Things the Mechanics Manual Doesn't Tell You
 

Are there things that you do as officials that are not described in the mechanics manual, things that you do that are in addition to what the book says, or mechanics from the manual that you do not use, because they are counterproductive?

This is not about differences between specific mechanics manuals (NFHS reports fouls tableside and has the calling official replacing the tableside official, IAABO reports fouls tableside but has the calling official replace the opposite official instead), rather about real-life application of mechanics. Some manuals may be more comprehensive than others (The IAABO manual describes when and how rotations occur, the NFHS manual describes how rotations occur, and the CCA manuals (both men's and women's) also describe when rotations do not occur), and there are practices for resolving unusual situations that are described differently (e.g. in the CCA men's manual, an official making a call out of his primary area blows on his whistle an extra time to indicate that he wants to make the call).

Last-second shots are also treated differently in the different manuals. The women's manual is very comprehensive on last-second shots (1 finger in the air with 1 minute remaining, C taps the chest at 5 seconds, and mentions other things like no rotations in the last 10 seconds of game or 5 seconds of the shot clock). The high school manual is also comprehensive (1 finger in the air with 1 minute remaining, opposite side official taps the chest with 15 seconds left, and non-responsible officials can help calling official with information), but the men's manual is very brief on the subject (opposite is responsible, unless otherwise agreed to. Everyone aware of clocks, and those officials other than calling official have normal responsibilities, while calling official rules on last-second shots).

However, how do you actually deal with these situations in your games? I always put up a finger as close to the 1 minute mark, expect my partners to copy me whenever possible, and tap my chest around 15 seconds if I am responsible for the shot, when it comes to last second shots. I understand that the NFHS way of calling fouls is very formulaic (fist, inform player at the spot of the foul, preliminary signal at the spot of the foul, show consequences, go around players to reporting area, stop, and report in reverse order (score goal, if needed), color and number, signal, consequence)), so do high school officials use the men's college procedure, women's college procedure, or something completely different? When do officials most frequently go off-script, in your experience? What might be good reasons to do so?

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I know some officials who say 1 minute is way too early, high school or college. I know some college officials who only want it done once we reach the last shot clock cycle. I know other officials who only want it done during dead balls, and not while we are transitioning up court or actively trying to officiate. There is no "one size fits all". It's what pre-games are for, to make sure everyone's operating off the same sheet of music.


I go off script when I think what I'm doing is better than what the manual dictates and I know I can do so without blowback from that particular supervisor. My HS supervisor wants play-calling at a high level and games managed. I can pretty muchy doing any mechanic I want as long I'm doing those 2 aforementioned things. The lower you are in the pecking order, the more you are expected to stick to the script.

I'm 99% sure the NFHS manual says the crew is supposed to hold up a finger at one minute, and at ~15 seconds the OTO is supposed to tap his/her chest. I don't lose sleep about this, in fact I couldn't care less. A crew in a varsity game should know who has the last-second shot, regardless of whether signals are used or it's discussed in pregame.

The manual will not tell you what your assigner's preferences are. And oftentimes they will want things done in ways different than what the manual says. You can choose to do what they say, or you can be holier-than-thou and quote the manual (and say "bye" to your schedule).

New officials, whether new altogether or new to an assigner and "feeling things out," are almost always best off sticking to the mechanics manual (NFHS or a state-specific manual). As you get more credibility and learn what your assigner cares about, you can ease off the black-and-white and incorporate your own style.

In South Carolina, I walk to the table while reporting, and so do most of the people I work with. I don't do all that extraneous preliminary junk that the manual has. There are some officials that do and they look goofy. As long as we are doing the high school switches and applying high school rules, rarely does anyone make an issue. There are a couple purists that think everything has to be done by the book, but they are few and far between.

Coaches and assigners care about two things: play-calling and game management. If you cannot master these two skills, you will not be respected or advance your career, regardless of how closely you stick to your mechanics manual.

The "1 minute signal" is used on the last period of college games to remind officials that the clock is supposed to stop on a made basket. It's not used in earlier periods, and shouldn't be used in HS (unless the HS has the same timing rule).

15-seconds to signal last shot is too early, imo, unless the team is clearly holding for the last shot and the defense is letting them do so.

In HS, if the team is holding, I like to transition so C is opposite the table. I think giving C the last-second shot is better than giving it to "opposite".

I will also go away from this mechanic if we have a throw-in from (near) the opposite end-line and a stopped clock with ... let's go with 3 seconds or less. We will all communicate that C has the last shot. This lets the best official get a look whether it's a "short pass and a long shot" or a "long pass and a short shot" or a "steal and a shot at the other end."

There are too many things to name. Honestly, there are so many things that are never mentioned or that are never discussed. Kind of the reason things like Referee Magazine or Guidebooks are even included in any training material.

Mostly philosophies on why things are done are often never discussed like what do you do when you call a technical foul? How do you communicate with each other or the coach or players involved after a technical foul? I do not even see anything that is specific to how to call plays in transition and who should or should not have certain fouls or violations on the court. The Manual in NF is very basic and mostly about where you stand and some basic information about what steps you do after something happens, but very little detail. This is kind of why it takes time to get knowledgeable about officiating and what is acceptable as things are universal at all levels, but some things are very specific to a level.

