Sub Varsity Officials Conduct

[Coby]

I had a coach that I respect tell me that he has had officials on 2 different occasions tell him that he could not talk to them during a 9th grade and sub varsity game.  I asked him if he was being an IDIOT when he asked and he said "not at all".  I then asked him to assign a value to his screaming at me from 3 weeks ago 1-10 and he said a 8.  Then I asked him how he asked this other sub varsity ref and he said a 3.5.   I had another coach ask me about this during a pre game meeting earlier this year and blew it off as coach talk.

I told my buddy to send in an email to the subvarsity scheduler.

Has anyone else heard about officials telling varsity coaches or HFC that they can not talk to them in subvarsity games?  Dont get me wrong I will tongue lash a hot snot sub varsity coach in a heart beat when his team is winning by 40 points.  I always let the DC/OC/HC  talk to me and let me know about penalties.

[Rulesman]

I used to listen to any coach, but only responded to the head coach.

[clearwall]

Are you talking about a Varsity HC at a subvar game who is not coaching talking to an official and the official said that? If so, that official is a JERK. How are you going to get respect and possibly Var picks acting like that? I LOVE when the Var coach comes to JV games or when the HS coaches come to MS games. I find that's my way to build rapport with them in a non-stressful situation.

[DallasLJ]

I try to talk to all coaches, at any level, if they are being reasonable.  The conversation may have to wait until a TO, new Kick Off, between games, etc., but we should try to hear our customer's concerns.  Some coaches just want an explanation.  Talked to a Freshman coach who had a question yesterday after I cautioned a kid about hitting behind a play.  Explained the rule to him and generally what we look for.  He was appreciative of the comments and is now able to coach up his kids appropriately.

[CenTexZebra]

Talking to a AD/HC or any other V level coach during a sub V game is one thing, but getting screamed at by several of them is another. Had a JV game Thursday. AD/HC was there on the sidelines. Had 2 false starts on his left G&T. He started yelling that they D was calling signals making his O line jump. I told him we did not hear anything but we would listen closer. Never heard a thing but it happened a couple more times, same 2 players and it only happened when the D line would shift to the left. They did not come into the neutral zone, just shifted gaps. The very next play his C double clutched on the snap and we flagged him for it. As we were trying to mark off the penalty the AD/HC was on the field at the left hash screaming at us about the call. Before it was all settled down the AD/HC had an UNS flag, the head JV coach had an UNS flag and so did one of the O lineman. After 37.5 yards in mark offs, the last being 1/2 the distance, they finally settled down. I will talk to any coach to answer a question as long has he is not belligerent and yelling. Talk to me and I will talk to you.

[mishatx]

I don't mind the HC at a game involving his school.  When the HS Varsity HC shows up in the middle of a 7th grade game and starts arguing about stuff, he gets a very short leash and a very curt attitude. I've had more than one varsity HC ruin the demeanor of a sideline mid-game as the JH coaches want to show they're on board with him.

[Joe Stack]

The coaching mentality is to place ALL the blame for problems on the officials. I think there's 2 possible explanations for this situation described here: 1) the coach significantly downplayed his actions in confronting the officials or 2) the officials, especially younger guys, have been so beat up over the years by this sort of thing that they just shut it down immediately and didn't want to take any comments. I think those of us more experienced officials will tolerate reasonable discussion by coaches who aren't in that particular game, but I have also had Varsity coaches come on the sideline and directly engage me and then criticize me (and even called the assigner 5 minutes after the game).

I don't think its as simple as saying the officials were in the wrong here. Perhaps they need more training, but good grief, I've heard about coaches who've explained to the assigner that they were behaving reasonably when in fact, they weren't.

The other thing that happens in these types of situations is the varsity coach complains the new officials are throwing too many flags. While they may be right about that, they call the next week and complain that they missed calls against THEIR team.

[blindref757]

I had a coach that I respect tell me that he has had officials on 2 different occasions tell him that he could not talk to them during a 9th grade and sub varsity game.

That would be a great addition to the rules!  I bet we could actually keep some guys around long enough to learn how to referee if this were in place!

[Etref]

That would be a great addition to the rules!  I bet we could actually keep some guys around long enough to learn how to referee if this were in place!

That said, I think it imperative that when we put 1-3 year officials on the filed we have a seasoned vet with them to make sure they get it right.

Had a coach tell me yesterday about a fiasco from last week (not our chapter) They are visitors and home team had 3rd and three. Home team false starts but officials let the play go. Home team gained 8 yards and the officials marked 5 yards from the DEADBALL spot leaving the home team with a first and ten!!!!!

Same game, visitor runner on a breakaway run, stiff arms a defender and is called for holding!


Lord, I hope that really did not occur but coach swears it did.