I like to think of myself as a friend of all coaches at the high school level.

Most of them have to overcome enormous challenges to be successful. Coaching goes beyond diagramming offensive plays, developing defensive strategies and scouting the opposition. Coaches are expected to keep tabs on their student-athletes’ grades as well as share the burden of the plethora of temptations players can succumb to on their own time that affects their eligibility.

It is a tough job, but most coaches know the deal when they sign up to do what they do.

One thing that shouldn’t be in the description is dealing with overzealous fans.

After Christian Life’s victory at Reuther on Tuesday, my colleague Andrew Horschak was interviewing CLS coach Steve Powell when a relative of a player interrupted, lambasting the coach about a perceived lack of playing time.

Unfortunately, ask any coach across Kenosha County and they’d have a similar story to tell. This one just happened to be within earshot of a reporter.

There were multiple problems with what happened on Tuesday. First off, it was after a WIN. In team sports at the high school level and beyond, it’s about contributing to the team’s success. For fans, it’s about rooting for the team’s success as well. Secondly, to interrupt a conversation is rude and an all-too-common occurrence after events. Finally, to confront a coach immediately after the game is horrendous.

While coaching youth sports is a different ball game (not about the results, but skill development), the last two problems still apply. I’ve experienced parents complaining about playing time by yelling across the court during the game in a mandatory-play league.

Confronting the issue immediately after the game is asking for trouble. Usually the relative or friend is watching the game and stewing about the perceived slight for nearly two hours. Human nature lends exponential growth to the level of frustration. At that point, there could be no rational discussion, only irrational babbling.

Coaches in all sports at all levels could make their lives easier by implementing a 24-hour rule.

Wisconsin Juniors, a club volleyball organization, makes parents sign an agreement that includes that there will be no confronting coaches until 24 hours after any tournament concludes. If you have a problem with the way your child/relative is being handled, take a day, reflect and then engage in a conversation.

They’re probably not the first organization to implement the rule, but they definitely shouldn’t be the last.

* Book it (6-4): Prior to losing at Michigan State, the Wisconsin men’s basketball extended its winning streak to five games by blowing out Indiana.

National championship contender Marquette, in the middle of a Big East gauntlet, will lose at Louisville on Sunday.

Mike Larsen is a sportswriter for the News. E-mail him at mlarsen@kenoshanews.com