3 Person Mechanics Changes 2019

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Not surprisingly, most of the high school officials I deal with who get hung up on every detail of the Manual are not good play-callers or game managers.

Being good play-callers or game managers and having good mechanics do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Some have the whole package and can do it all.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Being good play-callers or game managers and having good mechanics do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Some have the whole package and can do it all.

I never said they were mutually exclusive.

My point was that all these “purists” get so hung up on being technical that they don’t even bother trying to improve in the things that actually matter.

Also, following the Manual to a T doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with good mechanics. The Manual still says we’re supposed to give a prelim on every foul. Who the hell teaches or actually does this in real life? And some of the most by-the-book officials I know have the worst-looking mechanics. You can tell they’ve never seen themselves on film or practiced in a mirror.

I would take a partner any day who is sharp, crisp, and can manage a game but may occasionally use an “unapproved” yet more descriptive signal to the table (which is another issue with the NFHS altogether) over a pedantic, overly technical partner who doesn’t have much to offer other than book knowledge and telling people when they do something that isn’t 100% by the book.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Also, following the Manual to a T doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with good mechanics. The Manual still says we’re supposed to give a prelim on every foul. Who the hell teaches or actually does this in real life? And some of the most by-the-book officials I know have the worst-looking mechanics. You can tell they’ve never seen themselves on film or practiced in a mirror.

Funny you say that. It is what we are supposed to do at by those that run the state, but I rarely see officials do it to a tee. I also agree, that those might have decent signals, but cannot rotate properly or call in their area or give good secondary help.

Originally Posted by SC Official

I would take a partner any day who is sharp, crisp, and can manage a game but may occasionally use an “unapproved” yet more descriptive signal to the table (which is another issue with the NFHS altogether) over a pedantic, overly technical partner who doesn’t have much to offer other than book knowledge and telling people when they do something that isn’t 100% by the book.

This explains most college officials I know. Sorry to those but I love working with guys with solid college experience because of that very fact. They might not be perfect, but they understand the game.

Peace

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Funny you say that. It is what we are supposed to do at by those that run the state, but I rarely see officials do it to a tee. I also agree, that those might have decent signals, but cannot rotate properly or call in their area or give good secondary help.



This explains most college officials I know. Sorry to those but I love working with guys with solid college experience because of that very fact. They might not be perfect, but they understand the game.

The only thing that bothers me is when I'm in a high school pregame with a college official (and I am one of those) and he wants to talk about college stuff, be it rules or just bragging about himself. All that does is confuse non-college officials and makes it feel like you are big-timing. Thankfully this does not happen too much.

Once we get out on the floor, I don't really care if you use a signal that isn't in the back of the book. I care if you get plays right, are a good partner, apply the correct rules and switches, communicate well, handle business, and manage the game.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by SC Official

The only thing that bothers me is when I'm in a high school pregame with a college official and he wants to talk about college stuff ... just bragging about himself ... are big-timing ...

Saw this a lot a generation ago, don't see it very often with the younger guys, somebody most have straightened them out.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by SC Official

The only thing that bothers me is when I'm in a high school pregame with a college official (and I am one of those) and he wants to talk about college stuff, be it rules or just bragging about himself. All that does is confuse non-college officials and makes it feel like you are big-timing. Thankfully this does not happen too much.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Saw this a lot a generation ago, don't see it very often with the younger guys, somebody most have straightened them out.

Oh, it still happens.

Was working with a young official a couple season ago who was just picked up for his first college season and was doing this sort of stuff.

When we go in at halftime, he starts in about how college guys always communicate better, specifically about end of quarter communcation. He was suggesting we really need to communicate being under 1-minute and who had the last shot. About that time, another official who was watching the game and joined us for halftime chimed in ad said...."Bobby (name changed), Cam had his hand up trying to communicate with you for a long time and you never looked". Needless to say, he had a lot less to add to the halftime discussion after that.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by SC Official

The only thing that bothers me is when I'm in a high school pregame with a college official (and I am one of those) and he wants to talk about college stuff, be it rules or just bragging about himself. All that does is confuse non-college officials and makes it feel like you are big-timing. Thankfully this does not happen too much.



Once we get out on the floor, I don't really care if you use a signal that isn't in the back of the book. I care if you get plays right, are a good partner, apply the correct rules and switches, communicate well, handle business, and manage the game.

I'll sometimes have somebody who will ask me about college stuff and I will redirect the conversation back to high school rules and mechanics. The only time I want to discuss college stuff is if I'm on a crew with college officials and we're clarifying a rules difference or mechanics difference.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I'll sometimes have somebody who will ask me about college stuff and I will redirect the conversation back to high school rules and mechanics. The only time I want to discuss college stuff is if I'm on a crew with college officials and we're clarifying a rules difference or mechanics difference.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

This makes sense.

My main issue is with college officials taking digs at the high school game/officials in the dressing room.

"The college rule is so much better."
"Glad I don't work too many of these."
"In my college games..."
"Not sure what you guys do at your level, but at my level..."

Thankfully, it's rare but I have worked high school with other low-level college officials who have some air of superiority.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SC Official

This makes sense.

My main issue is with college officials taking digs at the high school game/officials in the dressing room.

"The college rule is so much better."
"Glad I don't work too many of these."
"In my college games..."
"Not sure what you guys do at your level, but at my level..."

Thankfully, it's rare but I have worked high school with other low-level college officials who have some air of superiority.

That type of talk here would get you called out to some extent. For one there are people that know what you do or do not do. So if someone said that to me, I probably already know whether you do college ball and how much realistically. So some could only get away with that only so much anyway. The officials there are well known and do not need to talk like that.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Being good play-callers or game managers and having good mechanics do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Some have the whole package and can do it all.

Thanks for the compliment.

I pride myself on doing it all, adding in rule book knowledge as well. Rules and mechanics competency are completely under the control of each individual referee.

I started off being a good play-caller and have gotten better by listening to those who have been successful in this profession. Game manager has a few aspects to it (controlling players/dead ball officiating/common sense decision making/fruitful communication with coaches). I'm still working on improving my communications styles w/coaches. I'm still learning in regards to that aspect.