Peace

Officiating basketball is (at least) 75% judgment. The manual cannot tell you how to judge contact, time/score situation, or unsporting behavior. It cannot tell you how to master the soft skills that separate officials. That is something you can only get with experience, investing in your career, and listening to assigners/veterans.

I wouldn't put money on that 99% if I were you. I could be wrong, but I don't think there is any mention of that in the officials manual.

FWIW, By the Book....
 

Page 47 of the 2017-2018 NFHS Manual, 2-Ref system, 4.3.6 Last-Second Try for Goal: "Officials should communicate when there is one minute left in each quarter by raising one arm straight up above the head and extending one finger in the air."

Same language for 3-ref, page 81.

As for chest-thumping, see page 47 again: "The Trail official is responsible .... and should communicate this .... by signaling with the hand-on-chest signal when the game clock is near 15 seconds."

Newsflash: The NFHS manual actually DOES say that, in both the 2-person and 3-person sections.
4.3.6. Last-Second Try for Goal:
... D. Making the Ruling:
1.Officials should communicate when there is one minute left in each quarter by raising one arm straight up above the head and extending one finger in the air.
2.The Trail official (2-person) is responsible for making the ruling on any last-second shot and should communicate this to his/her partner by signaling with the hand-on-chest signal when the game clock is near 15 seconds.
5.3.6.D (The 3-person Last-Second Try for Goal, Making the Ruling) is the same, except opposite side official (Trail or Center) replaces Trail.

AFAIK, how to judge contact is partially a function of knowing the rules and partially a function of experience/watching video on how similar plays are officiated, not necessarily a mechanics issue.

Supplemental books, like the "Basketball Officiating Mechanics Illustrated" and "The T: Technical Fouls at the Right Time in the Right Way", explain various stuff not covered in the standard manual (U's stand on the blocks for quarters, it does not matter where; calling official for technical fouls can go opposite the table; when to rotate;transition coverage), but how much do you actually find their suggestions useful in games?

On a different note, what are good sources to consult for philosophy? IMO, the casebook explains why certain plays should be ruled a certain way, but I don't know how much officials actually apply casebook interpretations to real game situations, just like officials sometimes go off the script set by the NFHS manual.

Do men's or women's college officials go off-script at their level as much as high school officials do? What other things might college officials do in addition to what the CCA books describe?

1) Which is exactly why I said the manual can’t teach you good judgment. But part of good judgment is being in the right position, which the manual does have guidance for. But it’s very elementary and can only teach you so much.

2) Your assigners, veteran partners, camp clinicians, publications...many options. But you will have to learn to filter philosophical advice so you can get rid of the bad stuff.

Stop comparing everything to the mechanics manuals. As you work more you will learn that many officials haven’t read them in years. They keep up with the major changes but don’t have every detail from the current year’s manual memorized. And newsflash, assigners do not care if you can quote the entire manual from scratch if your playcalling sucks and you question everything you’re told.

My advice to you would be to listen way more and talk way less. Based on the way you post on this forum, the perception is that you are too concerned with trivial details to the extent that it overshadows the good advice you are receiving.

Great.

In the book I searched (I don't have the latest revision with me at work), it is not there, at least not in that form. It does talk about communicating but it doesn't say anything about raising the arm or thumping the chest. Must be a recent update.

Most people I know do those things, but I didn't realize they had added it to the book.

Feel Free To Give Me The Finger ...
 

I'm certain that the IAABO Mechanics Manual has the hands on chest last second shot responsibility signal.

I'm fairly certain that the IAABO Mechanics Manual doesn't have any signal for nearing the end of a period. We're pretty much on our own, usually covered in the pregame conference. Many use the finger in the air. Some use pointing to the wrist, like a wrist watch. A few point to the clock.

I occasionally have a game (maybe once or twice a season) where the up and down court action is so intense, often with no whistles, that I may not look at the clock for a while. The action may be so intense that the players, coaches, and fans are concentrating on the court action and aren't paying attention to the clock, offering no clues.

And then, unexpectedly, the horn sounds, almost giving me another heart attack. I hate it when that happens.

If any of you are ever my partner, and the clock is winding down, feel free to give me the finger.

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.D...=0&w=300&h=300

"what are good sources to consult for philosophy?"

Try Husserl or Heidegger.

Seriously, you ought to stop pursuing these kinds of questions on the internet. Ask local refs whose work you respect, and learn how things are done where you work; don't you have local mentors? And learn how your assigners want things done. If you move to another state, repeat the process.

You've been posting here long enough to recognize that posters take different positions on a lot of this stuff. How does it help you to hear X say, "Do it this way," and Z, "No, do it that other way"? Philosophies of officiating may not travel well.

You don't need Philosophy of Refereeing 101, you need experience, which you can then process to devise your own philosophy, your own sense of what's important.

Do you know how most times folks misuse the phrase "begging the question"?
Well you have the true definition of "begging the question". You're making an assumption that HS officials "go off script" a lot. But anyway, I digress.

