The worst a coach said to me this year

[w_sohl]

Had an assistant chirp off to me recently. There was what looked like a violent tackle across the field from me at the five yard line. The coaches all start harpping. I tell them that it looked legal to me and that my partners were on top of it. The assistant chimes in with "That's what they all say!" and I turn to him and say, "I don't want to hear another word out of you, you're an assistant"! Were fine for quite some time and then it happens again. A rough but legal tackle and he chimes in again. "Are you ever going to throw a flag?" I turn, look him in the eyes and toss my flag. I earlier in the game had tossed one for sideline warning so this was a five yarder. I could have gone USC, but I didn't feel that was fair to the kids to punish them for this idiots comments. Plus it didn't really hurt them anyway as it was fourth down and they were punting anyway.

[jjrye22]

I've got one from this year that is probably my most upsetting yet (9 years and counting).

I ran into a coach when covering a punt and threw my flag (15 yards).
After we set up, he calls the R over (who brings me). Coach agrees that the flag is valid (he was about 2 yards on the field when we collided), but said that I attacked him (by putting my arm up for a 'forearm shiver' when he came into my periferal view) and that if I ever touched him again there would be hell to pay and I would be sorry because no one would hold him back.

The R - who has reffed all levels in Germany, has officiated numerous championship games and is a top European official (I'm not sure but he might have also been invloved in the NFL Europe) - not only does not warn or punish the coach for an obvious threat, but doesn't even take off a timeout for the 'coaches conference' to complain about a legitimate flag.

What upsets me is that he didn't take the threat to me serious.

As a side comment, that was a youth game. The coach was a player on his men's team who played right after, and I was U - right in the middle of the action. He didn't step out of line on the field, but I was a little jumpy during plays when I knew he was there.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by jjrye22

I've got one from this year that is probably my most upsetting yet (9 years and counting).

I ran into a coach when covering a punt and threw my flag (15 yards).
After we set up, he calls the R over (who brings me). Coach agrees that the flag is valid (he was about 2 yards on the field when we collided), but said that I attacked him (by putting my arm up for a 'forearm shiver' when he came into my periferal view) and that if I ever touched him again there would be hell to pay and I would be sorry because no one would hold him back.

The R - who has reffed all levels in Germany, has officiated numerous championship games and is a top European official (I'm not sure but he might have also been invloved in the NFL Europe) - not only does not warn or punish the coach for an obvious threat, but doesn't even take off a timeout for the 'coaches conference' to complain about a legitimate flag.

What upsets me is that he didn't take the threat to me serious.

As a side comment, that was a youth game. The coach was a player on his men's team who played right after, and I was U - right in the middle of the action. He didn't step out of line on the field, but I was a little jumpy during plays when I knew he was there.

You were also standing there and heard the threat, yet did nothing. Perhaps the R was giving you a chance to show you could handle the situation.

[GoodScout]

I made up my own mechanic Saturday after an hour of assistants carping about BIB's that weren't there. I started pointing at blocks on long downfield plays just to indicate that I saw the block, and that since I didn't throw a flag it was in my opinion legal. Don't think I'd adopt it, but it at least shut them up about me "not seeing blocks in the back."

All these comments are making me happy that I get to stay between the hashes for most of the game....

[bcl1127]

I was working a two man freshman A game, and I was working with someone of advanced age (79 years old) and he was obviously not running nor throwing any flags. So the coach on his sideline comes to me and tells me that I need to stop calling any penalties because the guy on the other side is not calling anything and I am cheating him out of plays by calling holding or DPI. Well, if that was not bad enough, he then comes out to tell me that the guy across from me has missed 10 calls against the home team, and I am obviously being biased for them because I am on their side of the field, "I wonder how much they are paying you?" he says. I throw the flag, and he tells me he was wondering about the pay rate I was getting and that I should get double because I was doing all the work...Yeah right. This was all during a series of time outs. My only thinking was, why the heck is he yelling at me and not the other guy!

