A few thoughts and a game situation from a few years ago:
officials MUST be aware of individual and team fouls, regardless of how you feel about this "star player" treatment. Being aware of these things are what seperate good officials from great officials. This includes: game clock, shot clock, score, team fouls, individual fouls, time outs remaining, etc. The more you know about the game you are officiating, the more apt you are to call a better game. Knowlege is a GOOD thing
siuations:
a few years ago, I was officiating a HS boys varsity game between two small Christian schools. The visiting team was clearly better than the home team, and had 3 or 4 players who understood the game and how to play. The home team had one basketball player (#23) and 4 other people on the court. He was the only kid on the team who could dribble, pass, or shoot. It was a 20 point game in the 3rd quarter and the home team was obviously outmatched. With about 2 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter, one of my partners calls the 4th foul on #23 for the home team. We then have a timeout and I get together with my partners to discuss a few things. I mention that #23 has 4 fouls and is the only reason the game is even reasonable at the moment. I state that it is in the best interest of the game/fans/players/officials if we slow our whistles down with him. If it's an obvious foul, we have to give it to him, but otherwise, let's be a little patient. I never said not to call a foul, just use common sense. U1 nods his head and says ok. U2 is completely disgruntled about this statement and says, "if it's a foul, i'm calling it." First possession out of the timeout for the home team, he has has a marginal handcheck 30 feet from the basket to foul out #23. Game situation says to me that we could've passed on this foul.
Had a JUCO girls game yesterday where the visiting team only had 7 players. One girl had fouled out, and their other big girl (#23) had 4 fouls. Obvious foul on visiting team with two girls (#23 & #22) in the area. I give the foul to #22 (only had 1 foul at the time) and the HOME coach thanked me for not fouling out #23. It would have been a massacre after that.
Not all fouls are black/white. Most of the time, they are dependant on game situation.
but on that note, i did eject the "star" player from a team earlier in the year for a flagrant elbow in the first quarter of a boys varsity game. coach tried to tell me that i needed to be aware that he was the star player and not to eject him. I told the coach that the player himself needed to be aware he was the star player and not flagrantly throw an elbow.
[Edited by TerpZebra on Feb 22nd, 2005 at 11:43 AM]
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