Can you quit with the "how many times" and "how often" type questions? Ask about situations where some of us do not go by the manual and why. Give us a play you had and whether or not you handled it properly mechanically. Those type discussions will be a lot more beneficial (and interesting) than all these questions that have no true quantifiable answers.

Foul signals are a situation where some high school officials go off script, because the approved signals are few and not descriptive enough (the block signal is supposed to be used for all types of impediment, but college has developed a specific signal to describe tripping, the kicked ball signal.). This is just one example of reasons why high school officials who do college as well might go off script.

High school and college have different procedures for throw-ins (no bouncing across the lane or across corners in HS, T and C adjust to L movements, and T administers all sideline throw-ins), so do college officials follow those procedures in HS games, or do they do things the college way (L administers endline and below-FTE throw-ins)?

I try to use HS mechanics in a HS game and college mechanics in a college game.

Perhaps surprisingly, the most difficulty I have is with the three-point signals.

Use high school mechanics in a high school game and college mechanics in a college game. I’m a former college official and work with college officials every season. We use the mechanics we are supposed to use, and incorporate variations where acceptable. If someone wants to punch on player control fouls, that is not something I care about, and in fact I do it myself on the prelim.

Again, this is not something you should lose sleep over. If college officials are incorporating “unapproved” mechanics in a HS game, that is between them and their assigner, and they are more than likely not trying to big time anyone. They probably either forgot or think they have a better way of doing something. It really is not that big of a deal.

When In Rome ...
 

I have no doubt that this is a true statement in many, possibly most, areas.

However, here in my little corner of Connecticut, observers trained for the purpose of rating, as well as partner ratings (although to a more limited extent), also factor into the equation.

From out local board's rating guidelines: Utilizes proper mechanics, up-to-date techniques and procedures as detailed in the IAABO Officials Manual.

Mechanics make up 10% of one's rating.

Which gets us to the question that ilyazhito *should have* asked -- he needs to use the mechanics that are important to the assigners at the level he is working (and that might be *all* mechanics; and it might include the "state" assigners as well as the "local" assigners, depending on the area -- and NO, thazt's not an invitation to say how games get assigned in the various leagues / state series in your area or all 50-states -- no one cares).

If he gets to the point where he only cares about some higher level (and I don't think he's there yet), he can use the *signalling* mechanics for the higher level and it's no big deal if the lower level assigner reduces his schedule. He still needs to use the *floor coverage* mechanics for the level he is working, or the game will suffer because his partners won't know what is going on.

Who receives the ratings?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Is there an advantage to walking and talking vs reporting from a stationary position in the reporting area? This is a mechanic that some high school and men's college officials do, even though it is not approved for those levels.
IMO, stationary reporting allows the scorer to better see and understand the information that the official is giving on fouls, but walking and talking may be faster for the official.

I understand that when new, follow the book when in doubt. When I get more experienced, then I can deviate if allowed to by local assigners. If I move up to higher-level college (D2/D1), as long as I use proper HS floor coverage, I can use college signals in a HS game (although I'll probably try not to mix the two). If I get to the G-League, this becomes irrelevant ;).

Well, officials receive the rating, and assignors can see what rating the official in question has (varsity or subvarsity). [Captain Obvious On] Caveat: BillyMac's rating system can differ from yours and mine. [Captain Obvious Off]

Advantage? Not really. It is probably done because it often does not matter if you stop or not in most cases. For the record, both Men's College and HS have the same table reporting mechanics as it relates to procedures. If you use your voice and clear the players, it really matters little if you are completely stopped or you are moving a little bit.

I think most officials make an effort to use the mechanics that are subscribed in the book when we start. But then you realize that there are things no one really cares about or holds you to in much detail. I know for me the more experienced I got, the less anyone worried about when I stopped reporting a foul because I handled coaches or players a certain way.

Peace

Ratings ...
 

The trained observers get together at the end of the season, go through all the observation ratings (including those done by trained observers and those done by partners) and decide the status of each official, varsity, or subvarsity, for the following year. The trained observer ratings are given the most strength, the partner ratings are given less strength.

Officials can view partner ratings (through Arbiter, with the names of the observers deleted) at various times during the season. Individual trained observer ratings are not shared with officials, but if an official has a question about his "final" rating, the chairman of the evaluation committee can communicate the overall findings of those observations with said official.

All rating information is shared with the assignment commissioner.

Little Corner Of Connecticut ...
 

RATINGS GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION

APPEARANCE AND CONDITIONING
Official is in physical condition and exhibits hustle and energy through the game.
Official’s uniform and overall appearance is neat, clean and well kept.

MECHANICS
Utilizes proper mechanics, up-to-date techniques and procedures as detailed in the IAABO Officials Manual.
Performs accurate foul reporting and clock administration.
Has a resonant, strong voice that is supported by proper mechanics for purpose of clarification

TEAM WORK
Has the ability to work effectively as a “team” with his/her fellow official.
Arrives on time; actively participate in the pre-game.
Actively participate in the post-game.
Accepts criticism.
Shares the responsibility and avoids attempts to shift the blame.

