[APG]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I agree, but the only reason people want to do those things is that other levels do them. If those levels stopped doing them, the concern with those things would end quickly.

Maybe, maybe not...there are people who still bird dog yet that hasn't been done at any higher level consistently all the time. And for all we know, someone may do a mechanic a certain way because they're just more comfortable with it than the prescribed mechanic. I just don't get how people feel "big timed" in any of this. And let's say the official is trying to do something they do at the upper level...it's not always a bad thing. I don't see many officials today who go hands on the hips to call a blocking foul and correct me if I'm wrong, didn't the fists on the hips came from the high levels and has trickled down, yet basketball still continues on at the "lower" levels?

We have to understand the reason there is a standard is the fact that everyone does not have the capability to use those mechanics that some think should be used. Not everyone has the capability to point one direction without a stop clock because they cannot think through the play enough to do it consistently. Also with 2 handed reporting, you have to have people at the table that understand what the signal means. And considering all the mistakes that we deal with during a season when we do everything right, now we want to add something that they may or may not understand? If they changed this I probably would not care a lick. But if that is not the standard why are we so worried about it? All summer long I almost never stop the clock for out of bounds plays because I want to expand my abilities to slow down and get plays right and it helps me become more ambidextrous.

This is certainly true for some and if they're having trouble with their mechanics then they should focus on getting the pure basics down. My point is if an official effectively communicates information and is getting the plays right, then why should I as an official care what he is doing? When I work with college officials in a high school game who don't stop the clock but just point or uses two hands, I'm not thinking, "this guy just big timed me." Or if I'm watching a game where the same thing happens, my thoughts are on the call...not all the superfluous stuff.

I also understand the reasoning why people don't go to two hand reporting, but I think its a bit overstated. Most issues anyway, from a scoring perspective, comes from the scorer not paying attention...rather than not understanding what number you've put up...at least in my experience.