quote:
Originally posted by JRutledge:
I just want to take issue with what you said about your partner helping you out with the shooter the higher you go.
I have never heard that before, and I do think that you should not rely on your partner for information on the shooter and bonus. That is your responsibility. Your partner (especially in 3 man) may not have a clue who the foul is on or what you actually called. If they are doing their job all they would know is where you are putting the ball in.
The only way that you are going to know the shooter is experience and game knowledge. After every foul you should try to give a quick look before the ball gets put in and see what the foul situation is (if they have a scoreboard that tells you). If your head is in the game you should know just by how many times a foul has been called on a team. You know by experience that this team has shot so many foul shots or has not. You know if they should be shooting or about to be shooting. But this comes with experience and taking your time. I had to learn this myself, sometimes the hard way.
I may be lucky...most of the partners i work with help me out by indicating that we're in bonus and who the shooter is. It not a matter of relying on them its more of a trust level. You are correct in that the non-calling official won't always know who the shooter is. In thoses situations it is necessary to indicate who the shooter is. If i working with a junior official i will ALWAYS try to know who the shooter is. Sometimes its a game within the game. (who has better management skill.
Ever had a correctable error situation and tried to remember who the shooter was? I havn't but, have seen it happen at our provincial / state tournament, working at the bench as the backup official it was nice to be able to flash them the shooter number when they couldn't figure it out. The beer was nice after the game.
Your again right...It's all about game experience and knowledge of the game. I've only conplete about 1200 games so i still have a long way to go. I just try to stay focused and aware of everything on the court.
By me as the non calling official recogning who the shooter is i feel that i am in complete control. I usuall try to rember what player has committed how many fouls.
Try this next season. After your partner calls a foul, and has reported it and then grants a time out walk up to them after 45 seconds of the timeout has exspired and ask them who the shooter is. Surprising how many forget who it was when the players leave the court!!!!
NEVER TRUST THE SCOREBOARD on what the score is or the foul situation. This advice was given to me by my mentor and others at a camp in Washington state. The only true way is to ask the scorekeeper.
By the way is your name Jim? and have you ever attended a camp located in British Columbia, Canada? I met a Jim Rutledge a few years ago and was kind of curious.
Keep smiling