JUDGEMENT
Presents a thorough knowledge of the rules of basketball.
Uses unbiased judgment and common sense in applying the rules of the game.
Appears to make his/her decision with consideration to the effect the calling, or equally as important,
the not calling of a rule violation will have.
Is consistent in all calls regardless of situation or point of time in the game. For example, consistency
in the determination of a block vs. a charge.
Reacts quickly enough to make a decision at the moment of its occurrence.
Makes quick and positive decisions, especially with respect to the “close ones”.

GAME MANAGEMENT
Demonstrates control of the game. Leadership, able to run the game
Communicates with coaches, partners and table.
Is courteous and polite
Exhibits a confident manner i.e. attention to detail, alertness, firmness, and timeliness of his/her
reaction to a situation.
Remains consistent when calling violations or fouls without regard to the score, whom it may hurt,
or how it may effect future relations with the coach. Has a quiet influence on the game that relieves
tensions and creates a steady effect upon contestants (both players and coaches alike).
Has control of his/her emotions.
Takes the time to prevent an error from being made

A Saint Ambrose Reference On The Forum, Is That Cool Or What ???
 

Do whatever your evaluators and assigner expect, maybe it's "by the book", maybe it's not. Ask your local evaluators. Ask your local assigner. What were you taught by your local training committee as a rookie official? What do your local trainers say at meetings, and clinics?

That's the way to make your way up the ladder in your local association. That's the way to move from subvarsity games to varsity games. That's the way to get more assignments. That's the way to get better assignments.

Take the advice of Saint Ambrose, the ancient basketball official, "Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi".

If your high school Latin is rusty: “If you are in Rome, live in the Roman way; if you are elsewhere, live as they do there”.

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.h...=0&w=300&h=300

I was taught by the book in that regard. I'm guessing that''s the standard way that IAABO cadets are taught. To this day, I stop in the reporting area, no matter whether I work IAABO games or not. Real-life, there is no reason other than personal preference for walking or stopping?

The Charge of the Light Brigade On The Forum ??? No Way ...
 

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.6...=0&w=189&h=172

You are absolutely wrong.

Real life is doing what is expected of you to be successful in your local association.

That's real life.

If those who evaluate you expect you to go to the reporting area and stop, then you go to the reporting area and stop. If your assigner expects you to go to the reporting area and stop, then you go to the reporting area and stop. If you were trained to go to the reporting area and stop, then you go to the reporting area and stop. If you are trained at meetings and clinics to go to the reporting area and stop, then you go to the reporting area and stop.

If you're expected to do otherwise, then you do otherwise.

Why? Reasons? Sure, someone can tell you a nice, feel good, bedtime story that there's less chance of an error in reporting fouls if you go all the way to the reporting area and stop. Maybe, once upon a time, a sixth grade student scorekeeper in a middle school game, or an assistant football coach scorekeeper in a junior varsity game, or a retired biology teacher scorekeeper in a varsity game, made an error and a star player erroneously fouled out, thus losing the state championship, said player losing his chance at a college scholarship, possibly due to some sloppy reporting by an official, but regardless, the bottom line is one does what one is expected to do to be successful.

The reason why is unimportant, and possibly irrelevant, meeting expectations and becoming a successful official in your local area is important, of utmost importance.

In basketball officiating, that's real life.

Take the advice of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the great nineteenth century basketball official, "Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die".

https://youtu.be/mEtcHdDyEvo

I think this is the part you seem to not get. Mechanics are often personal preferences. Someone suggests this should be done and they put it in a book to tell everyone they should do it that way. It does not mean there is not another way or a variation is a tragic event. Actually "walking and talking" can be good to speed up the process and get to the next situation quicker. But we have a reporting area and often people will not get there when they do not stop or try to report a basic foul. That is my experience, but not what you see asked for.

You are going to find many mechanics that have someone suggesting it should be done this specific way and others who will do something else thinking that way is more efficient. And many of those situations will never have an evaluator saying a word, not a single word either way. If I am acting as a clinician and I am talking to you about how you report fouls in that much detail, I am probably not finding much about your officiating to discuss. It does not mean I will not mention the mechanics you use, but it will not be an all-day focus unless I am clearly confused by your reporting process.

Peace

Take It To The Bank ...
 

It depends on who that "someone" is? If that "someone" is an evaluator (or maybe an assigner) who will have a major impact on one's "movement up the ladder of success" in that local organization, then one should take it as more than a simple suggestion. Same thing if that "someone" is a local trainer (clinician) who is educating everyone in that local organization, expecting them all to do it that one, consistent, way (the same one, consistent way that the evaluators (assigner) will be observing and basing their evaluations on).

On my local board, mechanics are only a small part of one's evaluation by those who can have an impact one's assignments (number and level of games). Things like play calling, game management, and court coverage are much more important, but mechanics are still part of the equation, and they're usually the easiest forms of advice to follow. Some new officials may have difficulty calling a block/charge, or keeping coaches under control, but they can certainly stand where they have been taught to stand during a time out (which may include moving one's position to discuss a situation with one's partner, or walking over to the table to double check something, some flexibility can be a good thing).

