The Guys Who Complain To Officials

Watching the NBA playoffs has been great, but it's a reminder to me how much NBA players complain and interact with officials. I give the officials a lot of credit because they are usually willing to have a conversation and generally not too quick with technical fouls. But I cringe a bit, because I know players at all levels are watching the NBA and following their lead.

We've all coached plenty of players who spend way too much time thinking about the officiating. But other than telling guys to stop talking to the officials, how do you change the behavior? Often their bitching is an emotional reaction, one that a simple "stop doing that" isn't going to correct.

So what can you do to get players to stop complaining to the officials?

Explain what the team needs from them

The first step that I've found most effective is to have a conversation, and one that isn't based on officiating or their behavior. Explain to them what the team needs from them.

"When you are locked in on what's important, this team feeds off your energy. We need you to focus on what you can control, because when you do that the team reacts positively. When you are concerned with other things, you don't play well and neither does our team."

Focus on how their behavior can have a positive impact on the team. So when you have to correct it, you aren't simply yelling "stop talking to the officials!" You are saying, "Stay locked in here, this team needs you." Their value to the team and their loyalty to their teammates should be more important than their beef with the refs.

Silent days

Start practice one day by telling them they aren't allowed to talk. They can't say a word. Maybe you can't do it for the entire practice, but do it for a couple of live, competitive drills. Don't let them respond to anything, and force them to focus on what they can do better, not things they can't control. When they can talk again, they'll spend more time talking to their teammates about what's important.

Sub them out

When a constant complainer starts bitching in practice, just put a sub in for them. Don't challenge them, yell at them or add any emotion to what is already an emotional situation. It's a simple "Brian, get Kaseem." Just remove him from the practice, and keep it moving. Let them take a deep breath and calm down, and they'll start to realize when they complain, they don't get to play.

Make a teammate run

Don't pick on one guy for this, but make it a rule for the team. If it continues to be a problem with just one guy, then maybe it becomes his rule. When someone complains about a call, stop practice and put one of their teammates on the line. Make him run a quick sprint. "Tim, it's too bad you can't count on Jeff. He let you down by not running back on defense, and that's going to cost your team in the long run. You are really going to have to be in great shape if Jeff is going to keep doing that."

It doesn't have to be a long sprint, just a quick down-and-back. Nobody is comfortable putting their teammates on the line because of their own bad behavior (or if they are, you aren't winning with them anyway and get them out of your gym quickly). You'll also create some peer pressure within your group, so the guys start getting on their teammates about leaving the officials alone.

Call less fouls in practice

Put them in situations where playing through it is the norm. The expectation is that you are going to get hit, and tough teams play through it. I've seen a number of practices where the bitching is actually made worse by inconsistent officiating - this guy gets a call, that guy doesn't. And now guys are complaining, but they have a legitimate beef. Create a tough mentality where you are going to play through all of that stuff. Let them play, and they'll get used to it.

Check yourself

This might be the most challenging adjustment to make, and also the most important. Look at your own behavior with regards to officials. If you are losing your mind with the officiating, what do you expect your players to do? The do as I say, not as I do approach is fraudulent. Your kids are going to take on your personality, good or bad. The idea that "I'll take care of the officials," or "I'm just fighting for you guys" is an excuse for your own bad behavior.

I can't tell you how many times as a head coach I was upset with the officials and then I realized I was losing control of my team. They are going to follow your lead. Check your own emotions to make sure your players can handle theirs.