Coach vs. Ref

Question
QUESTION: As a referee, what is the best way for a coach to communicate with you during the game.  At times when trying to get explanations for calls or clarifications on a ruling I find myself yelling my head off just to get someone's attention.  Of course emotions are high and crowd is loud etc.  What are some suggestions or are their proper channels I don't know about?  Also, I've been told by refs that if they see an infraction but it's "not in my area" then they can't make the call.  Thoughts?
Thank you,
Coach Cook
ANSWER: Coach Cook,
Great Questions!  I have tried to teach this at high school coaches clinics but it seems to fall on deaf ears.  Collegiate coaches tend to be more mindful of this issue.

First and foremost, try to be calm and collected and avoid the yelling of emotional profanity as this tends to cause officials to shut down.  Get your assistant coach coaches under control.  You will find most officials will work hard to try to communicate with you and they will work hard for you.

Establish a rapport with the official on your sideline before the game starts.  Lou Holtz was known for this as is Pete Carroll.  If the level you coach is college you will have 7 officials and the SJ or FJ is the one you communicate with.  If you coach at the High School level you will have a 4 or 5 man crew and the HL or LJ are the ones you communicate with.

In 4 & 5 man crews the officials are busy with lots of duties, but ask them for information concerning the foul.  Let the crew know before the game that you want to have explanations  for each foul.  Ask the referee what is the best way for you to communicate with them to get explanations.

This serves 2 purposes : 1) it lets the crew know you just want open channels of communication and  2) is non confrontational as you are asking the Referee how he wants you to communicate.  Now at the High School level there can be some "Asses" who are total control freaks.  Your best bet with that kind of official is to find another guy on the crew you you can connect with and see if he will communicate with you. It works, trust me.

The rationale that a coach is under "emotions and crowd, etc", does not work with me as I too am in the same environment and under similar stresses.  But I will always listen to a coach who listens to me.  

I often lecture to officials that coaches and players see the game with their hearts and process it with emotion. We as officials see the games with our eyes and must process it with reason through our minds.   Try to divorce yourself emotionally from the thing that is making you emotional when asking for an explanation.

Now with respect to calling fouls, I could write a 25 page article on this.  You coach at the Federation level as the phrase "it's not in my area" tends to be a high schools officials' misconception.  We as officials don't get paid to call fouls, rather we get paid to not call fouls and call the big fouls. What I mean is best illustrated by the mental process that an officials must go through before throwing his flag.

First, is the act occurring in violation of the rules? If so, is the act that is being done creating an advantage for the actor? If not, then no foul.  Is the act in violation of the rules also creating a disadvantage for the opponent?  If no, most likely not  a penalty.

Is the act occurring at the point of attack, if not then pass on calling the foul.  If it is at the point of attack then does the act have a baring on the play, if so then throw the flag.

Each official has certain responsibilities on the field and officiates certain keys and areas/zones. Often time we will not call a foul in a different are because we did not see the entire act leading up to the act, the act itself and the end of the act.  Also some fouls occur too close to officials so the backside covering with the view will call the foul.

There is a philosophy taught by some NFL officials to college and high school officials "Fish in your own pond, don't fish in my pond".  This mean don't throw a flag in my area only officiate in your assigned area.

I would be more than happy to follow up with you and discuss this in the future if you wish.  I will not be available this weekend as Iam going to an officiating clinic.

Best of luck and thanks for the question.
Victor Winnek
Football Official

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply, I think it will be helpful to look at situations with the perspective of impact on the play.  My follow up question is regarding review process.  When we watch film of our games we obviously see a lot more than what was called during the game.  The only things I really get concerned with are safety issues like hits at the end of the play and players dropping their heads when the tackle.  Should I provide film and contact the ref group to address this or what would be your suggestion?  Prior to the game in question I expressed my concerns to the ref crew but it seemed to fall on deaf ears.  
Thanks again,
Coach Cook

Answer
FOLLOW UP QUESTION******
Coach Cook,
First please accept my apology for your concerns falling on deaf ears.  We as officials live and die together on and off the field whether we worked the game or where elsewhere, so we screwed up by not listening to your concerns.

As for films BY ALL MEANS PLEASE SEND THE FILMS TO THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION.  This is an invaluable learning tool for officials and can serve as a great teaching aid if you review the films with the senior officials in the association for "understanding" purposes.   In 5 man crews at the high school level there are some late hits that are missed and that is usually because the officials are looking elsewhere and don't see the action or they just missed it (sometimes because they are too close to the action and the off official or BJ is not Dead Ball Officiating.).

Player safety is of the utmost concern for both coaches and officials.