On the other hand, if the trainers (clinicians), evaluators, and the assigner are not on the same page regarding mechanics, and the evaluation, and importance, of such, then things can become problematic. I don't work for such a disjointed, inconsistent, local organization (but I'm sure that they might exist somewhere).

Again, the usual caveat, "When in Rome ...". Some organizations may be a lot more flexible when it comes to mechanics, and the evaluation, and importance, of such, than others. That doesn't necessarily mean that one way is good, and one way is bad, they're just different.

Confusing ...
 

Good point. While some of us may have our own opinions, based on our own local customs, about good mechanics, and the evaluation, and importance, of such, we can all agree on what bad mechanics are.

We strongly emphasize stopping to report here at the HS level. The purpose is twofold. First, you have a very large variety of table crews with widely varying levels of attentiveness and ability. Getting close enough (not too close) and stopping before reporting improves the communication from official to table. Second, many officials race through the whole thing. Making them come to a stop slows them down and, again, it improves the communication. And it will get mentioned on evaluations. Communication is a big part of what we do and not doing it clearly only causes trouble. However, at some level, when you get quality table crews and quality officials, the complications of walking and talking are not really a big deal anymore.

This is a thing that I notice as an official that concerns me: bad communication. It may be surprising that I am the one saying this, because I have Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disability that affects communication, but I have been confused whenever I see bad communication among officials and between officials and auxiliary personnel (no signals about last second shots (1 minute, my responsibility), fast reporting without being in the reporting area (often occurs when HS officials try to walk and talk), not confirming communication signals, putting the ball in play with substitutes at the table, not confirming count/game situation ,etc.). This is especially when it happens on crews where I work, because I might not know whether the other officials understood me when they do not respond. Bad communication often happens together with bad mechanics (not stopping the clock when required, not sweeping the floor, unapproved signals) and bad positioning. These three things result in officials making incorrect rulings.

Mechanics like pointing at the shot clock or 1 finger in the air might look ridiculous, but they exist to promote awareness of the game situation (10 seconds on the shot clock and under 1 minute on the game clock respectively). Being aware allows officials to be in good position, such as the Lead knowing what is happening and rotating in a rotation situation, and his partners picking him up. Stopping the clock is both a mechanic required by rule and an awareness mechanic, to ensure that officials and the game clock operator know that the game clock should stop (or not start). This is why I might be willing to compromise on HS vs college foul signals, but not on communication or on stopping the clock. Ifor you are working with me, and you want to use specific communication signals that are not in the (HS/college) mechanics book, or use these signals in a way other than what is written, let me know, so that I can adjust.

Serenity Prayer ...
 

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.U...=0&w=218&h=183

Stop it. Just stop it. Please.

I know that it can be frustrating working with less capable partners, or observing less capable officials from your local association, but it's part of the job. We all have to do it at one time or another.

Don't worry about what others do wrong. Unless you're a trainer, clinician, evaluator, or assigner, these "bad" mechanics are out of your control.

If you know what's right, and what's expected of you, do those things. That is under your control.

If you want to nitpick yourself (like I do after every game) that's fine, but don't nitpick your partners, or others from your local association

If you want to offer others some constructive criticism (note I said some), face to face, to help them improve, that's fine, but don't nitpick them here on the Forum, or anywhere else for that matter. It's not constructive.

Everybody has to work with "bad" partners, it's part of the job. Work harder, overcompensate, be more vigilante, etc. Maybe these "bad" mechanic partners make up for it by being great officials in other aspects of the game, play calling, court coverage, game management, etc. Or maybe they're just great guys that people like being around, good sense of humor, caring, good story tellers, interested in their partner's lives, all around nice guys, etc.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. (Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971)

Well, that is the same case in most small college table personnel as well.

I do not think that has much to do with whether an official stops and reports. I see many officials stop and cannot report very clearly because they have clearly not practiced their mechanics or they are thinking too fast. I am not so sure that that is the reason many officials look sloppy.

Peace

Is That George Clooney ???
 

It took me until New Year's Day last season to figure out how to do the new two hand reporting. The two hands part was easy. It was saying the numbers that was difficult, saying "Twenty-three" instead of saying "Two. Three", as I did for almost forty years. I even resorted to practicing in front of a mirror, but I just kept thinking to myself, "Hey, he's a pretty handsome guy".

You shouldn't need to see one finger in the air to know that the game clock is under 1:00 and you shouldn't need to see the OTO indicating that he has the last-second shot to know that it's true. When you get to the varsity level, your partners will look at you like you're crazy if you act like you can't function without these visible signals. And based on your posts, you clearly psych yourself out over petty things that you have no control over. You keep talking about the G-league: have you noticed that NBA officials never hold one finger in the air at the end of a period? That's one of the many things you're going to have to get over if you want to advance.

Also, hate to break it to you but clock operators are not looking for our hand to stop the clock or looking for a chop to start it. They are listening for the whistle and watching for the ball to be touched. So, while it's all well and good to use these mechanics and they serve their purpose, let's stop pretending like they are more important than they are.

