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Those $%!@ REFS!!!
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Author:  Coach Rob [ 16 Jul 2013, 12:17 ]
Post subject:  Those $%!@ REFS!!!

I recently asked several seasoned refs these three questions:

1) I'm sure there's at least one coach you enjoy officiating their games. What is it about that coach that makes it enjoyable?

2) Will what I ask/say change your calls in a game?

3) What's the best way to piss you guys off and have you ignore me (obviously looking for what not to do)?

Here are their replies:

Ref #1 said:

It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Body language means a lot. You can say a lot with your palms open, but don't point your finger at me, and don't shake your fist or punch the air to punctuate your comments. You can speak calmly about what you see.

"He's living in the lane." "He's riding my guy all the way down the floor."

If you don't stick up for your team, nobody will.

Bottom line: Don't talk to me like I work for you, because I don't.



Ref #2 said:

1. He holds his players accountable and doesn't blame the officials. He won two state championships by telling kids to "be strong with the ball" when there was a bump, to "make the safe pass" when there was a turnover, to "get better position" when there was a rebounding foul, and to "worry about what we do" or "did you make a good play?" when there was something called by the officials that the kid didn't like. He asked perhaps one question of the officials every five games. His focus was on his players.

2. Only if they relate to a safety issue of which I'm not aware or if a player is repeatedly being permitted to gain an unfair advantage by illegal means. I'll tell you "I'll take a look at that, coach." If it is there during the next few trips, I'll address it, if not, then I'm going to forget about it.

3. Complain about something every trip down the floor. Travel, handcheck, 3-seconds, etc. Also fretting over the little stuff when there is no impact upon play instead of seeing the big picture will lose credibility with me.

If you want to be paid attention to when you speak, then pick your battles so that when you do have a comment, the official can think, "Wow, this guy doesn't say much so perhaps there is something to this."

Ref #3 said:

1. He coaches his players, not the officials.
2. Not really. If you think it's something I didn't see, you might be able to get me to pay attention (dirty play, off ball stuff). Otherwise, feel free to ask me what I saw. I'll return the question if it's an appropriate moment, and maybe we'll both learn something.
3. Start asking for 'over the back' and 'reaching' fouls and you'll be lucky if I can hear your timeout requests. I'm not ignoring you (the proverbial you), I've just tuned you out for your benefit. Basically, once you demonstrate you don't know basic rules, or you complain about every single call and no-call.

Ref #4 said:

The coaches I enjoy are the ones who make me feel as if we're working together not so much pals as that we have a common goal of a good, fair, competitive game. When he does speak to me, he asks politely what his player did in a way that suggests he wants to coach the kid better rather than work me.

Ref #5 said:

He wears a muffler over his mouth.

Ref #6 said:

#1) There's really no one coach but there are many who have different attributes that make it more enjoyable. Those attributes are:


1- They talk to me like they want me to talk to them.
2- They pick their battles. They don't complain about something every time down the floor
3- They listen. If I tell a coach "#52 needs to knock off the chatter," then he needs to take care of #52, not tell me "Well, he's getting pushed all over the court."
4- They realize that we are not looking at plays from the same angle. So what I see, you may not see and vis a versa.

#2)No. If you're respectful and ask me to take a look at something I will. But realize I've probably already seen it and thought either 1- that's not a foul or 2- I missed that but I won't miss it again.

Know the rules, not the rule myths. Over the back, reaching, those sorts of announcerspeaks are rule myths.

#3)Doing one thing probably won't get you a T from me. It will usually take a couple of things. For example, yelling at me, being out of your box or signaling traveling usually want get you a T. But yelling at me while standing 5 feet out of your box will. Yelling and signaling traveling probably will. Standing 5 feet out of your box and signaling traveling probably will.

Coaches that complain about something every time down the floor are going to be ignored. I when I no longer ignore them, it's because I've had enough. That's when ABS technical fouls come in handy.

BTW, remember that a warning is a courtesy. It is not required.

Ref #7 said:

I can think of several coaches I've worked with over the years who I really enjoy working with. One coach in particular respected both of us on the floor, took the time to learn my name, shake my hand, and ask me how I'm doing every time I saw him.

He's not afraid to ask me a question, but as others have said, it's good to know when to ask a question. It's never anything more than a normal voice tone, either. What I mean by that is, even if he disagrees with what I saw, he will not show me up by yelling and screaming at me. He listens to what I say, says OK, and we're done with it. He's also one of those guys who focuses on his team much more than the officials.

Smile. It's only a game. Joke around with us beforehand. Obviously once the ball is in the air, you become the coach, and we become officials. Outside of the game though, we're just a few guys who love basketball.

Realize that we both have difficult jobs, and sometimes those come in conflict. Handle it like a pro, and we'll do our best to do the same.

Oh yeah, and don't throw any chairs.
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Thought these guys gave some great advice.

Author:  Coach Sar [ 16 Jul 2013, 16:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Those $%!@ REFS!!!

Sometimes the Refs can drive us nuts but you can be darn sure that its a two way street.

Several years ago our assignemnt chairman asked me and my assistant to speak to our refs, actually, it was more of a Q & A session. The first question that they asked us was "what were we looking for in our refs." My answer was pretty simple.... CONSISTENCY! We wanted the game called the same way on both ends of the floor... and whatever foul that is or is NOT called in the first qtr. would be called that way in the last mintute of the game.

Being a ref is a tough job.... positioning and angles are pretty important. They can never make the fans happy and at times the coaches aren't much better. I learneed to have fun with them, before and during the game.... but you better know who you are dealing with or you might get a T. For instance, there were several times that when I didn't like a call I would walk towards the end line and offer him my glasses (while smiling) They would laugh and wave me away.

Treat them with respect, have fun with them and that word WILL get around.... and the refs will want to do your game. The only way you can get a call reversed is IF it involves a rule...... or if the 3 refs get together and decide to make a change. Several years ago I was watching a Chirstmas tourney game and for the first time in 40+ uears I saw this call.... " A BLARGE " One ref called a charge and the othe called a block.... so, they settled on the BLARGE.... go figure.

We learn something new everyday.

Author:  JoeHaefner [ 22 Jul 2013, 16:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Those $%!@ REFS!!!

Coach Rob, that's some great info! Thanks for taking the time to do that. That will surely help some coaches out.

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