Coaches of physical teams...
 

I think this weekend I realized something. My last two games of the year were B-Soph and 4 very physical teams. The losing coach's were on us and me hard.

Almost feels personally with these guys. My question is this. A lot of JV officials struggle with physical play and probably don't call enough fouls. If you are a "dirty team" or are hoping to intimate or use physical play to give you an advantage then a referee who takes care of business is not going to be popular.

Do you guys believe that these coaches hold a grudge or ride you simply because you are not calling a game that is going to help their physical style of play?

Most of my games the kids play smart we call what we have to and the coaches appreciate it and we do not have any issues. Really only problem in 55+ games this year was the rare Boys Soph games where the kids were super dirty/physical and we were staying on top of it...

Again always appreciate what you have taught me and look forward to your opinion on this topic.

Can't possibly give much advice without seeing the game, but physical <> foul.

I don't worry about how the coaches feel, and definitely not about grudges. Blow your whistle and let them figure it out.

Basically you come to expect these kinds of coaches to be over the top, the game to not run as smooth as most due to the physical nature and you just ignore or warn the coach when he crosses the line and needs a warning or T and let the rest slide off your back. They are trying to intimate just like their players are trying to on the court and you just have to say this is the mess you have to manage THIS day and do the best you can...?

I deal with the coaches' behavior as I see fit for that game. Again, I do not worry about whether they like me, hold a grudge, or anything that has to do with feelings.

I think you worrying way too much about the type of coaches you are dealing with. If their team is playing physical, keep calling fouls. If coaches need to be warned or T'd, then warn or T them.

Thanks Badnews

I'm here to provide a service. :D Nothing else to do now that my season is over thanks to one more snowfall. :mad:

Very hard to answer your questions, but the nature of them in general gives me the impression you're worried about things you don't need to worry about. Some coaches very well might hold grudges. Many will want officials who call the style of game that helps them.

But neither of these should be your concern. Call the game based on what you see. Don't worry about any of the rest of it.

Coaches and players have to adjust to us. We don't have to adjust to them.

I get to break out the old line again..."They're going to be mad at us if we don't blow the whistle and they're going to be mad at us if we do. Might as well blow the whistle."

Aggressive is fine. Rough is not. If they're being rough call the game accordingly. Working a game while worrying whether the coach has a personal grudge means your mind won't be on your job. If they have a grudge, that's his/her problem.

Call the foul, they will adjust. If they will not adjust, they will be sitting on the bench. Pretty simple if you ask me.

Peace

Thanks MD

"you promote what you permit".....

If you don't blow the whistle, their actions and/or behavior MUST be fine with you.

IMHO, blow the whistle! 99.9% of problems in games happen when officials don't blow the whistle enough. If you think the game is "too physical"....ITS BECAUSE YOU LET IT HAPPEN.

Some officials allow a more physical game while others don't.
Doesn't mean that the game is out of control with the physical play or that the guys who call it tighter are doing it better, it is just different.

Have you tried allowing more contact and seeing how it goes?

Personally, I've been on crews with partners of both types and I am more comfortable with the ones who permit a bit more contact. I also think that the HS game is better when the threshold for fouls is raised and the game is allowed to be on the edge.

Perhaps this is a difference between boys and girls games (boys accept more physical play, while girls want similar contact penalized as a foul).

Your not at RMC or Va Wesleyan this weekend ??????

Someone needs to sit at the table;);););)

I disagree. There are plays where coaches or players want whistles on and the player did nothing wrong or illegal. And as said people who love to say that girl's basketball is very physical, but it is also very sloppy with players doing things and any little thing makes them fall. You can call all the fouls you like, that is not going to be helped anymore. And then people complain that you are calling more fouls and taking over the game.

Peace

If someone calls and asks, I'll be there. Actually got offered last year but already had tickets to see Bill Maher with my wife, so had to decline. Maybe that was my one and only chance.

Don't they need someone to sit at UMW also?

Coaches of physical teams that are vocal tend to fall into 1 of 3 categories in my experience.

1 - Howlers. They don't know a lot about basketball, generally coach at lower levels, and basically found/recruited/ended up with athletes that they want to be athletic and stronger. Their entire coaching strategy is play harder and they think getting louder and more fired up themselves fires up their kids. They are on their kids just wanting them to out work everyone and on officials so the kids/parents see them defending their kids and trying to get the game played they way they expect.

2 - Workers. The physical play is by design. They want to intimidate and dictate the tempo/style of game because they feel like it helps them win. The coach is vocal because he wants his kids working their angle and feels like working the officials is part of the job too.

3 - Marty McFly's - They are more concerned about a time past or future for their team then they are with you and that moment. They may have only had officials that let more go and now feel like you are screwing their kids, or they may in fact know better but understand that once your not in the gym for their next game, or on the road, or in a big game for them its probably not going to be called as tightly as this game and doesn't want his/her kids to change the way they play. So the coach is either vocally upset because you are the abnormality or wants the kids to know this isn't something they are concerned about happening regularly.

In all three cases it not about u. Its about their knowledge or lack there of, their priority or lack there of, or a game/experience that isn't about the job you are currently doing. In any case don't take it personally because its not and manage the game they way you and your association want a game managed. If they cross the line take care of buisness if they don't or its not worth it don't sweat the small stuff.