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Old Thu May 27, 2010, 08:44am
CLH CLH is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee View Post
And fwiw, I disagree completely with both of you. Jmo but I think that any official with any confidence at all in his own play-calling ability doesn't feel the need to caucus or have a poll on any foul call that they might make. If they did, they wouldn't make the call in the first place.

If they think it's intentional, they signal that immediately. If they feel it's flagrant, they also signal that immediately. They not afraid to take the credit...or flak...for their calls.

Getting input on a violation such as a tipped ball going OOB is a whole 'nother animal. In that situation, a call has to be made. That doesn't hold true for a foul call.

What are gonna do if your partner says "Gee, imo I don't think there was a foul on that play." Are you gonna take that input into account also?

Again, jmo but I think that foul calling is the one area where you can't call by committee. If you can't trust your own judgment, you shouldn't blow the whistle in the first place.
FWIW...This is my common complaint about officiating on the NCAA men's side. Everyone has such a "go it alone" mentality. I'm a man, I'll make the d#amn call. This is a very unrealistic approach to our profession. We are a team and if my partner can provide me some type of extra information that I may need to get a play right, you bet your @ss I'm going to take it. I have had quick conferences with partners on many occasions to confer over upgrading a foul. Sometimes we've upgraded other times they've informed me I'm overreacting, not one time have we ever caught flak for working together as a crew to get these plays right. Similarly I have given an intentional foul without asking a partner because I knew I was right. But, the hard nosed, "this is my effin call, I know what I saw, I don't need your help" is exactly what has officiating on the headlines every morning. This has nothing to do with who's stones are bigger than the others, it has to do with putting your ego in your bag when you leave the lockerroom and working to get the play correct, not proving you're tough enough to show everyone who's boss.
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