Coach refuses to shake hands

[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.

[johnny d]

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 guess this just goes to show that anything is possible at any level. I personally have never had this happen to me or seen this happen, nor have I ever heard of a college coach (or HS coach for that matter) pulling this kind of stunt from any official or assignor. I work in some leagues that are notorious for having coaches who can be PITAs, but I would be shocked if any of them even considered something as sophomoric as this. Like I said earlier though, the expectations at even lower level colleges are much higher, so I would be surprised if the coach at that D3 school is around for long.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

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.

Exactly, I'm not bringing in previous game experience or negative interaction with this coach. He just started this game with a big fat "Eff You." Would be no different than if, in the course of the game, I needed to ask him a question and he responded by turning his back.

Responding to that behavior doesn't require being vindictive. He's just told you he doesn't want to deal with you. How does that play itself out?

Well, now I know that I can't count on him to help me with his players if they start going off the rails with sportsmanship. I'll deal with it myself, and that means I'm much more likely to need to use a technical foul.

I know I can't count on him to be reasonable if I need to remind him to get back into the coaching box.

I know that if a player fouls out, I'm just going to let him know and have timer start immediately rather than wait to see if he hesitates with the sub.

I know that if his bench is acting up, he's not going to be much help in dealing with them, so I'll use the tools I have.

I know that if he's asking stupid questions, he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt as to intent. The questions he'll get answered will be along the lines of "where's the throw in going to be".

He'll get my polite responses, but they'll be completely professional, short, and to the point. If he wants to be a jack-ass, I'm not going to get in his way.

[JRutledge]

I had a coach last year tell me after he was in my ear every time about calls, "Ref will you leave me alone."

I said "OK."

Then the very next trip on the court he started asking me a question about a call and my response was without missing a beat, "Didn't you tell me to leave you alone, you need to leave me alone." I then ignored him the rest of the game and he did not talk to me.

BTW this was a coach that was replacing the normal head coach and he was not used to officials at a certain experience level while acting as a head coach. His behavior reflected this.

Peace