Official to Coaches: Obey the Rules

In answer to Bill Hughes, the Reseda basketball coach who argued that the officials couldn’t officiate from a sitting position:

The official was reminding him that the rules indicate that he should remain on the bench. As a former official, I was told of an incident that occurred in a local basketball game. The official working the game was constantly being second-guessed by the coach. So he ran over and sat down beside the coach, who wanted to know why he was sitting on the bench. He replied that apparently the coach could call the fouls better from a sitting position than he could, so he decided to join him. Of course, the coach didn’t enjoy his humor.

Officials work very hard at their job for very little money. They are like the policeman who is criticized for enforcing the law. The coaches, like all citizens, must realize that they must obey the rules of the game.

RICHARD GEARING

Former City official

Los Angeles