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Originally Posted by jkjenning
Yes, and without calling some Ts it is difficult to develop the best judgment. I think you could make a case that an official will either start out calling too many or later on he/she will avoid calling those that should be assessed, so a minimal number of Ts is not a good measuring stick by itself.
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I disagree. If you call a minimum or none at all and you are a good official. I think you would be the type of official that coaches/assigners prefer. If you are the type of official that calls a lot of conduct T's, I don't think that is good, new or old. That shows your lack of ability to manage and control the situation and maybe on another level, you lack respect from players and coaches alike. Not good. My approach going into any games I work is not to call any technicals. If I get thru the game and not have to blast any, goal accomplished. Warnings, stop signs, maybe you need to just let the coach give you a few words and you say you will watch it closer is all that it takes.
I think the best thing to say about calling T's is to make sure it is deserved. If it is, you don't hesitate. Like a police officer who carries a gun. If you're going to use your gun, make sure it is deserved. Unlike the police, if we don't call a T, our life is not in the balance. The reason I say this is because, if the police should use his weapon and it turns out, it was not needed, he is in a lot of trouble, much the same as if you call a T that was not needed, it could spark a negative reaction, both on and off the court.
One thing I do want to be perfectly clear on. Even though I go into the game with no technicals being my goal. If something happens in the game that is way OOB, you don't hesitate to call a T. I had a regional men's tournament several years ago and I was in awe of the talent that was there. All of a sudden, foul and scuffle on the floor, one player cold cocks the other, I saw it and was shocked, didn't know what to do. After breaking up the scuffle I just called a foul on the player. It was a learning lesson for me because you have to be ready to
pull that trigger when it needs to be pulled!!! You don't want the gun to be half cocked when you walk in the gym, and you don't want to be to lackadaisical either. Somewhere in between is where we have to ride, and that is not easy. This is where you separate the boys from the men.
Good debate!