Charles
Guest
Officially Speaking: Official vs Coach
Charles via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This week’s edition of Officially Speaking comes from last Saturday’s Oklahoma State at Texas game. We are all used to seeing coaches yell at officials and even occasionally draw a penalty for it; though this is much rarer in football than in basketball. However Saturday’s interaction between Texas coach Charlie Strong and an official was rather unusual and surprising. Before we begin our discussion, take a look at these two videos showing what happened from two different angles.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/647938086026936320/pu/vid/1280x720/-xKgEIvMh8-6G0H7.mp4
Another angle can be found here.
The first video starts normally enough, Coach Strong is arguing with an official about a holding call late in the fourth quarter of a close game. Things then get unusual as there appears to be contact between Strong and the official and the official throws a flag. The second video shows a different angle and makes it clear that the official bumps Coach Strong and then pulls out the flag.
WVa: The issue I keep running through my mind over and over is what did the coach say in this situation that would have gotten this professional to go ballistic and bait him into a flag? I have put myself in this situation a couple times of my own accord and typically at the high school level, the coaches back down so that they don’t cost there teams.
I have asked myself why did I do that? In some cases in football it is difficult to control yourself in the heat of the moment. I have gone to great lengths to change my philosophy around this just simply due to the fact it’s the coaches job to get me off kilter. It’s to his advantage if you lose your cool and in this situation, the coach lost the battle but will win the war because the official is probably done as an official in that conference.
There is a certain level of professionalism that is expected out of officials and it isn’t any different at the high school level. The official should have just flagged the coach for coming onto the field to argue in the first place. Get him back in the box and let him know he crossed the line. As it is, baiting him into saying something derogatory will cost the official dearly.
Charles: I agree with WVa that it football is an emotional game and this applies to the players, the coaches, and even the officials at times. Most people will get mad and respond back in kind if someone is yelling at them but officials must control that emotion and keep it in check, both out of just a sense of professionalism in terms of appearance and behavior and because giving in to the emotion can interfere with their ability to be impartial. Every new official goes through a learning curve with this and even veteran officials can occasionally be pushed over the line.
Unfortunately we don’t know what was said by both Coach Strong and the official during this incident and even throughout the game up to this point; very few things that involve emotion happen in a vacuum. It is very possible that Coach Strong said something that crossed the line and that is what the official through the flag for. However, by bumping the coach, the official acted in a completely unprofessional manner and whatever Coach Strong said is now overshadowed by the official’s action. If Coach Strong said something inappropriate, the official should have just thrown the flag and moved away; he also could have easily flagged Strong earlier for coming out onto the field to argue the call. One thing I had drilled into me early in my officiating days is that you have to be extremely careful what you say and do as an official when on the field because no matter what anyone else did, all that will be remembered is the one time you acted unprofessionally. This official clearly forgot that rule and I suspect will be facing discipline for it, as he should.
The post Officially Speaking: Official vs Coach appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Charles via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This week’s edition of Officially Speaking comes from last Saturday’s Oklahoma State at Texas game. We are all used to seeing coaches yell at officials and even occasionally draw a penalty for it; though this is much rarer in football than in basketball. However Saturday’s interaction between Texas coach Charlie Strong and an official was rather unusual and surprising. Before we begin our discussion, take a look at these two videos showing what happened from two different angles.
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/647938086026936320/pu/vid/1280x720/-xKgEIvMh8-6G0H7.mp4
Another angle can be found here.
The first video starts normally enough, Coach Strong is arguing with an official about a holding call late in the fourth quarter of a close game. Things then get unusual as there appears to be contact between Strong and the official and the official throws a flag. The second video shows a different angle and makes it clear that the official bumps Coach Strong and then pulls out the flag.
WVa: The issue I keep running through my mind over and over is what did the coach say in this situation that would have gotten this professional to go ballistic and bait him into a flag? I have put myself in this situation a couple times of my own accord and typically at the high school level, the coaches back down so that they don’t cost there teams.
I have asked myself why did I do that? In some cases in football it is difficult to control yourself in the heat of the moment. I have gone to great lengths to change my philosophy around this just simply due to the fact it’s the coaches job to get me off kilter. It’s to his advantage if you lose your cool and in this situation, the coach lost the battle but will win the war because the official is probably done as an official in that conference.
There is a certain level of professionalism that is expected out of officials and it isn’t any different at the high school level. The official should have just flagged the coach for coming onto the field to argue in the first place. Get him back in the box and let him know he crossed the line. As it is, baiting him into saying something derogatory will cost the official dearly.
Charles: I agree with WVa that it football is an emotional game and this applies to the players, the coaches, and even the officials at times. Most people will get mad and respond back in kind if someone is yelling at them but officials must control that emotion and keep it in check, both out of just a sense of professionalism in terms of appearance and behavior and because giving in to the emotion can interfere with their ability to be impartial. Every new official goes through a learning curve with this and even veteran officials can occasionally be pushed over the line.
Unfortunately we don’t know what was said by both Coach Strong and the official during this incident and even throughout the game up to this point; very few things that involve emotion happen in a vacuum. It is very possible that Coach Strong said something that crossed the line and that is what the official through the flag for. However, by bumping the coach, the official acted in a completely unprofessional manner and whatever Coach Strong said is now overshadowed by the official’s action. If Coach Strong said something inappropriate, the official should have just thrown the flag and moved away; he also could have easily flagged Strong earlier for coming out onto the field to argue the call. One thing I had drilled into me early in my officiating days is that you have to be extremely careful what you say and do as an official when on the field because no matter what anyone else did, all that will be remembered is the one time you acted unprofessionally. This official clearly forgot that rule and I suspect will be facing discipline for it, as he should.
The post Officially Speaking: Official vs Coach appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...