Large arena tips?

[Gutierrez7]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Classic sign. The sign also needs "and NO shot clock".

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Danvrapp

Any thing to look out for or be aware of?

I worked a game at the Verizon Center in DC a few yrs back. 18K seat arena w/ about 400 in attendance for our game prior to an NBA event......

My experience was similar to others.

- Took me a while to adjust to the long scorers table.
- The lights were brighter and the court seemed warmer.
- Floor appeared much more cushioned and easier on my feet.
- Baskets/rims/backboard seemed to have more give and appeared quieter.
- The overhead scoreboard took getting used to as when you go to peek up at it, you're underneath it and can see very little. I had to find the clock either above the basket or along the overhangs of the arena.
- Most importantly for me though, my Fox 40 seemed inadequate. It just seemed to get swallowed up by the sheer size of the venue. I wish I had had a better whistle.
- Much nicer locker rooms and showers!

After our game the 76ers and Wizzards were warming up. The shortest player that walked by me, was nearly as tall as the tallest player I'd ever officiated.

Have fun and enjoy.

[Raymond]

You'll appreciate how the long courtside table keeps the benches away from the scorer and timer, and from you when you're on the opposite end of the court.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by grunewar

my Fox 40 seemed inadequate. It just seemed to get swallowed up by the sheer size of the venue. I wish I had had a better whistle.

Back in those big OK gyms I mentioned earlier, my partners and I would use Dolphin whistles as long as we all had them (so they'd sound the same). Worked well to solve this problem.


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[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by grunewar

- Most importantly for me though, my Fox 40 seemed inadequate.

Huh. I know in soccer the Fox 40 gets used in packed professional stadiums. What whistle to college/NBA basketball refs tend to use?

[Rich]

I've worked in D1 arenas before and have never changed whistles.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by Danvrapp

I'm working a varsity game today at Quicken Loans Arena. Never have I officiated in anything bigger than a HS gym with a capacity of maybe 1000 people...and even then only half full.

Any thing to look out for or be aware of?

I'm not expecting tons of fans--both teams are from out of state--but I figure there's gotta be something different with respect to the extra space...?

Originally Posted by Rich

When I worked a HS state game on a D1 college floor a few years ago, the biggest thing I noticed were the lights. Bright, intense, focused on the court. Hard to miss them.

I concur with this one. Our local gyms aren't nearly as bright as major arenas in Florida. I had the opportunity to work our state finals/semis a couple times. They take place in a much bigger venue equipped for media coverage so the lighting was a BIG contrast. It took a few minutes to acclimate. Also, lighted backboards for last second shots were a nice plus as well.

Not sure if you're game will be covered on TV, but camera men on the endlines were a little bit bothersome for me...felt like I had to keep away so I didn't ruin their shots.

Lastly, they put cheerleaders on one of the endlines as well for state series games. Add that in with the cameramen and it got a little crowded back there.

[JRutledge]

The main thing is to just figure out where the clocks and scoreboard information is located. Otherwise nothing really changes. You still have to officiate.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The main thing is to just figure out where the clocks and scoreboard information is located. Otherwise nothing really changes. You still have to officiate.

Peace

That is probably the biggest issue...the boards that you use to keep up with information are often in very different places than HS gyms. I've worked a few times on such courts and you just have to get used to looking a LOT higher and farther away to see the info.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

That is probably the biggest issues...the boards that you use to keep up with information are often in very different places than HS gyms. I've worked a few times on such courts and you just have to get used to looking a LOT higher and farther away to see the info.

And the information is often not clearly in the "right place." There are times where it is hard to find the foul count is in a weird place, which is mostly all I care about anyway.

If you have a scoreboard in the middle above the court, that can often be a horrible place to look as it is hardly ever in your view and you are spending your time looking up to get a good look.

But I do enough college games where I am not freaked out by the court or even how the benches are in relationship to the court. But if you are not used to a bigger court, it can be an adjustment for angles and how fast you need to run at times.

Peace

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Lastly, they put cheerleaders on one of the endlines as well for state series games. Add that in with the cameramen and it got a little crowded back there.

Ah, yes. I forgot about this little added attraction. The only issue I had at MSG was the cheerleaders. One team's squad was a bit uncooperative, shall we say, about staying in its area. I came thisclose to purposely running into one of the young ladies on a fast break.

[junruh07]

There is one arena near me that the floor only extends maybe three feet outside the sideline before it drops off about 4-6 inches to the concrete. This is a multipurpose facility and not home to college or pro team. It's something to be aware of when working on a court you haven't worked before.

[constable]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

Huh. I know in soccer the Fox 40 gets used in packed professional stadiums. What whistle to college/NBA basketball refs tend to use?

Fox 40 classic. Fox 40 is the only brand they are allowed to use. I suspect if they wanted to they could use the mini( not as loud) eclipse( sounds goofy, needs more air to get a similar sound to the classic) or the Sonik ( sounds awful) .

[Rich]

Originally Posted by constable

Fox 40 classic. Fox 40 is the only brand they are allowed to use. I suspect if they wanted to they could use the mini( not as loud) eclipse( sounds goofy, needs more air to get a similar sound to the classic) or the Sonik ( sounds awful) .

I've used the Eclipse for a few years now. Same decibel rating as the Classic.

[constable]

Originally Posted by Rich

I've used the Eclipse for a few years now. Same decibel rating as the Classic.

It is but you need to push more air through it to achieve the same sound.

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