Once upon a time in my coaching career, I averaged 1 – 2 technical fouls per year. This is when the referee deems your behavior so inappropriate that s/he awards 2 free throws to the other team (plus possession of basketball).
One game, in particular, stands out. We were playing Emerson Waldorf in Hillsborough, NC. During the game, I felt the other team was getting away with being overly physical with one of my players.
I chided the referee several times. After the same thing happened four times, as the referee was running past our bench, I aggressively smacked my hands together, and screamed at the referee (as loud as I could) “CALL THE FOUL!!!”
The referee immediately called a technical foul, and I was forced to sit for the remainder of the game. If I received another, I would get kicked out of the game (and gymnasium)!
Long story short, we won the game. We were all feeling good. As we were leaving the gym, a parent said to me “Coach Berry, you’re not setting a very good example for the players. You’re supposed to be a role model, and the referee reprimanded you for being out of control!”
OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! My feelings were definitely hurt! The last thing I want to do is be a negative influence on our youth!
Guess what, the parent was absolutely right! My behavior was unacceptable! From that point on, since 2010, I never received another technical foul. I vowed to everyone (players, parents and school) this will never happen again!
These are the type of lessons your kid gets from my coaching philosophy. It’s more than basketball, its life!
