Grumpy Coach

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by CDcoach

What I do not like in an official is when they start explaining rules when I ask them about a no-call...chances are I know the rules! And having someone that I'm not real happy with reitterate them for me is just gonna drive me nuts.

It is possible that you know the rules, but often times this is the furthest thing from the truth. Most of the time I have a coach quoting NFL or NCAA rules, not realizing they do not apply at all at the NF level. That might be a reason an official is explaining the rule.

Originally posted by CDcoach

Instead of reciting rules I always would rather discuss the play. Tell me why you didn't make the call..."Coach it looked like his hands were inside the frame" instead of "Coach as long as his hands stay inside the frame it isn't holding"

I had a coach want a holding call from me last night, and yes if I used the strict wording of the rules, I would have made that call. But I had a kid double teamed (a philosophy at the higher levels), if they did hold him he was not going anywhere to begin with (they did not take him down either). But if we call everything by the strict wording, we might not have a game under 5 hours. That would not be fun or you or us. And half the time you would not see what we saw. Especially with the fact you are on the sidelines and we are in the best position to make the call.

Originally posted by CDcoach

Some of my favorite officials will more then anything just ignore me. They say "sorry coach I didn't see it that way I'll look though" Then get on with the game and let mad coach calm down.

Hope that helps some.

Well that might work with you, but you are not all the coaches. Because some coaches just get more and more upset if you ignore them (at least the wing officials). Some coaches will debate more about a call that is judgment all the way (which what a holding call is). And some will agree or overreact to something that goes against them. I have even had coaches go crazy and the call was in their favor. Sometimes nothing we do pleases you guys.

Peace

[CDcoach]

Haha JR...well if you got coaches complaining when it is in thier favor then you might as well just forget it...lol...you are toast!

More of what I mean by "ignore me" if just acknow;edge the fact that you heard me and you didn't see it that way and then ignore the rest of the argument and let the coach know you've got to keep the game moving and you'd be happy to explain at a break. About 80% of the time he will be cooled off by then and realize it was just a small thing in a bigger picture. I guess I'd just think a lot of arguments could be avoided by the official just giving the coach a couple minutes...but then again I've seen some pretty persistent guys...and 90% of the time my team will kick thier arse because they are too worried about a call 5 minutes ago to play...

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by CDcoach
Haha JR...well if you got coaches complaining when it is in thier favor then you might as well just forget it...lol...you are toast!

I do not know why I would be toast, because coaches are like trains, one comes around every 15 minutes. Chances are I will be around longer than most coaches at a particular school.

Originally posted by CDcoach

More of what I mean by "ignore me" if just acknow;edge the fact that you heard me and you didn't see it that way and then ignore the rest of the argument and let the coach know you've got to keep the game moving and you'd be happy to explain at a break. About 80% of the time he will be cooled off by then and realize it was just a small thing in a bigger picture. I guess I'd just think a lot of arguments could be avoided by the official just giving the coach a couple minutes...but then again I've seen some pretty persistent guys...and 90% of the time my team will kick thier arse because they are too worried about a call 5 minutes ago to play...

I can tell you are rather infamous coach in my area that would not apply to at all.

But seriously, that might work for you, but not all coaches. That is the only point I am making. Because in my experience and many other officials I know, there are coaches that will complain no matter what is going on. You can give them all the explainations and they still complain. You can give them a complete explaination of what you called, and they still complain. And usually, coaches try to debate with officials based on what "they think" the rules are. I had a coach last year that tried to tell me what intentional grounding was. He called a timeout to have a conference with me and all he did was debate what the rule was.

The story that Mike told was very typical of many coaches I have delt with and what other officials have dealt with. And from what it sounds like, if you are telling us the complete truth about your complaining, you have most things in persective. But some of your brethren seem to not get it at all. They think coaching is about yelling and screaming at officials all day. They do not realize that the Bo Schembeckler(sp?), Bobby Knight, Bill Parcells or a John Gruden all have a method to the madness when they complain to officials. Especially at the HS level.

Peace

[Ron_B]

Mike, you have some good advice here, not to mention I thought you handled it well. I am a LJ and I often have had to deal with like situations over the years. I try to be diplomatic, I try to explain what the rule is if he doesn't understand it, I try to identify with his frustration of over the poor playing of his team and/or coaching tactics. But enough is enough, if he keeps going on about it I will say that is enough on this topic, it is not going to change let's move on, if he continues to harp on it, I tell my R I going to flag him and do so! I may put up with more than I have to, but I try to keep the peace, but it sounds like this guy is a clown and should join the circus. If he is behind by that many pts. and is complaining about hurdling, he has got his prorities a little out of wack. I bet you are looking forward to going back to that cushy job in the middle!! HAHAHA!!

[Tbone]

In the play described, the best way calm the coach down is to tell him that is wasn't a foul for hurdling since the player was prone on the ground. To be a foul, the opponent must not be in contact with the ground with nothing else other than his feet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!