Ball, Ball, Ball... Tell me it ain't so!

refnrev · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 04:06pm

Tuesday night. Officiating a boys JV game in nearby school. Visiting team has ball early. Guard picks up his dribble. Defender starts yelling, "Ball ball, ball." I ask myself, "Am I really hearing this at a boys HS game?" I thought this was young "chick ball" thing. Then, last night watched the local HS V girls game. In the 2nd half the entire visiting team yelled, "Ball, ball, ball" each time they were on defense. They did this the entire second half. Is this becoming common in other areas at levels above jr. high? Tell me it ain't so!

deecee · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 04:19pm

like the coach is going with a gimick hoping it would work rather than actually teaching his kids how to play "real" defense.

ChrisSportsFan · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 04:20pm

It does happen from time to time but not usually. It seems that the underskilled/ undersized teams will do it though.

Last Friday night we had a kid who always guarded the thrower on inbound plays and he was frantically waiving his hands whil jumping and growling. At first I thought I was hearing thing but the next time, I was administering the ball and this kid started growling. I'm guessing he doesn't get a girlfriend during season.??

refnrev · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 04:23pm

It didn't. Either time. Boys game was 3 point loss. Girls was a huge blow out.

rainmaker · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 07:26pm

I've heard a couple of JH boys' teams do this. The worst was a girls' varsity team that had one player who did it, and she had the highest, shrillest, loudest voice I've ever heard. It really, literally made your ears ring. I was glad I was watching and not working. It didn't help them at all, they lost by a ton. I hope the refs pointed out to the coach that it not only didn't work, it was destroying the hearing of 10 or 12 teen-age girls.

refnrev · #6 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 07:34pm

Quote:

Originally posted by rainmaker
I've heard a couple of JH boys' teams do this. The worst was a girls' varsity team that had one player who did it, and she had the highest, shrillest, loudest voice I've ever heard. It really, literally made your ears ring. I was glad I was watching and not working. It didn't help them at all, they lost by a ton. I hope the refs pointed out to the coach that it not only didn't work, it was destroying the hearing of 10 or 12 teen-age girls.

__________________________________________________ ________

This was a HS V team -- and not a small school -- and they ALL DID IT - THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF. As for destroying the hearing, so can my FOX 40 -- one player (or cheerleader) at a time!

eyezen · #7 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 07:59pm

Speaking of knocking out cheerleaders I had a game last night where I was lead and had a ball coming right for me along with two eager players. So I did the step back manuver and the ball was staying here so I stopped the clock and then pointed...right into the eye of the poor girl just like Moe Howard did to Curly. She was a good sport about it.

MN BB Ref · #8 (**permalink**) Thu Dec 08, 2005, 11:14pm

I had a girls JV game last week in which the entire bench yelled "ball ball ball" everytime the opposition had team control in front of their bench. Needless to say it got VERY old after awhile and I was seriously questioning the legality of this. It just doesn't seem sporting.

Anyone ever had this situation before?

crazy voyager · #9 (**permalink**) Fri Dec 09, 2005, 02:51am

I have it all the time, I've always ruled legal (maybe becuese I do it myself when I play :d) as long as it's just ball ball ball, if it turns into taunting the other team, I'd call it right away

Nate1224hoops · #10 (**permalink**) Fri Dec 09, 2005, 11:06am

Quote:

Originally posted by refnrev
Tuesday night. Officiating a boys JV game in nearby school. Visiting team has ball early. Guard picks up his dribble. Defender starts yelling, "Ball ball, ball." I ask myself, "Am I really hearing this at a boys HS game?" I thought this was young "chick ball" thing. Then, last night watched the local HS V girls game. In the 2nd half the entire visiting team yelled, "Ball, ball, ball" each time they were on defense. They did this the entire second half. Is this becoming common in other areas at levels above jr. high? Tell me it ain't so!

LOL...I teach this ball, ball , ball, method to my players every year. However, it may seem funny but there is some rationale to it. We play a full court man-to-man denial defense. When the player you are guarding picks up his/her dribble, then I teach my player guarding the ball to get close to her oppenent yelling ball, ball, ball, this lets her teammates know that the dribble is dead and now its time to closeout on your man and deny all passing lanes. It works!! You normally wont see it at the boys V level because they are a little more in tune with the game. Its just one of those things where we all work together for the greater good of the team.

Nate1224hoops · #11 (**permalink**) Fri Dec 09, 2005, 11:08am

Quote:

Originally posted by MN BB Ref
I had a girls JV game last week in which the entire bench yelled "ball ball ball" everytime the opposition had team control in front of their bench. Needless to say it got VERY old after awhile and I was seriously questioning the legality of this. It just doesn't seem sporting.

Anyone ever had this situation before?

Yeah that seems really silly. My player do yell ball,ball,ball (only the ones on the court) when a player has picked up her dribble. This lets everyone know to close out on her opponent and deny all passes.

zebraman · #12 (**permalink**) Fri Dec 09, 2005, 11:12am

Quote:

Originally posted by MN BB Ref
I had a girls JV game last week in which the entire bench yelled "ball ball ball" everytime the opposition had team control in front of their bench. Needless to say it got VERY old after awhile and I was seriously questioning the legality of this. It just doesn't seem sporting.

Anyone ever had this situation before?

Yes, several times. And I've seen it in boys games too (although they generally yell "tight" instead of ball).

As Nate said, it's just a way for the player on ball to let their teammates know that an opponents dribble has ended and that everyone should deny the pass to try to get a 5-second call. There is nothing unsporting about it.

Z

Ref Daddy · #13 (**permalink**) Fri Dec 09, 2005, 01:28pm

If I was deploying this tactic I'd suggest using a different word.

"Snake ...Snake...Snake"
"Shoot...Shoot...Shoot"
"Spider ....."

Something a bit more creative?

crazy voyager · #14 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 10, 2005, 03:03pm

somebody go snake snake snake, they risk getting a T :P so I wouldn't do that

How would you feel if your opponent called snake up your face :P ball's ok, snake's not

Edit:
how about players who are afraid of spiders
"Spider spider"
"Spider! Help!!!!" *player screams and runs away*
anybody had that in a game :P

Ref Daddy · #15 (**permalink**) Sat Dec 10, 2005, 05:46pm

Quote:

Originally posted by crazy voyager
somebody go snake snake snake, they risk getting a T :P so I wouldn't do that

How would you feel if your opponent called snake up your face :P ball's ok, snake's not

Edit:
how about players who are afraid of spiders
"Spider spider"
"Spider! Help!!!!" *player screams and runs away*
anybody had that in a game :P

Right on!

If this becomes a POI in the next few years .... I foresee a BIG chapter listing what annoying call out words can be used and those that would require a tecnical.

"Watch Out"
"Loose, Loose, Loose"
"Give it up"

What would Dr. Naismith say?