T’s – Why Do Some Officials End Up Giving Out Many and Others Don’t?

Seems that some officials commonly find themselves in situations where they end up dishing out
a lot of technical fouls, but other officials don’t. What are the possible reasons for this inequity?

Could it be that…
...some rightfully have less tolerance for unsporting behavior on the parts of players and coaches
than other officials. They, utilizing the unsporting technical foul for its intended purpose as a
valid tool, are properly “taking care of business” and not passing off problems to other crews
through shyness and neglect.
...they, due to their level of experience and expertise, are the ones assigned to the tough games
with the teams that are tougher to handle. Those teams that deserve technical fouls are getting
them from officials and crews that were given that game because of their ability as effective lion-
tamers.
...other officials, due to shyness, lack of confidence, or a simple “chicken-hearted” attitude, are
not properly "taking care of business" and, in passing up opportunities for justified T’s, are
wrongly passing on unsportsmanlike behavior, and passing it along, unaddressed, to other
officials who have the fortitude to take care of it as necessary.
...their communication skills are lacking, and little fires which otherwise never would have
started all-too-quickly ignite into raging conflagrations which can only be put out by a member
of the officiating crew having “the last act.”
...their play-calling is truly questionable and they bring upon themselves more anger and
objections from players and coaches because of it, therefore T's are used as a sort of defense
mechanism.
...they are too “thin skinned”. Due to personality or character, they, unlike others, perceive a
strongly stated comment as a personal attack, or consider a standard, garden-variety complaint in
the heat of the moment as a reason to pull the trigger.
What lessons can be learned by all regarding this observation?

1. Officials need to “take care of business” when necessary. The technical foul is a valid
tool to be implemented for the sake of the integrity of the game when necessary, not
ignored.
2. Officials need to strive for excellence in play-calling so that, by virtue of solid, consistent
judgment, and tactful confidence, a minimal amount of room is given for vociferous
objections and expressions of anger on the part of coaches and players.
3. Officials need to improve on communication skills (cf. “Verbal Judo” tactics) so that
when the need to explain calls or situations arises, it more often meets a welcome
response.
4. Officials need to have a thick skin so as not to get overly reactionary in contentious and
over-heated situations, leading to T’s that aren’t really necessary.
5. Officials need to somehow communicate during the pre-game conferences with players
and coaches that sportsmanship must remain a priority even in the heat of the contest.
The pre-game meeting with the coach has to be more than just an exchange of names, a
handshake, and a wish of “have a good game.” Somehow the expectation of an
avoidance of unsportsmanlike actions and antics are not going to be tolerated, that the
coaches’ box is for coaching and not seeking to assert dominance through excited
objections and heated accusations.
© Freddy Krieger, Baroda, Michigan. These statements and viewpoints do not intend to be the “last word” on the topic, and since there may be
unintended errors regarding rules or mechanics, you are welcome to forward your comments or suggested revisions to the author at:
kproplumb@hotmail.com