Coach refuses to shake hands

[Ed Maeder]

Is this what officiating is about? Being vindictive. Work the game like any other and keep your emotions aside. We have to be bigger then that. Report and move on.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

Is this what officiating is about? Being vindictive. Work the game like any other and keep your emotions aside. We have to be bigger then that. Report and move on.

It's not vindictive. A coach decided he didn't wish to have a professional relationship. That's OK, but that just means I won't go out of my way to communicate with him.

Actually, I would be surprised at such behavior. Never had a coach act this way before a game.

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Rich

It's not vindictive. A coach decided he didn't wish to have a professional relationship. That's OK, but that just means I won't go out of my way to communicate with him.

Actually, I would be surprised at such behavior. Never had a coach act this way before a game.

I've had it happen a couple of times, although it was either a) youth wreck ball (back when I used to work youth wreck ball) or b) a JV game. Never happened at the varsity level.

Of course, in the case of the JV game, that coach had been served T in the two prior games I'd worked for his team (once by me, once by my partner). In the 3rd game, he opened the pregame conference with "Oh, it's you again" in a tone that basically said "I'm gonna get a T in this game also". And he did not disappoint. He also did not return as coach the following season.

[MathReferee]

On a related note, my household has been a cesspool for disease this season so whenever either of my daughters is sick with something I will do an elbow bump, a smile, and lightheartedly say something to the effect of "Trust me, with my household you wouldn't want to shake my hand."

Point being, there may be another reason why a coach may not have shaken your hand. However, I would hope that if they did have a reason that they would try and let you know why as briefly as possible.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

Is this what officiating is about? Being vindictive. Work the game like any other and keep your emotions aside. We have to be bigger then that. Report and move on.

That handshake is part of this game. The coach has demonstrated he doesn't want to interact with us. There are many things a coach can do to cause interaction to cease, this is but one of them.

BNR and johnny d, what would you do in a college game?

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by AremRed

BNR and johnny d, what would you do in a college game?

This situation would never happen in a college game. I don't think it would even happen in a Juco game. For most coaches at the college level, coaching is how they make their living. They are too professional to pull a stunt like this, and if they are not, they would not have risen to the point of being a college head coach. If however, it ever did happen to me in a college game, I would treat him and the game exactly how I treat every other game I officiate. I would answer his legitimate questions, ignore his statements, and give him the same latitude I give every other coach. Afterwards, I would report the incident to the assignor and allow him to handle the situation from there.

[Ed Maeder]

Originally Posted by johnny d

This situation would never happen in a college game. I don't think it would even happen in a Juco game. For most coaches at the college level, coaching is how they make their living. They are too professional to pull a stunt like this, and if they are not, they would not have risen to the point of being a college head coach. If however, it ever did happen to me in a college game, I would treat him and the game exactly how I treat every other game I officiate. I would answer his legitimate questions, ignore his statements, and give him the same latitude I give every other coach. Afterwards, I would report the incident to the assignor and allow him to handle the situation from there.

Great answer! +2

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by johnny d

This situation would never happen in a college game.

It should never happen in a college game (or any game). Had it happen to my crew in a D-II game a few years back. Home Coach shook hands with me and one partner, but turned his back to walk away from our 3rd who he was mad at for something that happened earlier in the season.

I simply said "Coach, are you sure that this is the way you want to start things out tonight? You disrespect one of our crew, you disrespect us all."

He said "Fine with me."

He got very little conversation from any of us...gave us all 1's on the rating sheet (lowest he could give) and said we wouldn't communicate with him. My game report explained why...supervisor forwarded that report to AD and Conference Commissioner and he was reprimanded.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

It should never happen in a college game (or any game). Had it happen to my crew in a D-II game a few years back. Home Coach shook hands with me and one partner, but turned his back to walk away from our 3rd who he was mad at for something that happened earlier in the season.

I simply said "Coach, are you sure that this is the way you want to start things out tonight? You disrespect one of our crew, you disrespect us all."

He said "Fine with me."

He got very little conversation from any of us...gave us all 1's on the rating sheet (lowest he could give) and said we wouldn't communicate with him. My game report explained why...supervisor forwarded that report to AD and Conference Commissioner and he was reprimanded.

Exactly how I would handle it, and I would hope my conference admins would show me and my crew the same support.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Exactly how I would handle it, and I would hope my conference admins would show me and my crew the same support.

As you know and in college most of the time the Referee has to fill out a game report so that would go into the report for sure.

But if this took place at the high school level, we have what we call a "Special Report" form which would be anything that needed to be addressed in sportsmanship areas. This form is filled out online and it would go to the AD, Principal and Superintendent I believe. So it would be addressed by the offending party why this took place and how it would be corrected in the future. As officials we would not know what the end result is of that communication with the IHSA and school administration. And this document would go into the file of that coach and could be used like any other such "write-up" on an individual that is doing a job of any kind.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by AremRed

BNR and johnny d, what would you do in a college game?

Wouldn't happen...remote chance it did they would also get no conversation for that game.

College coaches don't have time for that Harry high school crap.

Originally Posted by johnny d

This situation would never happen in a college game. I don't think it would even happen in a Juco game. For most coaches at the college level, coaching is how they make their living. They are too professional to pull a stunt like this, and if they are not, they would not have risen to the point of being a college head coach. If however, it ever did happen to me in a college game, I would treat him and the game exactly how I treat every other game I officiate. I would answer his legitimate questions, ignore his statements, and give him the same latitude I give every other coach. Afterwards, I would report the incident to the assignor and allow him to handle the situation from there.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Wouldn't happen...remote chance it did they would also get no conversation for that game.

College coaches don't have time for that Harry high school crap.

Funny cuz I saw this same thing happen last year at a D3 game. Coach was pissed off about something and hung out at the far end of the bench and kinda waved when the refs went to shake the coaches hands. It was pretty clear he was staying away from the refs. He ended being a PITA during the game.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Funny cuz I saw this same thing happen last year at a D3 game. Coach was pissed off about something and hung out at the far end of the bench and kinda waved when the refs went to shake the coaches hands. It was pretty clear he was staying away from the refs. He ended being a PITA during the game.

I would not take that as refusing to shake my hand, his wave is at least acknowledging our presence.

[biggravy]

Meh. Right or wrong I'm not obligated to converse with him. He's not getting any conversation with me.