Also, I assume you are, for all intents and purposes, a sub-varsity official. You are going to have subpar partners who are poor communicators. And it will still be true when you get to the higher levels. The officiating Utopia that you desire is not going to happen, so you might as well stop worrying about it.

Again, as you move up, your play-calling and game management will be exponentially more important than the nitty-gritty of your mechanics. You don't seem to understand this as almost all of your posts have to do with opining about officials who don't follow their mechanics manuals to a T, rather than specific plays or situations to break down. Until you start putting more thought into the more important aspects of your game, you can kiss your dream of getting to college/G-league goodbye.

Good communicators usually equal good officials, so how do higher level officials communicate, if not in the ways described in the manual? I've seen videos of varsity crews both using and not using the 1 minute and other communication signals, so it's not as if higher level crews toss the manual in the trash all the time.
That said, what do you do that differs from the book, and what is your thought process in doing so?

You said it, not me. No one ever suggested that the best officials ignore the manual.

I walk and talk to the table. On fouls going the other way, I often just step out to where the scorer can see me rather than going all the way to the reporting area. I seldom give a prelim unless it’s a block/charge play. I punch on player control fouls at the spot and give the weak “hand behind the head” to the table. Why? Because these are methods that work best for me and that I prefer to use. And I work in a state where very few officials (at least in my area) are gung-ho about everything needing to be followed from the NFHS Manual down to the fine print. Some states are not like that and if you want to advance in the postseason, they want everything done exactly the way it says in the manual. If I move to a state like that I will adjust accordingly.

"what do you do that differs from the book, and what is your thought process in doing so?"

You have asked this question over and over, and it has been answered by experienced officials/posters many times. What works for SC or JRutledge, for example, may not work for you. What is required in BillyMac's little corner of Connecticut may not be required in your area.

To simplify, hopefully make this clear and stop further, similar questions: either (1) do what works best for you or (2) do what is required where you work.

Don't you have a mentor who can answer this repeated question in local context?

I agree with the statement in bold. But that does not mean this mechanic is considered good communication.

I do not communicate the time until about 30 seconds on the clock. There are multiple possible possessions with a minute to go. Usually around 30 seconds, teams start to settle for that last shot much more. A minute they might be trying to score quickly depending on the score and opportunity. You could have a few turnovers. It is best IMO to wait until what would be a shot clock time to signal to partners. You should be aware of the time anyway.

You are missing the point as you usually do in these situations. Yes, I have seen official do that and I have seen officials (many that I work with) never give the signal that early. Actually many guys I work college with refuse to signal that early because as I said, so many possessions can happen at that time. Then again in Illinois, we do not use the manual that way.

I officiate to what works, half the time those things are not about what is in the book. One of these days you might realize that fact. The book is a guide for most things. It is not a document that does not have variations or even different philosophies of things people do on the court.

Peace

I agree with your logic about 1 minute being too early unless you are in a college game or other game when the clock stops after scores (1 minute Q1/2/3, 2 minutes Q4/OT for pro-am under NBA rules, 2 minutes Q4/OT FIBA rules). I'll ask my local groups about alternate practices, but until I find out about that, I'll do what the book requires.

The material published by Referee is good, but it does not include a "Common Alternative Practices" or similar section. If I was publishing books like that, I'd survey officials, through a thread such as this or other means, and include other, off-book practices in an appendix (there would be a description of the officially approved, by-the-book procedure, and a reference to the appropriate part of the CAP section). This is also why I started this thread, to see what alternative practices exist, and if there differences between these practices at the high school, college, NBA, or FIBA levels (last two are less likely, because NBA and FIBA officials go through rigorous training when hired).

The reason why I mentioned the 1 finger for 1 minute and point at the shot clock at 10 second signals as communication signals is because I believe that is their purpose: to make oneself aware and inform the other officials. If there is another, hidden, purpose, let me know. I can't read between the lines because I don't have X-ray vision.

OK, then why did you ask? You asked why those of us did something different and we told you. BTW, we have been telling you to ask people in your local area about these issues all along. I know based on your posts, many of us have worked much longer than you. So what we do in a college game or high school game is not something many of us worry about that much.

But then you tell us what should be done based on your very limited experience. I would hope if you wrote a book on a topic, you did a bit more than survey some officials. I would hope you would have worked with hundreds of officials, been in several situations and then used that for the basis of your experience to share that experience. Many things are not listed in a book.

Did you work a Men's college game yet? If you have not, then you probably would not know how little it was used or when it was used. Yes, it was a communication tool, but often used at certain times, not every time the clock is at 10 seconds, just like the 1 minute mark is not used for a signal. It is not like these things many of are telling you or that I am telling you has not been well thought out. Often many things are done for a very specific reason.

No one here in the end really cares what you do, but it often matters if you are making a mountain out of a molehill about things that are not going to be something anyone of significant cares about. I have never lost a single game because of these minor things were done or not done to the letter.

