Pet peeves: Keep them in the game

[Pantherdreams]

At its most basic level. Just call the game that is front of you.(with whatever implications you feel that has.)

My concern with any officiating issues of judgement is that while context and situation are always factors, I (and I assume other officials) want the intent and application of rules to be the only determinant in dictating how the game is played. We make sure it is called the way the rules govern. Players and coaches get to make decisions re: tactics, style of play, quality of game etc.

( I always get a kick out of coaches who's argument with calls is "you are rewarding bad basketball" - I am just calling the game the way the rules instruct I don't have a dog in the fight with regards to how it is played)

I totally understand the being aware of the fouls you are calling and in higher level settings the expectation that officials are aware of the key and talented player and the impact on the game. I respect that too, though it is much higher level of officiating then I will likely ever aspire to.

However I am uncomfortable in situations where fellow officials or are the crew is expected to decide pre game that I'm going to be really tight on the perimeter play and let the bigs bang (persay). Then I walk in and a football team is playing a pressing bunch of shooting rabbits. Unless I adapt to call what I am seeing vs what I want to have happen I'm dictating which type of game is better and gets the lions share of the calls. Same as if you don't call the footwork/violations stuff you are choosing to reward athletcism to the detrimant of the team that spent time making sure their footwork was good in practice instead of running on the track or the weight room. Just call the game in front of you.

Keep them in the game (often determined by the way it is presented) can be something I get the same feeling about. I don't care who is deep or who wants to only play 5. But I'm not calling it one way or the other based on that. If one team wants to increase number of possessions and play 15 kids and the other team wants to play 5 kids the whole game that is on them. But if the number of possessions does get increased that means number shots, number of calls, etc are all going to go up to. So I'm not going to say well yellow only has 5 kids who can play and they need them all so make sure they only get out on the big stuff, but blue is just rolling people and pressing all over the place and doesn't care who is in the game so just call it without worrying about that stuff for them.

That is too much. IMO just call the game.