One Is The Loneliest Number That You'll Ever Do ...

BillyMac

Kansas Ref wrote
Mr. BillyMac ...

BillyMac wrote
First of all, my father is Mr. BillyMac, I'm just BillyMac.

A few years ago I worked a middle school game with a rookie partner, my partner being the son of a fellow official who lived in my hometown.

My young partner called me Mr. Mac.

I told him that if he ever called me Mr. Mac again that I would smack him in the face.

We've had discussions here on the Forum regarding first names or Mr. last names in dealing with coaches and players, but I'm not allowing my partner to call me Mister.

BillyMac

BillyMac wrote
... game fee ...

2020-21 game fees have been announced for Connecticut (two-person games):

Varsity Fee: $100.07
Sub Varsity Fee: $64.93 (junior varsity, freshman, middle school)
Scrimmage Fee: $150 (3 officials $50 each, 2 officials $75 each)

Note: By contract, official fees in Connecticut are tied to the average annual increase (or decrease) in state-wide teachers salaries in Connecticut.

Of course that's assuming that there is a 2020-21 basketball season.

BillyMac

BillyMac wrote
What does the opening line, “One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do”, from the 1969 hit song “One” by the great American rock band Three Dog Night have to do with officiating a basketball game?

For the young'uns:

https://youtu.be/UiKcd7yPLdU

bucky

Change "the inevitable will eventually occur" to something not redundant, such as "the inevitable occurs".😉

Most players are right-handed. Ergo, a huge majority of the game is played on the right side of the court. The lesser the skill, the more that is played on the right side. I spend my one-person running a diagonal path from right side to right side as T initially, settling about the C position. I usually turn one-person games into a workout however, and generally am really covering everywhere in a very athletic way.

BillyMac

bucky wrote
Change "the inevitable will eventually occur" to something not redundant, such as "the inevitable occurs".

Done. Thank you.

BillyMac

bucky wrote
Most players are right-handed. Ergo, a huge majority of the game is played on the right side of the court. I spend my one-person running a diagonal path from right side to right side.

I actually tried that in one of my first one-person games. I didn't like crossing the basket-line, and didn't like not having an adult (official, coaches, or table) getting a good look at one quarter of the sidelines. Also didn't like spending half my time with a poor view of the table, substitutes, coaches, and bench personnel.

Your right hand philosophy reminds me of the old "Cadillac Position" of forty years ago where the lead would spend 99% of his (no local female officials back then) time on the right side of the front court.

BillyMac

bucky wrote
Most players are right-handed. Ergo, a huge majority of the game is played on the right side of the court.

BillyMac wrote
I actually tried that in one of my first one-person games. I didn't like crossing the basket-line, and didn't like not having an adult (official, coaches, or table) getting a good look at one quarter of the sidelines. Also didn't like spending half my time with a poor view of the table, substitutes, coaches, and bench personnel.

With the official always being opposite table side, at least the official will spend 50% of the time on the right side, and by the end of the game after the halftime switch it will be 50% right side for both teams.

Camron Rust

Whenever I've worked solo, I paid no attention to table/opposite. I would start a throwin on the side with the ball and I would roam as needed based on the play. I'd go endline if needed. I'd cross over the top if needed to see a far corner play. I think you give up a lot more than you should by staying on one side.

BillyMac

Camron Rust wrote
Whenever I've worked solo, I paid no attention to table/opposite. I would start a throwin on the side with the ball and I would roam as needed based on the play. I'd go endline if needed. I'd cross over the top if needed to see a far corner play.

Tried that a few times. Eventually settled on crossing the basketline to see far corner plays but always returned to opposite table when possible (like a lead rotating to get a good look at a matchup and then going back in a two-person game). If I couldn't get back due to a quick turnover, I stayed on that side and got back when I could. Also occasionally tried getting down to the endline (big mistake), technically one should physically be able to get from the endline (old lead) position to the (new) trail position, but that's usually in a two-person game where one has a partner to catch stuff at the front of the play.

To each his own. If one has the ability to run like a gazelle and keep up with these athletic young players (who stay the same age every year as we get older), then hey, go for it, it will make for a better officiated game. These guidelines, especially the floor coverage guidelines, are not chiseled in stone.

Note: Sounds like Camron Rust deserves the 150% game fee if it's offered in his area.

Multiple Sports

Of the 16 posts in this thread, you have 11. Only you can pad your stats with owning your thread !!!

BillyMac

BillyMac wrote
Your right hand philosophy reminds me of the old "Cadillac Position" of forty years ago where the lead would spend 99% of his (no local female officials back then) time on the right side of the front court.

Not much need for terms like "table side" and "opposite table side" back then. On free throws the trail was always to free throw shooter's left, the lead was always on the right. Quarters started with a jump ball (no alternating possession arrow), although the referee did have to face the table (only the referee could toss back then). Technical foul free throws were followed by the offended team inbounding the ball from either side of the division line, the offended team chose which side.

Probably needed a table side and opposite table side for timeout positions, but that was a long time ago and I've forgotten. Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. will be moseying by after his late morning nap and I'm sure that he'll be pleased to enlighten us.

BillyMac

Multiple Sports wrote
Of the 16 posts in this thread, you have 11. Only you can pad your stats with owning your thread !!!

Got to keep my post numbers up to maintain my Esteemed Forum Member status. One is not an Esteemed Forum Member for life, like the Pope, or a Supreme Court justice.

Actually it's two things, day job retirement, and COVID-19 boredom (no church (safety choice), no prison ministry (no volunteer visitors), no gym (safety choice), no library (closed), no senior center (closed), family quarantine (safety choice)).

I actually wake up each morning hoping that I don't run out of things (chores, hunting and gathering food, newspaper, magazines, bicycle ride, weekend kayak paddle) to do before dinner followed a few hours of television (no daytime television for me).

I'm also not a big nap fan like my buddy Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

BillyMac

Thanks for the input. I submitted the article to my publisher. Hopefully it will be accepted and published. The check that I get will finally allow me to purchase the villa in Tuscany that I've always wanted. I'm thinking about getting one with a vineyard and making wine.