Peace

You're going to have to learn to be a lot more independent if you want to succeed in this business. For some reason you need everything spelled out for you, and if other officials aren't doing it the "approved" way, you ask loaded questions like "Why do officials deviate from the manual?" rather than inquiring about more meaningful information that will actually advance your career. And when experienced officials on this forum give you answers, you keep responding with "yeah, but" rebuttals and opining about your unrealistic utopia. That is going to be the downfall of your career if you try that at a camp or with an assigner. Officiating is not the military; we are not all going to do things that same way because we are not robots. Heck, just look at Rich: he's an assigner for >20 schools and doesn't care what signals his staff uses. He cares if his guys are good at calling plays and game management (i.e. exactly what everyone on here has been telling you).

You mentioned that you will go to your local groups: that is a good start, and quite frankly you will be best served taking all these repetitive inquiries there.

That is all well and good and you are not wrong, but many officials/crews are completely capable of being aware of the situation without having to use all these signals that you think are sacrosanct and complain about when you see them not being used.

Utopia, Texas ???
 

Agree. Well worded.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.3...=0&w=310&h=175

Where is this Utopia that you speak of? Are they IAABO? Do they need any officials?

Even though everybody is still playing nice nice, with no name calling, etc., isn't it time for the moderators to close this thread so that ilyazhito can start new threads with actual specific plays to discuss?

Stop It, Just Stop It, Please …
 

Stop trying to impress us with your knowledge of many rule sets. We are not impressed. Not one bit.

If you try to pull this malarkey (an Irish-American slang word, Google it) with the guys in your local association, they will try to avoid you like the plague. Don't expect any invitations to get adult beverages at the local gin joint after your Friday night games.

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.a...=0&w=281&h=162 https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.s...=0&w=274&h=186

If you're only doing high school games right now, just concentrate on high school rules and mechanics. If you've only been doing high school games for a few years, you've got a lot to learn, as all of us did when we first started. You can't ignore mechanics, but you can't obsess on them as you seem to want to. You've got hundreds of block charge plays to call correctly, or to screw the pooch. You've got dozens of out of control coaches to deal with, some will not be charged with technical fouls, some will be charged with technical fouls, and some will end up sitting on the cold bus in the parking lot. You've got a few correctable errors to correct, either correctly, or incorrectly. You've got to work a one person game when your partner gets a flat tire, gets injured, or there's schedule screwup.

Don't obsess about what signal to use when your working a Final Four college game. Don't obsess about where you're going to stand during a timeout when you work an Olympic championship game. Don't obsess about how you're going to rotate as the lead in an NBA championship game.

Worry about what's important and relevant, what you're going to try to improve on the next time you work a high school game. Maybe part of that will be high school mechanics, but that shouldn't be your exclusive concern, you need to improve on all aspects of your game.

We all do, even a veteran official like me.

Stop obsessing about how poorly your partners, and other members of your local association, are doing and worry about how poorly you're doing and what you can do to improve your game.

And again, if your local association wants you to go by the book, then go by the book. If they want you to do something else, then do something else. Do one, or do the other, but do not improvise, not at this critical stage of your officiating career.

Don't keep asking us what we do in our various little corners of our various states and provinces, what we do isn't relevant to you. Never will be.

If it was, I would tell you that's is alright to wear a black belt. Try that in and other place other than my little corner of Connecticut, and you'll be working a lot of middle school girls games.

The above, which I've highlighted in red, may explain a lot about who ilyzhito comes across on this board and may severely impact his ability to succeed as an official.

Form https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-au...rger-syndrome:

When you first came on this board, you had several posts about how you always looked at the clock on every change of possession and everytime the ball crossed a line, etc.

If you are doing that, you don't need the 1-minute signal to tell you how much time is left in the period.

I might not need that personally, but it is the approved mechanic at the HS level. Plus, my partners need to know what I am doing, so it's helpful to give a little signal like that to them as a heads-up.

I spoke to a guy in my area who calls HS and NCAA ball, and he said that NCAA men's officials don't signal until the last possession where the shot clock is on (around 30 seconds). NCAA officials don't tap their chests because they know that OTO calls the last-second shot. He also added that J.D. Collins and coordinators have been cracking down on non-approved mechanics at the NCAA level, so I would not be as likely to work with officials who go off-script there as much as I might at the high school level. He also told me that HS officials who work shot clock games tend to follow the same practices as NCAA men's officials re: last second shots.

Literal And Direct ...
 

Which is why I've tried to be as literal and direct as I can, including reiterating important points, while still trying to show patience and offering advice to help him succeed.

Back when I was teaching middle school science, special education students were mainstreamed by Planning and Placement Teams into my classes, rather than into other teacher's classes, for a reason. Parents of special education students often asked for their child to be placed in my classes. I'm certainly not a special education expert, but I've been around the block a few times.

One Step At A Time ...
 

Again, please concentrate on becoming a good, and then a great, high school official first and then move on to do the same at the college level. Goal setting is great, but take it one step at a time.

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.P...=0&w=308&h=174

Please Give Me The Finger ...
 

If you're my partner, feel free to give me the finger. Better then me having another heart attack.

https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ml#post1023814

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.C...=0&w=228&h=172

I am moderately afflicted and I attribute part of my success in officiating to my Asperger's traits. The biggest setbacks with Asperger's are awkward social interactions (my son) and improperly reading social cues (me--but can be learned through experience).