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

Had an assistant chirp off to me recently. There was what looked like a violent tackle across the field from me at the five yard line. The coaches all start harpping. I tell them that it looked legal to me and that my partners were on top of it. The assistant chimes in with "That's what they all say!" and I turn to him and say, "I don't want to hear another word out of you, you're an assistant"! Were fine for quite some time and then it happens again. A rough but legal tackle and he chimes in again. "Are you ever going to throw a flag?" I turn, look him in the eyes and toss my flag. I earlier in the game had tossed one for sideline warning so this was a five yarder. I could have gone USC, but I didn't feel that was fair to the kids to punish them for this idiots comments. Plus it didn't really hurt them anyway as it was fourth down and they were punting anyway.

In the following section regarding unsportmanlike conduct, the warning is only listed for article 1k and article 3. Article 1a-d covers the behavior of coaches and the only penalty listed is 15 yards. There is no warning for behavior.

SECTION 8 NONCONTACT UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY NONPLAYERS
ART. 1 No coach, substitute, trainer or other team attendant shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials assume authority for the contest. Examples are, but not limited to:
a. Using profanity, insulting or vulgar language or gestures.
NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin.
b. Attempting to influence a decision by an official.
c. Disrespectfully addressing an official.
d. Indicating objections to an official’s decision.
e. Using any illegal communication equipment as outlined in 1-5-3b and 1-6.
f. Holding an unauthorized conference.
NOTE: Between downs, communications between players and coaches near the sideline are not an unauthorized conference.
g. The failure of a team to be ready to start either half.
h. Failure of the head coach, following verification, to have his player(s) wear or use legal and/or required equipment.
i. Being on the field except as a substitute or replaced player. (See 3-7-6; 9-6-4a)
j. Using tobacco or smokeless tobacco.
k. Being outside the team box, but not on the field. (See 9-8-3)
l. A substitute who leaves the team box during a fight.
ART. 2 Three attendants, none of whom is a coach, may enter the field to attend their team during a charged time-out or a TV/radio time-out, during the one-minute following a try, a successful field goal or safety, and prior to the succeeding free kick, between periods and during an official’s time-out for unusual heat and humidity. During a time-out for injury, the coach and/or such attendants as may be deemed necessary by the referee may, with permission, enter to attend the injured player(s). In no other case, except as in 2-6, shall any non-player other than an entering substitute enter without the referee’s permission.
ART. 3 A non-player shall not be outside his team box unless to become a player or to return as a replaced player. A maximum of three coaches may be in the coaches’ area.
PENALTY: Non-player fouls (Art. 1a through j) (S27), (S7-27) if dead ball 15 yards. Non-player foul (Art. 2) (S19) 5 yards, unless repeated or unsportsmanlike (S27) 15 yards. (Arts. 1k, 3) (S15) First offense-warning. (S7-29) Second offense 5 yards, each subsequent offense (S7-29-27) 15 yards. (Art. 1) (S27-47) 15 yards and disqualification. (Arts. 1, 2, 3) Any single flagrant foul is disqualification. A second unsportsmanlike foul with a 15-yard penalty results in disqualification. (See 9-5 Pen) A disqualified member of the coaching staff shall be ejected from the stadium area and be prohibited from any further contact, direct or indirect, with his team during the remainder of the game. For failure to comply, the referee may forfeit the game.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by Blue37

In the following section regarding unsportmanlike conduct, the warning is only listed for article 1k and article 3. Article 1a-d covers the behavior of coaches and the only penalty listed is 15 yards. There is no warning for behavior.

