So you think he was being nice huh?

[Coach Bill]

Many of you insult his credentials and level "Coach Mac" coached at, but I think the article is clearly written for beginner coaches and youth league coaches (where they do have the opportunity shake hands). In fact his whole website seems to be for beginner coaches. I don't envision high school coaches going to his site for advice. And, I think most of the advice he gives seems like good common sense. And, it probably would work to some degree with the officials in the youth leagues, many of which are youths themselves.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Many of you insult his credentials and level "Coach Mac" coached at, but I think the article is clearly written for beginner coaches and youth league coaches (where they do have the opportunity shake hands). In fact his whole website seems to be for beginner coaches. I don't envision high school coaches going to his site for advice. And, I think most of the advice he gives seems like good common sense. And, it probably would work to some degree with the officials in the youth leagues, many of which are youths themselves.

We meet with coaches before the game to introduce ourselves and shake hands, and there have been plenty of times after games where a coach has shook my hand (although it wasn't because I was sticking around, they just caught me on my way to the locker room). Doing that is not just a "lower level" thing.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

We meet with coaches before the game to introduce ourselves and shake hands, and there have been plenty of times after games where a coach has shook my hand (although it wasn't because I was sticking around, they just caught me on my way to the locker room). Doing that is not just a "lower level" thing.

Probably regional, but this doesn't happen around here. I'm normally in the locker room before the teams have left the court.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Adam

I'm normally in the locker room before the teams have left the court.

Do you at least wait until the final horn?

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by Adam

Probably regional, but this doesn't happen around here. I'm normally in the locker room before the teams have left the court.

Although I'm sure it's happened, I can't think of an example. I'm normally headed to the locker room as soon as the final buzzer goes off, so it probably happened either due to the locker room entrance being close to the benches, or I was by the benches when the game ended.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Although I'm sure it's happened, I can't think of an example. I'm normally headed to the locker room as soon as the final buzzer goes off, so it probably happened either due to the locker room entrance being close to the benches, or I was by the benches when the game ended.

It may have happened to me once or twice, but not "plenty of times." Not enough that I remember it happening at all.

But most of the time, like about 99%, they're still starting their handshake as I'm leaving the court.

Summer ball is different, as my bag is normally behind the table.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Although I'm sure it's happened, I can't think of an example. I'm normally headed to the locker room as soon as the final buzzer goes off, so it probably happened either due to the locker room entrance being close to the benches, or I was by the benches when the game ended.

I would also never suggest I have never shaken the hand of a coach after the game. But as stated, it is on the way to the locker room and maybe, just maybe we have to go by the benches. Usually that is not the case and I certainly do not seek it. If they stick out their hand and everything is good, I might do this, but it is not something I want to do or try to do. After the game so much wrong can happen if you talk to them.

Peace

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Many of you insult his credentials and level "Coach Mac" coached at, but I think the article is clearly written for beginner coaches and youth league coaches (where they do have the opportunity shake hands). In fact his whole website seems to be for beginner coaches. I don't envision high school coaches going to his site for advice. And, I think most of the advice he gives seems like good common sense. And, it probably would work to some degree with the officials in the youth leagues, many of which are youths themselves.

Coach Bill, this is just like an official telling officials to say i the pre-game meeting, "The black mark is out all the way around the count." It shows a lack of understanding higher levels of ball if that is part of your pre-game routine. To suggest someone shake hands after a game, shows that that person has probably never done many high school or varsity and higher games. Every one of those levels officials do not stick around long enough to shake hands. And if he is dealing with beginning coaches, then he is not giving them very good advice. I run a beginning officials class for basketball (and teach one for football) and we do not tell the new officials to do things that are bad habits or that will not carry them through their career. We teach them things that will make them look like a varsity or college offiical by nothing more than their actions and how they speak. And many youth league officials in my experience are not kids, they are adults that also work high school. Actually the youth ball is to make some easy money. Doing these things not only might get you "taught" it might get you with a guy that really is not thinking about you that deep in the first place for any of these things to work as stated in the article. At least in my state, it is not kids that are working these games. It is older guys in their 40s and 50s that are just getting into officiating because their kids played and now are in college and they are looking for something to do.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Many of you insult his credentials and level "Coach Mac" coached at, but I think the article is clearly written for beginner coaches and youth league coaches (where they do have the opportunity shake hands). In fact his whole website seems to be for beginner coaches. I don't envision high school coaches going to his site for advice. And, I think most of the advice he gives seems like good common sense. And, it probably would work to some degree with the officials in the youth leagues, many of which are youths themselves.

Honestly, that makes it even worse for me. Beginning level coaches should coach, and not worry about trying to win friends and influence officials.

The ball they're coaching is going to get officials who, for the most part, fall into one of two categories.
1. Beginners who may actually get flustered by getting "worked" too much. This won't always go the way the coach wants it to.
2. Veterans working to shake off some rust or to "give back." These vets aren't likely to put up with being "worked" by some rookie coach who learned some great tactics from Caoch Carnegie.

Beginning coaches can work on communication with officials, to be sure, but don't go in with the mindset that it can affect the calls. Do it with the mindset to learn more about the game (beginning officials should approach coach communication the same way, IMO).

[Rich1]

Originally Posted by Adam

Beginning level coaches should coach, and not worry about trying to win friends and influence officials.

Beginners who may actually get flustered by getting "worked" too much. This won't always go the way the coach wants it to.

Agree 100% with the first statement. In rec leagues and summer ball too many parent/part-time coaches act as if their auditioning for the NBA. They would win more games if they worked their pkayers as hard as they work the refs.

I've seen this backfire on a coach who yelled at a young ref to watch for three seconds and he went down the court and called one against the coach's team. As a newby there was only so much he could concentrate on but once that seed was planted he got it right away!

[Rich1]

1, 2, 3, 4, 8, & 9 will have no influence on how I call a game.

5, 6, & 7 will only allow me not to call things because your team is not doing anything wrong. If coaches and players act correctly then they will avoid earning a tech and if your team adjusts to how we are calling a game (compared to other crews or certain game flow) then you will be whistled less because of it. But it has nothing to do with you buttering me up and everything to do with good coaching.

I have only seen a few situations where a ref caused a team to lose a game but even then, as I used to tell my players, if they had taken care of business earlier then that questionable late call wouldn't have mattered.

[derwil]

For me, the easiest way to influence my calls is to have a nice hospitality area, with good food and plenty of drinks. The route to a man's heart is through his stomach. You want a call...there better be a BBQ sandwich waiting on me. No wings, no travel. No dressing room water, I might send you to the showers before halftime!

Clearly, the author hasn't experience life on our side of the ball. He doesn't understand what's important to us!

[Mark Padgett]

The way I call a game depends on whether or not either of the coaches bought foul insurance.