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While this may not be a popular opinion w/ some, I believe the game needs to be called according to the style of play. Here in Minnesota we have 5 classes for HS basketball. I have the luxury (or headache) of working games in all 5 of these classes. (they are ranked according to school size) It is my firm opinion that each of these games cannot be called the same. I did a semi-final 5A boys game at a holiday tourney about a week ago and I will be the first to tell you that assignors/coaches would have run us out of the building had we called this game as tight as we call some lower level games w/ less skilled players. We were complimented after the game on how we let contact that did not affect the play go and called the pertinent disadvantage. In our area working a big game like this and not affecting the "flow" of the game in mind (and assignors) is how one gets big games. In a sloppy 1A or 2A game yes the slight handcheck or the illegal screen needs to be called early to clean up the game. We also need to penalizer fouls early to set the tone of the game and keep the players safe. However IMO when working a game in which all players on the floor will be playing college ball (one at Oklahoma and another at ball state in the above game i mentioned) one needs to adapt JUDGEMENT of fouls to suit that style of play. One of the biggest atributes to a good official and moving up quickly in our area is calling the game within its style of play. I know some decent officials in our area who struggle to get a decent HS schedule after 10 plus years because they refuse to adapt to this and call the rule book WRITTEN IN STONE. Obviously there are some games where a lot of fouls need to be called. However when two skilled teams are in the bonus in the first quarter because my partner is calling every whif of contect, well sorry that is why I am starting to get college games after 3 years and he gets 8 varsity games after 10. I'm wide open for opinions and critiques on this....
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