5 seconds closely guarded

[Terrapins Fan]

Maybe I'm far too legalistic, but last night in a playoff game the home team was winning by 20 in the fourth quarter, probably about 3 1/2 minutes to go, I call a five-second closely guarded count against the visitors who had the ball.

My partner came to me and said Slow the countdown we don't need that, I have no doubt that I started my account a second late and that I got to 6 before I called the five-second closely guarded giving her seven seconds and she wasn't giving up the ball. In a game where the visitors are down by 20 would you not call five seconds closely guarded? Would you not call three seconds in the lane against the visitors?

Even after 17 years, I still think the rules are the rules. And why do the hand gestures of the count if you're not going to call it?

[bob jenkins]

While all the benefit of the doubt goes to the team that's losing by that much (e.g., the seven seconds you gave her; making sure thet the defense is well within the six feet and that there wasn't any separation), you still need to call it. IMO, of course.

[nolanjj68]

Nod your head in agreement and continue to referee the game, not the score. With virtually all games being on video now you would rather have a valid 5-7 second closely guarded call that you can defend going back for review than a 10 second no call which is indefensible.

[Mark Padgett]

If you really want to give the trailing team a break, make your counts in dog years.

[Freddy]

With the "absolutes" out top, many have done a great job with the impressing those heightened expectations upon the defense. And then, when the defense is doing what it's supposed to be doing and they aren't rewarded with the correct closely guarded call, any rationalization not to call it falls quite short, bordering on contrived manipulation of the game, IMO.

[Rich]

Besides, it's a freaking playoff game. Call the game, loser goes home, winner advances. Why change anything at all in this situation based on the scoreboard?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Maybe I'm far too legalistic, but last night in a playoff game the home team was winning by 20 in the fourth quarter, probably about 3 1/2 minutes to go, I call a five-second closely guarded count against the visitors who had the ball.

My partner came to me and said Slow the countdown we don't need that, I have no doubt that I started my account a second late and that I got to 6 before I called the five-second closely guarded giving her seven seconds and she wasn't giving up the ball. In a game where the visitors are down by 20 would you not call five seconds closely guarded? Would you not call three seconds in the lane against the visitors?

Even after 17 years, I still think the rules are the rules. And why do the hand gestures of the count if you're not going to call it?

Your partner needs to worry about his own game and not tell you how to referee. Perhaps on a subsequent call you disagree with that he makes, you should go over and give him some friendly advice.

I called a 5-second violation last night on what would've been the last possession before halftime in a second round regional. 5 arm swings and a whistle. Didn't think twice about it, either. Never do.

(I even called a 3-second violation last night.)

One tip I got years ago that I do agree with, though -- wait till you're sure that it's really a closely guarded situation before the FIRST arm swing. You don't want to have a lot of 1-second counts in a game. But once you have it, count it -- and count it the right way with one arm swing equal to one second.

[Rich]

The longer I officiate the more I realize the best officiated games happen when each of the three officials worries about their own crap and doesn't try to officiate for his/her partners.

[BrentD2222]

Originally Posted by Rich

The longer I officiate the more I realize the best officiated games happen when each of the three officials worries about their own crap and doesn't try to officiate for his/her partners.

Agree, but there should be a method of dealing with officials that continually bend and/or never enforce basic rules. It's makes their partners look bad.

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[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BrentD2222

Agree, but there should be a method of dealing with officials that continually bend and/or never enforce basic rules. It's makes their partners look bad.

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That's what supervisors/assignors/commissioners/observers/evaluators are for.

[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by Rich

The longer I officiate the more I realize the best officiated games happen when each of the three officials worries about their own crap and doesn't try to officiate for his/her partners.

+1. The official in the OP who told his partner not to call closely guarded was incorrect. He was probably working outside his PCA. At higher levels (and I assume that playoff basketball is considered a higher level) supervisors want officials to make obvious calls in one's PCA, and only go out of the PCA (not including overlapping areas of coverage) for obvious safety fouls. That said, any call outside the PCA needs to be right, late, and needed, which a closely-guarded count (or lack thereof) from a non-primary official is not.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

+1. The official in the OP who told his partner not to call closely guarded was incorrect. He was probably working outside his PCA. At higher levels (and I assume that playoff basketball is considered a higher level) supervisors want officials to make obvious calls in one's PCA, and only go out of the PCA (not including overlapping areas of coverage) for obvious safety fouls. That said, any call outside the PCA needs to be right, late, and needed, which a closely-guarded count (or lack thereof) from a non-primary official is not.

Ya think?!!!

Peace

[ilyazhito]

Not the OP, but the official who told the OP not to call closely guarded.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

Not the OP, but the official who told the OP not to call closely guarded.

I clearly was not talking about the OPer.

Peace

[BrentD2222]

IMHO the officials that do not enforce the rules correctly cause a lot of problems. Especially when they never blow their wistle and I end up having to officiate the whole game.

You did the right thing.

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