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	Quelle: NASO Locker Room Volume 3 Number 10 / 15. Oktober 2002
	Der Umgang mit den Assistenz Trainern
	Times have changed. It used to be that assistant coaches were there to coach players. They never said a derogatory word to an official. As sportsmanship declines through the decades, so too has the behavior and role of some assistant coaches. They have become yet another entity of the game that officials have to deal with that really isn’t a part of the on-court or off-field action. Changes in coaching style. It used to be that only the head coach spoke to an official. Now it could be argued that some assistants have been hired solely for the purpose of "working" the officials. No matter the level of play, in general, assistants have become more aggressive. There are certainly more of them. Even some large high school football teams have enough coaches to play a game if they had to. Conflicts arise. Because of the increased aggressiveness, more conflicts with officials arise. Conflicts with assistants tend to heat up faster than conflicts with head coaches for a number of reasons, including: 1. It’s not a part of an official’s perceived job description to hear complaints from assistants. Many officials believe that an assistant is hired to coach, not officiate. 2. It is a part of an official’s perceived job description to hear complaints from a head coach. Officials expect complains from head coaches. It’s a part of their job to interact with officials and the officials plan accordingly. 3. The "gang-up" theory. When a head coach is complaining, it’s a usually a one-on-one situation. When two or three assistants chime in to give their two cents worth, the official feels ganged up on. Anything beyond one-on-one discussion isn’t good. Most people react defensively when cornered. 4. The assistant has less influence, so it’s easier to fight back. Officials think the head coach is the one with the pull and influence over ratings, scratch-lists, etc., so the assistant is less of a threat, therefore an easier target. 5. The age factor. Many assistants are young; sometimes it’s their first coaching job. With older officials, assistants may get less respect simply because they haven’t been coaching a while. Plus, younger coaches tend to be more emotional. They simply haven’t learned how to deal with officials yet. 6. The perception that if the assistant was a good coach, the assistant wouldn’t be an assistant coach. Different attitudes. At an NCAA men’s basketball officiating clinic in Chicago, Joey Meyer, then-DePaul University men’s head coach and a member of National Association of Basketball Coaches, addressed the group of officials. Meyer said one common complaint among coaches was the way officials treated assistants. (Meyer also acknowledged that some assistants get out of line.) How to deal handle them. Making an assistant feel like a second-class citizen is a thing of the past. Here are some things officials can do when dealing with an assistant: 1. Don’t stereotype. It’s not fair for officials to think all assistants are trouble. Yes, there are trouble assistants, but treat each case on its own merits. 2.. Introduce yourself to the assistant before the game. In some sports (like football), you may not hit all of the them, but a brief and polite meeting starts the communication positively. 3. During the game, use an assistant to help manage the game. The NFL and college football have instituted an informal "get back" coach, an assistant who is in charge of helping keep players in the team box and off the field. It’s a positive way to deal with a problem. In basketball, using an assistant to help calm a frustrated player or head coach can be helpful. It builds trust and develops a relationship. 4. When an assistant is complaining, address it by talking to the head coach. In most cases, the head coach will come down on the assistant. The last thing a head coach wants is a penalty because of an assistant. General philosophy. Assistant coaches should get a "shorter leash" than a head coach regarding unsportsmanlike conduct. Something a head coach may say in frustration might draw a warming, where the same thing said by an assistant draws a penalty. The assistant must recognize their purpose — coaching — and let the head coach deal with the officials. That doesn’t mean, however, that assistants should be treated like dirt. Think about this: Today’s assistant will probably be tomorrow’s head coach. Most coaches have long memories.