It was just a few years ago that a lady called the principal in protest of an announcement a coach made concerning the play of the middle school basketball team. The lady was offended by the use of the expression “poor passing” in reference to the ballhandling of the Lady Jacket basketball team.

The coach had little to say about the protest; this old coach takes on issues such as this and I wrote the lady a message asking appropriate questions. The questions asked in that message are as applicable today concerning calls by parents or fans as they were then. Anyone making a questions.

Everyone needs to carefully consider these questions and determine honest answers. They all have to do with motives and desired actions on the part of the caller.

Incidentally, the lady I wrote has yet to respond to questions asked. Here I reference the questions of those who would call an administrator in protest of any coach’s decision.

1. The lady had no child on the team. How and why did the announcement offend her sufficiently to motivate a phone call of complaint? She has not answered. I remember well when I was coach- ing a person calling and complaining about one of my coaches having a tee-shirt with the expression “Snot Squad” on the front. My, but this offended the lady as being vulgar. On my Saturday TV program the issue was addressed. Here was my answer: One is looking for something to complain about to make an issue of that shirt; then it was noted that one of my favorite expressions was “knock snot.” I used it in practice and I used it on the TV program the next Saturday. Don’t we know another expression that would have been much worse?

2. What actions do the callers want taken? Do they want the coach removed from their position or penalized for some decision made? Why put the administrator in such the decision which is far removed from their personal observation, and possibly their concern? What makes the caller feel they are qualified to even act in such a situation? Let me say strongly that no fan or parent is qualified to even objectivelybecome involved in such matters.

3. Without mentioning specific people let me tell you about a superintendent ( with the support of his high school principal) who a couple of decades ago ordered a basketball player reinstated to the varsity team and allowed to go to the game at the Omni in Atlanta. At best it was a cowardly action and failed to uphold the faithful duty of the administrator and the action undermined the decisions of a decent and honest coach. The player’s mother under consideration had been a malcontent in relation to every activity her children had been engaged in. Coaches and band directors involved with her children had all stood before the superintendent to listen to her outlandish charges and complaints.