Mechanics Creep

[Freddy]

I'm no doubt the exception here. And I'm good with that.
I'm one of those who, by virtue of the position to which I've been appointed, teach and maintain prescribed and approved mechanics -- and signals -- as dictated by the ruling body of the code that prevails over those whose training I'm responsible for. And I'm good with that.
I understand that the preferences and interests of others in other areas and even of assigners and AD's and coaches -- and even some officials -- in our area here may differ. And I'm good with that.
I have learned that intelligent officials can pursue excellence in play-calling while at the same time prioritize using prescribed mechanics and approved signals asked of them. And I'm good with that.

[BillyMac]

For thirty-seven of the past thirty-eight years I've worked with, and observed, an outstanding official. He could call the hell out of a game, manage the heck out of a game, and charm the pants off of any coach, player, fan, or partner. In his heyday, he was a state tournament official, and a college official. When he walked into a gym, everybody greeted him like he was the mayor. Even in his later years he could run rings around younger partners.

He ended his season every year by volunteering to officiate Special Olympics Unified Games, most of us volunteer at one site, he would volunteer for several sites.

His mechanics were far from perfect. Sometimes he made up signals (some quite funny looking) on the spot, and sometimes his rotations and switches weren't quite kosher (once spotted him doing a 540 degree switch, he just kept moving until he felt comfortable).

Everybody wanted to work with this guy, coaches wanted this guy in their games.

I learned a lot from him, not about mechanics, but about everything else regarding officiating basketball games.

After fifty years on the court, he retired last season. I miss him. He was a great partner. He was fun to work with. He was fun to watch.

I know that a lot of us, including me, take officiating very seriously, but it is, after all, a game, and we should be allowed to have a little fun, not a lot, but a little.

But his great official/poor mechanics was an anomaly, an outlier. Here on my local board, he was the exception, not the rule.

[onetime1]

I call my block foul with closed fists and hit my hips about 7 or 8 times and do it simultaneously while hopping toward the score table. I do this because I think Joey Crawford looks really cool doing it.

[SNIPERBBB]

Originally Posted by onetime1

I call my block foul with closed fists and hit my hips about 7 or 8 times and do it simultaneously while hopping toward the score table. I do this because I think Joey Crawford looks really cool doing it.

That's basically what OHSAA doesn't want to see.

[Freddy]

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

[deecee]

If someone that has sway on your schedule says something to you, make an adjustment. Otherwise no one cares. I am yet to have an assignor go to me "hey the block signal is open palm, inner hand to waist. Not this closed fist nonsense." I've worked for about half a dozen in 15 years.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by deecee

If someone that has sway on your schedule says something to you, make an adjustment. Otherwise no one cares. I am yet to have an assignor go to me "hey the block signal is open palm, inner hand to waist. Not this closed fist nonsense." I've worked for about half a dozen in 15 years.

I know I have worked for 30 or so different people in basketball alone and never had any of them complain about my mechanics in this way.

Peace

[ODog]

Originally Posted by Freddy

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

Freddy, I'm glad you have a sense of humor.

That is seriously the most embarrassing thing I've seen, especially since his partner (whose call it was) was correctly about to call a PC foul.

That is unbelievable. And it sure looks like a varsity (2-whistle?!) game in California. Whoa ...

Originally Posted by Freddy

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

That's the best sell of a call I've ever seen. In any sport. At any level. That guy is God-tier.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by AremRed

That's the best sell of a call I've ever seen. In any sport. At any level. That guy is God-tier.

That wasn't you, was it? Nawwwwwww.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Freddy

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

Lol and kinda embarrassing. To call so far out of one's primary. To be 100% wrong. To have a partner who is right there about to make the right call. Then to look goofy as all heck making said wrong call. If the actual call wasn't so bad and wrong this would have been funnier.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by Freddy

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

oh...my....goodness

[deecee]

Although all this brings back a fond memory of a "veteran" official and what he said to me once. I was probably about 3 years in and was working a JV game. Vet walks in and starts talking to my partner and I and says "I can tell you guys did not communicate before the game."

I said, "What makes you say that." I knew we emailed but didn't talk. He responds with, "I carry 2 color shoe laces so I always match my partner, and your shoe laces don't match."

I gave him, what I imagine to be, the stupidest look in my life. I stood up and walked out while he was mid-sentence of some other nonsense.

That was the moment I realized that I cannot take everything any official tells me seriously, and I need to weigh what, and whom, is mentoring/coaching me.

The little mentoring I ever did, I always prefaced it with, pick what you want from what I tell you, but don't pick everything. It worked, kinda, for me, and I guarantee it all won't work for you. If it does, you're in bigger trouble then getting mentoring from me.