Fun with Assistant Coaches

[RSturgell]

Ok, so what do you do when the head varsity coach is sitting across the floor from the JV team. Varsity coach blurts out "That's terrible! You cannot make that call" to one of my partners. Is he just a fan at that time? I looked at him an shook my head and he didnt say anything else, but what can we really do?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by RSturgell

Ok, so what do you do when the head varsity coach is sitting across the floor from the JV team. Varsity coach blurts out "That's terrible! You cannot make that call" to one of my partners. Is he just a fan at that time? I looked at him an shook my head and he didnt say anything else, but what can we really do?

On the bench and/or huddling with the team, he's a coach. Away from them, or across like you said, he's just another fan.

[Rob1968]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

On the bench and/or huddling with the team, he's a coach. Away from them, or across like you said, he's just another fan.

A few years ago, in a JV Mens game, a gentleman joined the bench during the 2nd quarter, sitting at the other end from the HC. He immediately started in with the verbal critiques of our work. I told the HC that " You need to tell the gentleman on the other end that I won't hear from him again!" HC responds, "But, he's the Varsity HC!"
I told him, "You're the HC for this game! Don't let him run over you like that!" And he went to the the Varsity HC and talked to him. Shortly thereafter, the VHC left the bench, to sit across the gym.
When we met with the captains and HC's for the Varsity game, he was cordial, and we had no problems with him during his game.

[JRutledge]

I remember years ago I was working a game in a "Private-Christian" conference. They gym was not very filled and the visiting team had a call go against them on the other end in the first half. Well I was the Trail, near the bench and 5 coaches started yelling at me (I did not make the call).

I simply said, "Coach, I will answer any question you have, but I am not listening to 5 people yell at me when you are not saying anything. The HC turned around and said, "Will you guys shut the **** up!" I did not hear a peep out of the entire bench the rest of the night.

Peace

[Rich1]

I have zero tolerance for bench personnel. If an asst. coach pipes off or the players object to calls loudly or demonstratively its a T from me everytime. Head coaches get a little more lee way but only so far. Then its a warning (if their lucky) and a tech follows the next time the line is crossed.

[bainsey]

I found an exception to the rule today.

Small Christian school pairing, middle school boys. Head coach was wheelchair bound; assistant was his father. The AC used the box frequently, even guiding kids to the table.

I spoke with my young partner at halftime about it, and decided it was best not to touch that. We still kept all communication with the head coach (disqualified players, delay of game warnings, etc.), but left all the legwork to the AC. I'd love to meet the rigid soul that could object to that.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I'd love to meet the rigid soul that could object to that.

Pleased to meet you. I actually don't object to what you did, but may I ask why the head coach couldn't be the head coach from his wheelchair in the coaching box? Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we have a high school varsity head coach in a wheelchair and he does everything a head coach does, legally, in his wheelchair, in his coaching box. You haven't lived until you "serve tea" to a head coach in a wheelchair. Man, does that crowd boo, with the booing coming from fans of both teams. Makes you want to run and hide behind the police officer in the corner of the gymnasium, but he's booing too.

[Rich1]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I'd love to meet the rigid soul that could object to that.

That would be me. Unless the HC was going to just sit (pardon the obvious) and only the AC would be moving around the box then I would address it.

I have officiated several games with a team in our area from a totally deaf school. In the first game when I advised the bench that only the HC could stand they informed me they had 3 co-head coaches. I told them to choose 1 for today to serve as HC and the others would need to sit. In another game the chosen HC would walk 10 feet onto the court in front of the table during live action to communicate (sign language) with his team. My partners and I had already agreed to give him some leeway by extending his box but he took it too far and needed a stern warning before he got it. Last game, my partner informed the HC a player had fouled out by telling an intrpreter and by specifically flashing the players number to the HC's face from about five feet away. HC calls time out and when we come out of it to shoot free throws who lined up in the lane? That's right and it earned them a T. HC claims he misunderstood but I feel we were very clear with him.

In discussions with other refs who have worked their games a pattern has developed and there may be a purposeful effort to take advantage of our good intentions. Having taught special needs students for almost 20 years I have learned that for the most part they WANT to be treated just like every one else. And to me that means that rules are rules (except for reasonable or approved accomodations) and I enforce them that way. To do any thing else is unfair to other contestants and borders on offensive to he special needs community.