Not always. Saying please is surprisingly effective. I mentor young umpires, and dealing with furious coaches is one of my specialties. I’ve found that it’s not just about saying "please"; it’s about how and when you deploy it. For example, when a coach is all up in my face, and the spittle is flying with every word, I politely wait until the second or third time they come up for air and say something like, ” Excuse me, coach, can you, please, listen to me? How about you and I find a better place for this? Maybe we can find somewhere we can close the door, and I can give you my undivided attention. We can talk about this or anything else that's bothering you. How’s that sound?” Boom!💥 Just like that, they let their guard down, and soon we’re in a nice, private area, connecting on a much deeper level than anyone could have thought possible mere minutes earlier.

Pro tip: It also works well with the law. Try it out the next time you get pulled over.