[BillyMac]

Early in the game, I don't like players putting me in positions where I have to make tough decisions on borderline (advantage/disadvantage) calls, so I give them some preventative advice. A player gets lost in the lane, not really gaining any advantage (oh, oh, now I've done it), so it's easy to say, "Get out of the lane". A player extends an elbow while setting a screen, without making any contact, I don't need to see that, with contact, later in the game, so I say, "Hey watch the elbows on the screen". A player runs slightly out of bounds, running around a screen, on a set play, I don't want to see that again in the game, more out of bounds, and gaining more of an advantage (damn, I've got to stop doing that), so I yell, "Hey stay inbounds on that play". Player moves in a little early on the first of a one-and-one, that goes in, I don't want to see that again, so I remind everyone (not just that player), "Let it hit".

I just want to let all the players know that I'm keeping an eye on them. Just a friendly reminder that I'm out there, that I know what how to do my job, and that I have a whistle and I'm not afraid to use it. Preventive warnings are just one of the many tools that we have on our black toolbelts (oh, oh, that may have been poorly worded, now I've done it again) to insure that we have a smooth game, no surprises, not ticky tack calls, etc.