He can succeed.

Maybe BillyMac has it also :D

Most definitely the best approach.

Your partners will be fine. Quit obsessing about what your partners do and know. Quit making it the basis for all your actions. If you want to be a by-the-book official, there is nothing wrong with that. Just be ready to adjust when needed.

I've worked college games where people signal at 1:00 and the OTO somehow indicates he has the last-second shot. I've worked high school games where no one does it or they do it differently. It really is not a big deal, and if you can't adjust to that then it's going to be a tough ride. It is one thing if you work a game where your partners are not switching correctly after fouls. This is something that is so minute in comparison. The reality is that there are few absolutes in officiating. Auxiliary/unapproved signals are one thing that varies greatly.

No one on this forum will tell you not to use approved mechanics. But if you are, for instance, giving a prelim on a hand check foul as the NFHS manual says, you are going to look pretty silly on the floor, especially at a camp. But if that is what the powers-that-be in your area want you to do, then by all means comply when you are working those games.

FWIW, this is happening on the women's side as well. Five camps this summer and I can't remember a time when more emphasis has been placed on NOT deviating from approved signals.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned in this thread (I jumped to the end), but on the women's side the 1-minute signal serves as a reminder to the crew that when granting a TO with 59.9 seconds or less on the clock, under certain conditions, the ball may be advanced to the 28-foot mark in the front court. This is why the 1-minute signal is only given in the 4Q (or OT) and not at the end of every quarter.

We noticed him saying that some time ago. But with that being said, no one is going to ultimately care if you do not accept the things people are telling you. That alone might be a hindrance, but how he processes information to others and how he deals with others will be another process. I know other officials with similar diagnosed situations and they struggle in this thing. And in many cases, people do not know that is an issue of those people.

I wish the kid the best and hope he can do what he needs to do to take the right positions to advance, but if he is always complaining about why partners do not do certain things or always telling people that they should follow some procedure that an experienced official has deliberately decided does not work as stated, that can be an issue regardless if your diagnosis.

Peace

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ...
 

Not Asperger Syndrome, but a more subtle, far less serious problem, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Actually led to a medical leave of absence and my premature retirement from teaching. I couldn't sleep at night. My psychiatrist (no couch sessions, just medication checks) now keeps me on the straight and narrow with a steady diet of Xanax and Luvox.

Back about fifteen years ago, before I started seeing a doctor, being properly diagnosed, and figuring out the proper regime of medications, my biggest problem in officiating basketball was not being able to get past mistakes I made during a game.

If I screwed up a call early in the game, I would continually go over the situation in my head for the rest of the game. Why did I screw up? Did I really screw up? What could I have done to prevent the screwup? Obviously, this distracted me for the rest of game, effecting my play calling due to a lack of concentrating on the present, while I was concentrating on the past, certainly not a good recipe for success in officiating basketball.

Now, with my medications, I'm able to move on from my mistakes. It's improved my self confidence. Yes, I self criticize, it's the only way to improve, but not during the game, only afterward, and then I don't beat myself up, unless I really deserve it.

And, no, I don't keep washing my hands all the time.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...eda38e0861.jpg

I think we all have issues on some level. I am a perfectionist when it comes to things I am passionate about. ;)

Peace

I am also a perfectionist for things that I am passionate about (in this case basketball officiating). Otherwise I wouldn't be on this forum, reading the books, and asking so many questions about mechanics and other aspects of officiating.

Now I know to just fall back on the book when in doubt, because if I am working with people that I do not know, they will understand when I use mechanics as in whatever the appropriate manual for the type of game is.

Being on this forum should be a tool, not the end all be all of your officiating experience. That is kind of the point of what most of us have been trying to say to you here. And as you get more experience, you will see what is important to those all over the place and what is not at all important. Many of these things you ask you, might be individually important, but not important to everyone that officiates. Either way, you will have to adjust. Good luck with what you do.

Peace

How Do You Find Out ???
 

Good thought, but remember, in regard to high school games, your local association may do some things differently than the manual. It's up to you to find out when to follow the manual, and when to do otherwise. How do you find out? Think back to your local association's original floor training. Listen to your local interpreter/trainer/clinician during the training part of your regular association meetings. Directly ask your local interpreter/trainer/clinician if you have any mechanics questions (rather than asking us here on the Forum).

I'm lucky in that my local board follows the IAABO manual 98% of the time, so if I have a question, I can just look it up. But we do differ in a few aspects of mechanics. For example, we point to floor for two point field goal try when shooter has a foot touching three point line. You won't find that in the IAABO Mechanics Manual.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.J...=0&w=230&h=171

FTR I do this and it's not in the NFHS manual (which we use in SC) nor explicitly approved by our powers-that-be. So, this would be one example where an official (me) uses an "unapproved" signal, but nobody who matters is going to lose sleep over it.

Bona Fide ...
 

The "touching the three point line" signal is unapproved by IAABO International, but is 100% bona fide approved by our Connecticut State board, as well as our local board.

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.W...=0&w=229&h=164

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.F...=0&w=233&h=176

It's the ultimate punishment for a basketball official.