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Originally posted by M&M Guy
BZ - If the table missed your TD signal, wouldn't they miss the "2" signal as well?
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No. You give the "2" signal to make it clear what the result of the shot was. I commonly give the signal to the table so we do not wait until the next 10 times up the court before we correct an obvious mistake. Since I have done this I cannot think of one time the table was unaware of what the proper points should be. At the very least that does not happen that much in 3 Person mechanics.
Quote:
Originally posted by M&M Guy
How would most people feel if we saw an official watch a drive to the basket, then follow it with a "safe" signal to let everyone know he saw the play and there was no foul? That would look kind of strange. If there's a foul, we blow the whistle and hold up our fist, if not, we don't.
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I am not sure if you work baseball or softball, umpires make "safe" calls because they have to call something. Either the runner is safe or that runner is out. We do not just make a call just to make one.
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Originally posted by M&M Guy
In the case of the closely guarded count, I was told at a camp once that officials started using the hands-apart signal as a lazy way to let everyone know they were watching, instead of using body language to show they really were in position and watching. Then, there was either a count, or not.
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The "not" closely guarded signal is a college mechanic. It is there to purposely communicate to everyone that the official no longer has a count. I agree that signal should not be used at the HS level (unless approved for use) but that is the college way. The college ranks has no problem with making things clear and they use many more signals to help their officials communicate things that are not so obvious.
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Originally posted by M&M Guy
For those that work baseball or softball, the closest analogy I can think of is when you call balls and strikes - it's either a strike or a ball. When I did softball, I was taught that it's not "ball, low", or "juuuust a bit outside". If someone asks, you can tell them. But I was told it shows either weakness or a lack of confidence if you have to explain and justify every call. Wouldn't that apply to basketball?
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Again this is not a good comparison, because in baseball (or softball) we are not supposed to signal or tell anything else but ball or strike. In those games there could be about 300 pitches or so depending on the length of the game and you might make a call on half of those pitches give or take 50 or so. In basketball an official might not have one backcourt violation the entire game. Not one violation involving the BC. But it is also very acceptable in baseball to signal to your partner or partners what kind of rotation we are going to make or what we might be aware of when the ball is hit. I do not hear anyone ever complaining those signals are not necessary or overkill.
Quote:
Originally posted by M&M Guy
We don't have to explain every close 2 or 3-point shot, or every time the ball is tipped before going in the backcourt. If someone, say our partner or the table, needs to know, of course we communicate with them. But if we start to do it all the time, we might not be projecting that confidence and court presence.
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I really do not think anyone said to do in on every close 2 or 3 point shot. Many times it depending on the competence of the table personnel and the configuration of the court, I am dealing with. I have literally worked basketball games in many parts of this state. I can tell you sometimes we have to make those signals because the table is blocked off from certain corners of the court and cannot see an official signal or not signal. We are not always working with the most competent people or even adults for that matter. I learned relatively early in my career if you do not sometimes make it very clear to the table you ruled a 2 instead of a 3, they will put what they think they saw (which unfortunately is not always the officials) and you will have to try to remember if you had a 3 several plays ago. I had two correctable errors in one season and not only did I personally ask questions to avoid these situations, the table clearly said "no" when I asked them very specific questions to avoid these errors. If officials are openly communicating when the ball is dead and we have time, what makes you think the table might do when they are not watching the officials?
Peace