[Andy]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Basketball officials (at least, good ones) always talk about the importance of "getting the first one". That point was hammered home to me in a big way in a game earlier this week.

JV boys, 3 person crew. I'm new lead in transition. A40 and B44 are running together down the court ahead of the ball. As they reach the block, B44 gives A40 a slight one-hand shove and A440 stumbles OOB. For some reason, I didn't get any air in my whistle. I think I thought it was more incidental than anything.

A40, on the other hand, took exception to it, and "came back mad".... about 2 seconds later, he runs out to the wing and receives a pass. The then looks, notices that B44 is guarding him, and immediately lowers his shoulder and runs directly over B44. T and I both come up with a Player Contol foul, and B44 has to leave the game for awhile (he hit the floor pretty hard).

The whole thing could've been avoided if I had just called the first foul on B44, and that fact has been bothering me for the last couple of days.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Get The First One

Question for you....Obviously, you saw the first slight shove and decided to pass on it as incidental contact. Are you now questioning that decision due to the ensuing action by A40? What if the play had gone to the other wing and there was nothing further between the two players? Would you still be questioning your decision to pass on the slight shove?