I would appreciate commentary on an ugly situation that occurred to me.
3/07/01
Technical Areas: During an Indoor Tournament play with four minutes remaining
on the clock an individual enters the technical area where the rules point
out that only two coaches and the rostered players may occupy. This
particular area is only 30" wide sandwiched between support columns of the
indoor roof structure and dasher walls. Not a lot of free space. A side
hallway door can access it, which is where the individual did so. He enters
and takes a commanding stand at the gate from which I, as the coach, was
readying a player to sub. I ask him what he is up to and he answers smugly
"This is a great place to watch the game from". I quickly ask him if he was
aware that only coaches and players were allowed in here and he says "Its
okay for him since he is the Head Referee of the tournament". He is dressed
in a black pull over but there is no other indication that he is an official.
This was the second day of Tournament play and I hadn't ever been aware of
this individual before. I tersely tell him to get off the gate so that I can
substitute. He complies. While doing so I also apologize for being testy with
him because I'm so intense on the game play. He starts to tell me that I need
to calm down and that I'm too intense which by now makes me very intense. I
tell him to get out of the box. He says no, I say I own the box during the
play. He refuses to leave even with additional urgings to do so. Remember at
this time there is now about three minutes on the clock in a quarter final
match and my sense of urgency and concentration is short circuiting with this
situation that I deemed to be an intrusion to an area that I believe is mine
for the duration of the game. I contend that this individual was not a
referee for this game play and should not have entered our space. Not to
mention in an arrogant fashion. His presence was annoying and unsettling. Now
my question: Who does have authority to be in the technical area during game
play? What should have been a proper response to the situation? How should I
have proceeded?
tjford51@...