Quote:
Originally posted by Smitty
Better yet, Starman should sign up next season to become a high school basketball referee. There's no more humbling experience for those of us who thought we knew everything about the game than to start to referee the game. Seriously, Starman, it's a highly rewarding experience and you can begin to make a real difference if you think you can make the game better for all involved. Step up and become part of the solution if you think there's a real problem in the way the game is officiated.
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My partner and I do not call a lot of fouls, when possible. Every bit of contact is evaluated for advantage/disadvantage. There are few automatics -- if the defender goes down from contact, SOMETHING is being called, if practical. If BOTH players go down after contact something is being called.
But not all contact involving a driving player is a foul. There can be significant contact on a drive that is let go by me -- the best example is a drive and a defender that establishes and maintains LGP and forces a bump that causes a shot to be inaccurate. The driver was put at a disadvantage by a poor decision to drive, but not such a poor decision (or enough contact) to warrant a PC foul.
Happens all night. I'm not there to see 50 fouls called in a game and neither are the players, coaches, parents (even though they think they are), and other assorted spectators. It's common (in a boys game) for us to only hit the bonus in the second half and only when teams elect to start fouling.
We get the ones we need to get, trust me. I had a rugby match of a boys game last week and we called a LOT of fouls.
And A/D works best at the varsity level or above. At the lower levels and in many V girls games, contact puts the players at such a disadvantage that you have to call a lot of fouls in situations where you 'd likely pass on them in a V boys game.
Just how this one zebra sees it.
--Rich