A$$hat coaches call any official who won't stand there and take a bunch of whining and complaining as being unapproachable.

True enough, and they're wrong in their conception of what 'unapproachable' means.

That's not a reason to be unapproachable. ;)

I think the point is we need to stop listening to coaches about what we should or should not do.

Peace

Exchange during post season
 

I call a fifth foul on a player in a close game. As I am reporting, I can hear coach start the questioning. The table tells me it is the players 5th foul. The following is almost verbatim what happened next.

Me: "Coach, 5 fouls on player X"

Coach: "Just tell me what he did."

Me: Take a couple of steps back toward the table and say, "Start the timer." Then turn and walk back to coach.

Coach: "He had 4 fouls he was going away from the shooter."

Horn Sounds

Me: "Coach you have :15 to sub someone."

At this point the coach gets a sub in the game and we move on. I never once responded to what he was saying or asking and when it was over, we were both happy. He obviously did not want an answer to his question. He wanted to voice his opinion and displeasure and I wanted to move on. We both got what we wanted and neither of acted like an idiot. :) Love it when that happens.

That might be your point. I don't think it was Rich's, and if it was, he's incorrect.

We need to listen to anyone's reasonable requests.

Well that is not what the conversation was about or Rich's comments seemed to be based on. I am sure he can speak for himself, but if you have a coach being an a$$ all the time about every other call, no you do not have to listen to any of their requests from my point of view. And there comes a time when requests are certainly not reasonable or when given an answer there is an interrpution or the answer is not going to be accepted. And you can say that is wrong, but that is your opinion and you have the right to stick to that, but that does not apply to everyone. I do not care what coaches think for the most part and I feel it is a waste of time to think that heavily about their thoughts. It is not how I officiate and certainly not a major concern of mine if they think I am unapproachable. I have a job to do and that is to officiate, not answer every question they have. And what some consider reasonable is also subjective. Because if every play you are asking a question as to why you called something or telling me what I called, that is not being reasonable in my eyes.

Peace

I've forgotten my point.

However, I will say this -- there's a point beyond which I will stop listening and answering questions, no matter how reasonable. It takes quite a lot to get me there, but it happens once or twice a season.

I had a small college game in which my partner had T'd up the home coach. Then later on my partner tried to give an ear to the coach on a different play and it turned into a long, drawn out dialogue. So a little while later home coach catches me when I'm Trail on free throws. He says "can I ask you a question". I responded "no, you lost that privilege" and walked away from him.

I thought it was just me that said that. :D

Peace

+1

+1000