that’s all I can ask," said Klim.
Managing the Game
Management of a game does not solely rely on the coach’s ability to remain neutral in high-stress situations. Officials are essential for keeping the peace on the field as well as the sidelines. The cliché scenario of a coach and official "having it out" on the sidelines over a controversial call is all too familiar in youth sports. But with MBYLL, the league utilizes trained officials from EMLOA to ensure a balanced approach to officiating and handling outbursts from crowds and coaches.
According to Carbonaeu, US Lacrosse teaches officials that on the field there are three teams: the two youth teams playing and the "adult team," which includes coaches, officials, and spectators. The most important aspect of managing a game is that each group has to work together. "Everyone is in this together," said Carbonaeu. "We really try to foster that instead of 'us versus them.'"
In order to establish such a sense of unity, EMLOA officials will meet with the two head coaches of the playing teams before the game to discuss "how we want to handle things," said Benson. It’s a strategy that helps promote equality. "We’re the three adults out here, we’ll get through this together," said Benson.
Officiating organizations are even implementing a pre-game meet-and-greet between the officials and the spectators. The USL piloted a program where veteran officials would introduce themselves to the spectators at the beginning of a game and would answer their questions at half time.
However ideal their training is, there are always coaches and spectators that make it difficult for officials. In order to keep the peace, EMLOA gives officials tools to combat negative behavior on and
off the field. Officials are the first line of defense when trouble on the sidelines begins. "We have to be aware as officials what is going to start trouble so that if trouble does start to percolate on the sidelines we are ready to get over there and calm things down," said Benson.
Trying to curb high tempers is a common goal for all officials when conflict arises. "We instruct the officials to not get into an argument and escalate
things. The idea is to calm things down," said Benson. EMLOA officials are trained to "bring the coach down from his elevated anxiety." This may mean accepting blame for a call, even if the official is correct. "We’ll say 'Coach, we’re sorry if you didn't like that call.' We teach our officials ways to bring the coach down from his elevated anxiety. We’ll take the blame, even if we’re right, just to deflate his sails a little bit and try to move on," said Benson.
Klim has had first-hand experience with coaches losing control of their demeanor. "Usually what happens is one team gets up on another one as far as score. I’ve seen coaches lose it as a referee. I’ve seen penalty after penalty and coaches who are out of control," said Klim.
Klim also noted that many coaches want to relive their own years playing lacrosse and their emotions
become a distraction from teaching their young athletes the game of lacrosse. "This is why we go through such extents through the coaching education," said Klim.
Most of the time, however, coaches and officials do not have problems with each other. "They might have a gripe
16 The Scoop / Spring '15