ago".

[APG]

Originally Posted by The_Rookie

At what point does persistence and ongoing commentary come into play..getting closer to the line?

Your line will vary from mine...it's been suggested that if a fan's behavior starts affecting your officiating, then get game management to deal with the fan.

Me personally, the comments from the OP don't even register to me

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by APG

Your line will vary from mine...it's been suggested that if a fan's behavior starts affecting your officiating, then get game management to deal with the fan.

Do you mean if the official were to make certain to see and call every foul and infraction committed by the kids of these fathers?

[ODog]

To answer the OP's question, "Where is the line for parents?" ...

They don't have one. Fans are plummeting to new depths on a game-by-game basis.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Do you mean if the official were to make certain to see and call every foul and infraction committed by the kids of these fathers?

As one who advocates what APG said, and not sure if you're serious, I'll answer as if you are.

No, I mean if it affects the official's ability to focus on the game.

[Nevadaref]

Seriously, I've worked a couple of AAU tournaments which have a rule that if a parent gets removed, then his/her kid leaves as well. The kid gets pulled off the court immediately and does not get to finish the game.

A simple reminder to the parent of this rule has been quite effective.

[chicodork]

I agree, and I know we can't win against the parents, so it's always better to ignore them, but the level of their screaming, and the proximity of them to the court just put me over the edge. For the first time in my short 3 year career, I had the administration go over and sit with them.

Shut them up until he left them at halftime, then I had to get the comments like, "your ears are better than your eyes!" which was pretty funny, but they were still acting like complete jerks.

In hindsite, I would have ignored them, but at the time, I just didn't feel like hearing that crap all night. Live and learn. I don't have the rep for looking for trouble, and I am trying to move up in our association, but I wonder how a more experienced ref would have taken that? What about, "You Suck!" Do you let that go?

[APG]

Originally Posted by chicodork

In hindsite, I would have ignored them, but at the time, I just didn't feel like hearing that crap all night. Live and learn. I don't have the rep for looking for trouble, and I am trying to move up in our association, but I wonder how a more experienced ref would have taken that? What about, "You Suck!" Do you let that go?

"You suck" from a fan wouldn't register at all to me.

[JRutledge]

Fans make me laugh. I cannot think of many times I have ever had to even think about throwing a fan for comments, let alone getting upset by their comments. I have been known to laugh at them and make them look stupid when they are so close to the court, but unless they say something to the players or teams, I pay little attention to fans. Ignore them and move on.

Peace

[rekent]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have been known to laugh at them and make them look stupid when they are so close to the court, ...

Please, go on. Do tell...

[VaTerp]

As others have said I find fans who choose to behave this way comical and have to keep myself from literally laughing at them on the court.

On occasion when a fan is being particularly loud I may accidentally make eye contact and smile at them.

But for the most part I just ignore the ignorance. All most of them want is a reaction. They want their 15 seconds of fame and to try and rattle you and/or visibly affect the way you are calling the game. When you get game management on them I almost see it as a sign of weakness that they are really getting to you.

Obviously there are some situations that cross the line and sometimes we all get in the mood where we just don't feel like hearing it. But I think you're better off just ignoring it or cursing them out in your head. I hear a really stupid comment sometimes and I just say "STFU dumb arse" in my head. Makes me feel better and works for me.

Comments like "you suck" or anything mentioned in the OP don't even come close to something I would think about or feel the need to have game management involved.

[JetMetFan]

I agree with everything said by the other vets but I'm now remembering the only time I had a parent removed from a gym. Either 8th or 9th grade girls about 15 years ago in GA. Dad wasn't being profane but it was similar to the OP: the only extremely loud person in a pretty empty gym. I didn't make a big scene. Just nodded to GM and those folks took care of the rest.

After Dad was led out at halftime I heard one of the players say, "Did they kick him out?" One of her teammates said, "Yeah." The girl said, "Good."

It was her father.

[zm1283]

I haven't been doing this for a really long time, but I have never even came close to having a fan removed. The things in the OP wouldn't even register with me. Like everyone else has said, I think the stuff people pop off about is funny. There are other officials who take it very personally and get game management involved at the drop of a hat, which I don't understand.