Coach refuses to shake hands

[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.