Here we go again!!!!

[JRutledge]

Had a game tonight that was a rescheduled game.

I had the host team 2 times previously and in both games the coach got a T. I gave the first one in one game at a Christmas Tournament. In the second game another official gave the other one in a one day shootout.

Of course when I took the game for tonight about a week ago, I knew this fact and like usual, I tell my partners before the game what happened before so they would not be blindsided by some animosity this coach might have for me. This was also a very big rivalry and the assignor of the game wanted me and my partners because we had deep playoff experience and in his judgment he wanted us together to showcase our talents to the state. So this game had other ramifications, at least in the mind of the assignor. I did think for a second to turn down the assignment, but I felt it could not hurt and just like anything a learning experience.

Well I was the Referee and I was doing my pre-game duties and I go to each coach to confirm some things with the book before the 10 minute mark. When I got to the host coach, he says to me, "You have us a couple of times before right?" I say "yes." Then he says, "I was T'd up both games." Then he proceeded to say he did not understand why he got the second T in the second game. Now keep in mind I did not give the T, but I am very aware why he got one. Long story short that official is about one of the nicest guys in officiating and felt the coach was being disrespectful and walked away from him after he was going to him to give him information. Granted he did other things, but that was the last straw. I did everything to avoid that conversation and then I left the coach and got to the other side of the court.

Well the game starts and this coach goes back to his old ways. But this time I decide that I am not acknowledging him at all. Even when he asks a question he is combative and argumentative not matter the answer I give him. We talk about it in the locker room and I just decide the second half to basically ignore him almost all together. The game ends and he gets not T and his team wins after being down in the first half.

This kind of situation never happened to me. Never had a coach ever make a point to say what happened in a game at that time before the contest. I did everything to be professional but did not know if I should have said other things.

What would you have done? Would you have even addressed it or come up with some other way to handle the situation?

Peace (Sorry for being long)