Coaching Players

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JBleach85

I try not to address any situation as if a player is committing a foul or violation we need to call it ...

I see your point. Sometimes the pendulum can swing too far either way (I'm probably one of those guys who swings too much to the talking/warning side).

There are "gray areas". Fouls and violations are sometimes subjective, purpose and intent combined with an official's judgement of advantage/disadvantage. Sometimes officials just want to let players know that we're observant, that we're aware that a foul or a violation almost occurred, or is possibly about to occur, or actually may have occurred, maybe we were unsure, but we're watching for it.

There are also officials, usually inexperienced, who often play "Gotcha".

Post player loses concentration and gets "lost" on the block, with just the back of the heel of his sneaker barely on the lane line, not gaining any advantage, sometimes it's better to warn instead of calling the violation ("Gotcha"), or waiting for the opposing coach to notice and ask for the violation.

Sometimes we just don't need to call something at that particular time, in that particular place, in that particular game, with that particular coach, with that particular player (but we may call the same situation at another time, or in another place, in another game, with another coach, with another player).

How does one know when to call and when to warn?

It only comes with experience.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The absent-minded maestro was racing up New York’s Seventh Avenue to a rehearsal, when a stranger stopped him.

“Pardon me,” he said, “can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”

“Yes,” answered the maestro breathlessly.

“Practice! Practice! Practice!”

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I will warn, "Out of the lane" ...

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Post player loses concentration and gets "lost" on the block, with just the back of the heel of his sneaker barely on the lane line, not gaining any advantage, sometimes it's better to warn instead of calling the violation ("Gotcha"), or waiting for the opposing coach to notice and ask for the violation.

This isn't the same as a big, tall player actively moving across the lane, maybe side to side, or up the lane and down the lane, often with both feet in the lane, trying to get open to receive a pass and take advantage of a shorter defender. No warning. Count three in my head, pause to give him a last chance (on his own) to get out, make sure that there's not going to be a shot attempt, just enough of a pause to fill my lungs with some air, still no warning, and then I sound my whistle. It's an obvious advantage not allowed by rule.

I hate it when I've already decided I'm going make the call and in the split second between my decision and my whistle, a coach, or worse, some fans, yell "Three seconds". How do I let them know that I'm not their bitch?

I also hate it when a shot goes up a the split second (as I divert my attention from a possible shooter to the post player in the lane, making sure that he's still there) before I sound my whistle (especially when the shot goes in). I know that it's not the whistle that makes the ball dead, it's the violation, but it's still not a good look.