Video Request: Block/Charge

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

My usual disclaimer: I ref soccer, not hoops . . .

I disagree with where you go with this. There are three possible calls on the play, not two. Block, charge, or nothing. Your process seems to encourage the referee to blow the whistle and raise the arm before deciding which of the three. I think that's a bad idea -- and will result in more anticipation calls where the referee expects something that doesn't actually happen. (And from the comfort of my seat in the stands, I think that is something that differentiates experienced, quality officials from newbie/sloppy officials: the ability to actually wait rather than anticipate and call fouls that never happen.) IMHO, the referee should know what the call is before blowing the whistle.

No, I don't encourage the referee to blow the whistle and raise the arm before deciding which of the three... That goes against the principle of slow whistles from L, of which I'm an advocate. In fact, many of the times when the two arms begin to go up simultaneously, they're on quick whistles. This impulsive raising of both fists on a quick whistle is what locks officials into the default block on some plays that should have gone charge.
I'm advocating a slower whistle, in fact.
Your last sentence I also agree with. What I'm identifying is a habit that mitigates against that.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Freddy

No, I don't encourage the referee to blow the whistle and raise the arm before deciding which of the three... That goes against the principle of slow whistles from L, of which I'm an advocate. In fact, many of the times when the two arms begin to go up simultaneously, they're on quick whistles. This impulsive raising of both fists on a quick whistle is what locks officials into the default block on some plays that should have gone charge.
I'm advocating a slower whistle, in fact.
Your last sentence I also agree with. What I'm identifying is a habit that mitigates against that.

That makes no sense to me. What is "impulsive" about it if the referee has already decided it is a block? I don't think your proposed habit mitigates against anything -- it encourages decision making after the first signal, which is more likely to encourage an early whistle while still thinking than to encourage a slow whistle.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

That makes no sense to me. What is "impulsive" about it if the referee has already decided it is a block? I don't think your proposed habit mitigates against anything -- it encourages decision making after the first signal, which is more likely to encourage an early whistle while still thinking than to encourage a slow whistle.

OK. I asked for feedback and that's what I got, so I thank you for that. I will consider your responses as seriously as I have considered others' as I continue to study this issue. It's a "work in progress" study.

Added thing I might not have mentioned: this idea I'm testing is based on studying plays that were obvious charges that were called blocks instead, which prompt me to ask, "Why?" And one commonality with many of them is that starting with two fists at the hips going upward. I'm not conclusively set yet to claim cause-and-effect, but I'm still led to wonder...

Thanx again for your input.