SECTION 8 NONCONTACT UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY NONPLAYERS
ART. 1 No coach, substitute, trainer or other team attendant shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials assume authority for the contest. Examples are, but not limited to:
a. Using profanity, insulting or vulgar language or gestures.
NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin.
b. Attempting to influence a decision by an official.
c. Disrespectfully addressing an official.
d. Indicating objections to an official’s decision.
e. Using any illegal communication equipment as outlined in 1-5-3b and 1-6.
f. Holding an unauthorized conference.
NOTE: Between downs, communications between players and coaches near the sideline are not an unauthorized conference.
g. The failure of a team to be ready to start either half.
h. Failure of the head coach, following verification, to have his player(s) wear or use legal and/or required equipment.
i. Being on the field except as a substitute or replaced player. (See 3-7-6; 9-6-4a)
j. Using tobacco or smokeless tobacco.
k. Being outside the team box, but not on the field. (See 9-8-3)
l. A substitute who leaves the team box during a fight.
ART. 2 Three attendants, none of whom is a coach, may enter the field to attend their team during a charged time-out or a TV/radio time-out, during the one-minute following a try, a successful field goal or safety, and prior to the succeeding free kick, between periods and during an official’s time-out for unusual heat and humidity. During a time-out for injury, the coach and/or such attendants as may be deemed necessary by the referee may, with permission, enter to attend the injured player(s). In no other case, except as in 2-6, shall any non-player other than an entering substitute enter without the referee’s permission.
ART. 3 A non-player shall not be outside his team box unless to become a player or to return as a replaced player. A maximum of three coaches may be in the coaches’ area.
PENALTY: Non-player fouls (Art. 1a through j) (S27), (S7-27) if dead ball 15 yards. Non-player foul (Art. 2) (S19) 5 yards, unless repeated or unsportsmanlike (S27) 15 yards. (Arts. 1k, 3) (S15) First offense-warning. (S7-29) Second offense 5 yards, each subsequent offense (S7-29-27) 15 yards. (Art. 1) (S27-47) 15 yards and disqualification. (Arts. 1, 2, 3) Any single flagrant foul is disqualification. A second unsportsmanlike foul with a 15-yard penalty results in disqualification. (See 9-5 Pen) A disqualified member of the coaching staff shall be ejected from the stadium area and be prohibited from any further contact, direct or indirect, with his team during the remainder of the game. For failure to comply, the referee may forfeit the game.

I didn't warn him, they got a 5 yarder for their 2nd sideline violation. I thought it was the right thing to do as he got the point.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

I didn't warn him, they got a 5 yarder for their 2nd sideline violation. I thought it was the right thing to do as he got the point.

The sideline warning has to do with where people who are off the field are standing. Anything someone says is a USC foul not a sideline warning.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by LDUB

The sideline warning has to do with where people who are off the field are standing. Anything someone says is a USC foul not a sideline warning.

However, I felt that the way I handled it was more appropriate. It was a tight ball game and the kids were playing hard without incident. I wasn't going to let the actions of one adult cause me to what I felt would have penalized the kids more than him.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

However, I felt that the way I handled it was more appropriate. It was a tight ball game and the kids were playing hard without incident. I wasn't going to let the actions of one adult cause me to what I felt would have penalized the kids more than him.

That adult is a member of the team just as a player on the field is. The coach gets the glory when the team wins just like the players does. All members of the team do things during the game which increase and/or decrease their chances of winning. The team wins and loses together. You're not taking anything away from the players by calling a foul, the coach who acted badly took it away from the players.

Also you do not get to decide which way to handle it is more appropriate, it is already decided for you in the rules.

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by LDUB

That adult is a member of the team just as a player on the field is. The coach gets the glory when the team wins just like the players does. All members of the team do things during the game which increase and/or decrease their chances of winning. The team wins and loses together. You're not taking anything away from the players by calling a foul, the coach who acted badly took it away from the players.

Also you do not get to decide which way to handle it is more appropriate, it is already decided for you in the rules.

And they don't have to be on the field for the sideline infractions. They can just be in my way. I handled the way I handled it and if the situation were the same, I would handle it in the same manner. He said nothing to me that deserved a 15 yard penalty in my judgement. I got my point across and didn't hear a word from him the rest of the evening. In my opinion and as far as I know the opinion of my crew and association it was handled properly.

[wisref2]

An assistant coach (known for stuff like this) complaining that my linesman "took up my whole timeout" trying to get them to move to a legal location for a conference. I told him, yes, my linesman was correct in doing that and quickly explained the rule. Then he said "but he called me by my name. I don't know his name (he does, actually)."

So I said (names changed), "Coach Johnson, I'd like you to meet Steve Smith."

Then I went to the headcoach, who had a (edited)-eating grin on his face, and said, "You gonna take care of this for me?" The coach laughed, patted me on the back and said "Yeah, I"ll take care of it" as he walked away laughing. He later told my linesman, "You know better than to listen to anything he says."