Quote:
Originally posted by w_sohl
I completely disagree! It is the players job to know which way they are going just as much as it is ours. It is not our responsibility to tell the players they are going the wrong way. Look at it this way, and this is a true story. Coach runs a play where his player line up under the wrong basket for an inbound in an attempt to confuse the other team and catch a break when one of the players breaks for the correct basket. Now if you are going to tell teh players that they are going the wrong way you are going to completely take away any advantage that that team had. The coaches and players need to know just as much as we do.
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My alma matter tried this once when I was refereeing. They told me before the quarter started that they were going to do it, and would I please not give it away. I told them that "I would do what I always do at the start of a quarter." Alma matter lines up the wrong way (trying to draw the other team into going the wrong way. Just before I administer the throw-in, I say: "Red ball, going this way!" (Pointing the right direction.) Alma matter was upset with me...
But it's true: before every throw-in to start a period or any other pause in the game (timeout, etc.), I always give color and direction. I think that it's simple preventative officiating to avoid situations like this thread is talking about, and also prevents teams from doing crap like my alma matter wanted to do, which is not in the spirit of the game.