Rant on - My last two games - both boys' varsity, have been two-person; both involving me being paired with "veteran" officials who have 16 and 15 years (one included some supposed juco experience and NBA camps in his resume) experience, according to them. Just a few, minor (sarcasm on) rule and mechanic issues of complete and utter nonsense and incorrectness occurred that I feel compelled to share with someone.
Partner "Juco" issue #1 -
Insisted that on a throw-in (this first occurred following a time-out request while the ball was in the paint following a throw-in after a made basket), if the ball is going the other way (long way down the court), that the throw-in location rules (and pretty easy to understand diagram) do not apply, since the team in the frontcourt is not throwing the ball in. (Ball should always be on the side, according to Juco.)
Partner "Juco" issue #2 - Was
sure that the throw-in location following shooting two free throws for a single technical foul was determined by POI.
(This is the first time I've had someone try to insert POI where it wasn't applicable, as opposed to the AP arrow.)
Partner "McUnfriendly and Patronizing" issue #1 - After asking me where I stand during 30-second time-outs and getting my NFHS Official's Manual answer,
corrected me (yeah, this type of guy), by stating that the
actual NFHS mechanic is to stand at the lane line extended farther from the table - not at the top of the three point arc, like the Official's Manual states and shows.
Partner "McUnfriendly and Patronizing" issue #2 - After asking me what I would do as Lead with a foul on a shooter with the try being successful, and me giving my step-by-step answer, from fist up and whistle to where I would end up as Trail for the free throw,
educated me to the
fact that it's not a high school mechanic to signal "count the basket/goal is successful." According to McUnfriendly and Patronizing, "Yeah, a lot of guys are suprised when I tell them that, cuz they pick that up from watching the college and pro game, but it's not a Fed mechanic." He was essentially saying that even if, as Lead, one sees the ball enter the basket, one should not signal so, but should wait for partner to come in and inform you of this. (This is about where I start slightly furrowing my brow, tilting my head, nodding, and saying the occassional, "Hmm," in response to his blather.)
Partner "McUnfriendly and Patronizing" issue #3 - At the conclusion of his "pre-game," asked me if "I see anything out there or have anything else?" - A20 (white jerseys, red stripe down the sides) was wearing red sweatbands on both wrists, and so I pointed this out, thinking this is what he was looking for me to do. He asks why that's an issue? I respond with the rule, verbatim. His response, after a long pause: "Well, it's the predominant color of
that stripe there, so I'm not going to make him take them off."
Partner "McUnfriendly and Patronizing" issue #4 -
Refused to show/mirror a successful 3-point goal from my area when I was Lead and he was Trail. I say "refused," not because I asked him about this at half time, as, by that point, I was in extreme "in-done-out" mode, nor because I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on somehow never having seen my signals, but because I
know he saw me during most of these, as he was staring right at me (with my arm(s) in the air) through the lane as the ball was taken out of bounds, and players were heading the other way, and did nothing.
(Luckily, those at the table were quick enough to lean forward and find me and my signal on the baseline, so no issues resulted.)
#5 - Refused to bump-and-run - said it was "easier" not to do so.
#6 - Long-switched every time possible.
#7 - Stated that it is the
Umpire's responsibility to administer the AP throw-in to start the 2nd and 4th quarters, according to high school mechanics, as the Referee is busy approving the score, etc., between those quarters.
I am now ready for my fun game with a good partner tonight, please.
Thank you for reading and being part of my theraputical process. Have a nice day.
