I've reffed 3 mens "town team" basketball leagues this year.
In the last 2 weeks, we have suspended 3 people for a calendar year.
I've lived here all my life, so I know these guys.
First guy, their team is down 18......with 3 minutes left in the game. He get pissed at the other ref on a block/charge call....picks up the ball, and from a distance of no more than 10 feet, throws it at his head as hard as he can....Luckily, it missed, or we've got a full-fledged donnybrook.
2 nights ago.....2 notable hot-heads on the same team......they are down 20.......inside of a minute left in the game......one gets pissed on an out of bounds call I made.......goes to the OTHER REF......tells him how bad he is, that he is a son of a *****...Bang..Gone........then tells him he's going to meet him outside after the game......other hot-head on the same team proceeds to spit on everything within a 10-foot radius of him.....tells him what a sorry sack of **** he is.....yadda-yadda.....What really did it is both players were out in the parking lot waiting for him after the game, and threatened to kick his ass, so on and so forth.......
My point is this.......it doesn't matter how old you are, how many years you've officiated.
The players/coaches will respect the officials.