Oops, I messed my part up.

It was "answer questions, ignore comments, penalize insanity."

I like BNR's too.

I'll ignore the comments until it's clear they're persistent. I don't allow persistent.

When persistence becomes insufferable, then we've moved into that "insanity" area. In which case you can "t 'em up".

That's one of the four P's! Persistent, profane, personal, and public.

I prefer to do what I can to prevent it from becoming insufferable. Once I realize, for example, that he's going to spend more time reffing than coaching, we're going to have a short CTJM. Nip it early, and the game goes more smoothly.

"Coach , I'll be glad to answer YOUr reasonable questions about a play, but I cannot have your assistant commenting on the officiating."

"I apologize for my assistant."

(Yes, more than the 5 words I like to use)

One Lump, Or Two ???
 

... especially when the persistent becomes distracting.

...or (to keep it under 5)

looking at the Coach,

"You yes, Assistants no.";)

Step Up To The Plate ..
 

Where's the Forum member with the organ grinder quote?

The best line ever:

"It is going to be like Jeopardy tonight. Everything needs to be in the form of a question"

This is what I do. Then the coach looks at me like WTF. I say "I didnt know you meant to call it on the other team...*sheepish look*"

For some reason he doesnt yell Travel any more that night...

:D

I like this one a lot!

I get that a lot of officials do this, and that includes a lot of guys I respect a lot.

I personally don't like it, no matter how much I understand it.

Building a good rapport with coaches is an important aspect of officiating. Even if you don't like a particular coach, being sarcastic like that is counter-productive. If a coach is just too much for you, then don't take another game with him.

Why not just say "coach, I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing what you're seeing. However, I promise you that I'm looking out for it"?

If you already have a good rapport with a coach, then by all means make a joke. It could very well lighten things up and make the rest of the game easier on you both. But be careful about doing that, as it can come off as you being an a-hole, which can only make things worse.

I think people have to officiate within their personality. Some can use humor and others cannot. Some can be a hardass, others cannot be that way. Some can say things calmly and everything is alright, others cannot express themselves that way. It really is based on your personality and your delivery and sarcasm does work for many officials. And sometimes that delivery is based on the coach you are dealing with and your experience with that coach. And I also disagree that we have to build rapport with coaches. My job is to officiate the game, not be chummy with the coach or get them to like me. They are going to respect me and I will respect them until they prove otherwise, but I will not try to get them to like everything being said. And if I can say something that gets them back to coaching, that is a win for me however that is accomplished. I do not want to deal with a coach all game long debating minor violations and fouls. That does not help them and it certainly is not helping me. And I do not care if a coach gets upset for that reason. That is their problem. Good coaches in my experience worry about their teams, not me or my partners.

Peace