Nurse,

It depends on your repore with the official. For example, if Mark Anderson is on the mat, I get a little bit more latitude because I know Mark personally. He'll tell me, "Gibson, shut up and sit down," humorously to let me know I'm toeing the line.

With other officials, I have to be much more careful. Sure, it should be called universally the same for everyone, but it's not. Officials are human and personality conflicts arise.

With those officials, I ask for clarification of a call. This is not questioning a judgement call (technically it is, but the way I word the question comes to mind).

Case in point, a takedown on the edge. If I don't think it was correct, I'll go to the table and ask for clarification.

"Both feet were in bounds?" yes coach
"And he had control before going out?" yes coach
"Are you sure?" (that's my jab at the call) yes coach. Beyond that, there isn't much I can do.

In essense, I did question his judgement, but I didn't. I asked for clarification, which is much different than going to the table and screaming, "they were out of bounds!"

The beauty is that I have not belittled the official and he now respects me because I was respectful to him. Then later on in the match or day, I get a call my way because I have built a good relationship with the official. He knows I know my stuff and that I will not be disrespectful.

I see a lot of calls go against a coach that's a hothead and they don't realize that they are screwing their wresters because their pride is much more important that "working the refs."