How much trash talk do you allow?

[JRutledge]

I do not tolerate any trash talk. Now calling a T for it is is a different story. I try not to call things I do not hear or cannot identify. But I will certainly address or make my presence known when I see players talking to each other. I even say things to players like, "I hope that was a congratulatory comment?" Usually that gets their attention and often players are aware that they are being watched and are more careful of their behavior. And I do know that players can know each other in certain situations. If the right communities play each other or a the right college players came from the same school or district, but that is often not easy to identify, I treat all these interactions the same. You can sometimes read body language and tell if the conversations are more heated or confrontational, but I like to always show I am around and let players know we are watching to they do not escalate. Part of this can be discussed in pre-game with your partners.

Peace

[Raymond]

I address all trash talk immediately. If nothing else has happened, most times the first offense gets a stern, a$$-holish type warning. If other mess has already been going (physical play; hard fouls; etc) then it gets T'd on the first transgression.

One time I was working a pretty competetive AAU contest where 2 players seemed to be going at each other. Just as I getting ready to address it, one of the players must have sensed it and gave me a big smile and said "don't worry, that's my brother".