6th Grade Girls Basketball Coach arrested after fracas

[ObliviousScout]

ESTACADA, OREGON -- A coach of a girls’ youth recreational team was ejected for arguing with the Ref (http://www.ktvb.com/news/regional/stories/ktvbn-feb1708-coach_arrested.19ac329.html) (a high school junior). The coach didn’t leave the gym after being ejected, and then approached and (allegedly) threatened the referee after the game was over.

It really grinds my gears that parents are actually defending this coach (http://www.katu.com/news/local/15717777.html), saying things about how the ref was missing calls. Sure, maybe the young guy did miss a few calls. It's 6th grade girls rec, which means you're probably getting the youngest, most inexperienced ref available. But there is NO EXCUSE for that kind of behavior. Period.

The coach was arrested, and is scheduled to appear in court in March, but I wonder if The Oregonian’s John Canzano is right when he says that this is not an isolated incident, but a disease (http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120347791774910.xml&coll=7) that pervades all of youth sports.

Anyway, I thought it was worth sharing what is happening to referees of other sports.

[Wreave]

Sigh...

[refontherun]

I don't know how a bunch of 6th graders could get so physical during a game that it was "out of control" unless they were being coached to play that way. I see it all too often. A coach tells his team to play more physically, so the other team adjusts with physicality of their own. Then the first coach says the game is getting too physical (out of control).

[spectre013]

Makes me wonder if they have a rule in place like we do here in Colorado for soccer. Where as any parent/coach that is removed has to leave with in 2 min or the match is terminated.

The referee may suspend play when necessary due to spectator or participant interference until the individual(s)creating the disturbance leaves the playing area to a minimum of 100 yards from the field. Said individual(s)shall remain silent for the duration of the game and take no further part in the game. Failure of (an)individual(s)to comply with the referee ’s request within 2 minutes may result in the referee ’s terminating the game. Such incident may result in forfeiture of the game as well as further disciplinary
action.

That is direct from our Soccer orginzation. If he had stopped the game untill the coach left maybe things would have calmed down. Have many times seen a coach who is out of hand get the boot and the rest of the match goes really smoth.

[Rufusabc]

Since I have been sidelined with injury, I hae spent way more time in the stands watching than out on the field refereeing. I was at a what I consider a stay in shape winter indoor game for HS girls the other night.

One team was completely outplaying the other team (it was a matter of talent) but the folks I was with were blaming it all on the referee (and loudly too). The ref was the LAST person responsible for the scoreline.

I use that as an example that we have become a nation of fault seekers. Whose fault is it? Why did we lose? Tha game I was at did not reach the level talked about at the beginning of this post, but it s symptoatic of what happens in the rooting section of every even I have been to this winter. The refs are out to screw them. They don't know what they are doing.

So, I decided to be a little bit more proactive. No one knows I am a referee because at the moment walking is enough of a chore. I ask them what they are complaining about and what they saw to make them so angry. And they are angry. I engage them in a dialogue about what's going on out on the field. And maybe it calms them down a little, or maybe they get a sense that they are not invisible and can actually be seen and heard by about 50 or so people in the immediate vicinity.

Ask people what it is they saw, and it is usually so colored and different than what you saw, that you walk away shaking your head.

One final note....the coach in the story should never be allowed to coach on that level ever again. period.

R

[Tarheel Ref]

I use that as an example that we have become a nation of fault seekers. Whose fault is it? Why did we lose? Tha game I was at did not reach the level talked about at the beginning of this post, but it s symptoatic of what happens in the rooting section of every even I have been to this winter. The refs are out to screw them. They don't know what they are doing.

So, I decided to be a little bit more proactive. No one knows I am a referee because at the moment walking is enough of a chore. I ask them what they are complaining about and what they saw to make them so angry. And they are angry. I engage them in a dialogue about what's going on out on the field. And maybe it calms them down a little, or maybe they get a sense that they are not invisible and can actually be seen and heard by about 50 or so people in the immediate vicinity.

Ask people what it is they saw, and it is usually so colored and different than what you saw, that you walk away shaking your head.

One final note....the coach in the story should never be allowed to coach on that level ever again. period.

R

Well said and well done and then well said again. Remember the adage about what happens when you point a finger of blame at somebody? Four more coming back and so forth. I have a hard time believing or understanding how somebody with such a volatile temperament can be given authority over kids but maybe that's just you and me and the level-headed folks.

Hope your rehab is going well and you can get back out there soon.

Plus...great teamwork reps to you for helping get the crowd off that ref's back...wanna come hang out in my crowd for some of my upcoming HS matches? Sometimes I can't even understand what they're complaining about...not that I really care anyway...but they keep complaining. Maybe they could at least be consistent in their complaints?

[ObliviousScout]

The ref was the LAST person responsible for the scoreline.

Exactly, and I wish people would realize how ridiculous they sound when they accuse a referee of being biased. Please. As if I really care one way or another who wins your pathetic little rec/youth/amateur/whathaveyou game. Give me a break; you're not that special.

FWIW, I think this is indicative of an entire culture of “my child is perfect, why do you hate him/her?” and you see it in everything. I think my brothers and I were the only ones at my school who got the following speech from our mother:

“Your teachers have no reason to hate you, or single you out. They’ve already got 20+ other kids in a class, and if you stand out for good or bad, it won’t be because the teacher either likes or hates you. It will be because of what you have done.”

I saw waay too many parents come to “defend” their kids, when it was their precious angels actually causing the trouble. My mother is a teacher, so she deals with the same attitude from parents on a regular basis. I’ve lost track of the number of times a parent has accused her: “Why are you failing my child?” and she’s had to respond, “Well, your child didn’t turn in _____ project, or clearly didn’t study for ______ test.”