I recently worked a game where the head of our officials association was coaching. I ended up T-ing him for some comments (and throwing his hat in frustration). This was hardly flagrant, but I think that it is pretty serious in that he is supposed to be on the referee's side. I said before the tournament that if I had to T him up I would not referee anymore, but I think I may have been overreacting. Either way, I am discombobulated! Advice?

In Montana, conduct unbecoming an official is "Official Misconduct" and, if reported, can carry a $100 fine and a 1 year suspension. We have several coaches in our association, and they understand that they are held to a higher standard than other coaches.

I am vice-chairman of our association, and head evaluator. If our chairman acted like that he would at least be in for a serious discussion with the evaluation committee. That committee would make the decission wether or not to write him up, based on several variables.

If you feel strongly enough about it, and have a grievence, or evaluation committee, I would suggest a private conversation with a member you know well, and make a decision based on that discussion. Often the problem can be handled "in-house".

Good Luck,
Blackhawk

p.s. I work a playoff game tomorrow for one of the coaches in our association, he also serves on the eval. committee with me. I would imagine that you had a similar feeling going into that game.

I have refereed rec and high school soccer in TN for 7 years. I have noticed that some of my worst dissent has come from other soccer officials when acting in the role of coach or player. And of course we always have the loudmouth along the sidelines who tells us from 10 feet away that he is a referee back home and that we are really hopeless.

I gave up my playing days prior to becoming a ref and frankly have little insight into why a ref morphs into such a problem when he takes the whistle off. Is it because he knows the rules but has forgotten the part about applying them impartially?

Why..
 

Why did a basketball coach have a hat on? Just curious.