Fun With The Division Line ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Green 23's foot on on the division line when he touches the ball ...

Originally Posted by Raymond

... deflected by an offensive player who is standing on the division line ...

Agree. Looked again at 1/4 speed (available to IAABO members) and Green #22 is on the division line when he touches the ball. Missed that the first time.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree. Looked again at 1/4 speed (available to IAABO members) and Green #22 is on the division line when he touches the ball. Missed that the first time.

You're making our point. When you looked at it the first time, how were you able to definitely say that he had FC status? Nobody looking at the video could say they the player with FC status, so we shouldn't be blowing our whistles.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

When you looked at it the first time, how were you able to definitely say that he had FC status?

First time through, real time, no slow motion replay, I put myself in the position of an official on the floor, with no more, and no less, than the usual anticipation of what could happen, split second to react, didn't see Green #22's foot on the division line, and I blew the call (not the rule, but the call). Wasn't my first blown call, and won't my last blown call.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

First time through, real time, no slow motion replay, I put myself in the position of an official on the floor, with no more, and no less, than the usual anticipation of what could happen, split second to react, didn't see Green #22's foot on the division line, and I blew the call (not the rule, but the call). Wasn't my first blown call, and won't my last blown call.

Again, you're missing my point. You looked at a play and you said you did not see his foot on the line. But it was so close to the line you also could not have seen it if it was in the front court. We should not be guessing on these calls because it looks like it might be a violation.

That's the mindset that needs to change.

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[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Again, you're missing my point. You looked at a play and you said you did not see his foot on the line. But it was so close to the line you also could not have seen it if it was in the front court. We should not be guessing on these calls because it looks like it might be a violation.

That's the mindset that needs to change.

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"It's better to miss something that did happen than to call something that didn't happen."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

"It's better to miss something that did happen than to call something that didn't happen."

Agree. Who's quote?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

We should not be guessing on these calls because it looks like it might be a violation.

Agree regarding not guessing when unsure. I didn't guess. From my perspective, it didn't just "look" like a violation, I was sure that it was a violation. At the split second it occurred, I was sure that his foot was fully in the frontcourt, not touching the division line. Yes, in a perfect world, it should be binary decision, not on the line, or on the line. No gray area. No possibility of an error. Maybe I was concentrating on something else and was using my peripheral vision? Maybe I distracted myself by going through the backcourt rule in my head? I assumed something incorrectly. There was a lot going on in transition. I was wrong. Is is what it is, a mistake, poor judgement, nothing more. Live and learn. But I honestly can say that I didn't guess.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree regarding not guessing when unsure. I didn't guess. From my perspective, it didn't just "look" like a violation, I was sure that it was a violation. At the split second it occurred, I was sure that his foot was fully in the frontcourt, not touching the division line. Yes, in a perfect world, it should be binary decision, not on the line, or on the line. No gray area. No possibility of an error. Maybe I was concentrating on something else and was using my peripheral vision? I assumed something incorrectly. There was a lot going on in transition. I was wrong. Is is what it is, a mistake, poor judgement, nothing more. Live and learn. But I honestly can say that I didn't guess.

We need to see a violation not anticipate or think there was one just because there were a lot of things going on.

if you write it off as something that can't be corrected or just as "oh well I made a mistake", then how are you going to teach someone else not to do the same?

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

If you write it off as something that can't be corrected or just as "oh well I made a mistake", then how are you going to teach someone else not to do the same?

Who wrote it off? Who said that it can't be corrected? Who said my calling skills (or anybody's) can't be improved (in this case, better concentration)?

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Live and learn.

Every time I enter the court, I try to work a perfect game. That's always my goal. Never done it. Not yet.

But I keep on trying by always learning, observing, listening, reading, videos, clinics, gaining experience, and building on past mistakes.

Even at my age, one can (and should) teach an old dog new tricks. To do otherwise would be disservice to the game of basketball and to basketball officiating.

When I, or anybody else, starts getting "set in one's ways", it's time to hang up the electronic whistle.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Maybe I was concentrating on something else and was using my peripheral vision?

So I just returned from my daily second-heart-attack-preventing walk/bicycle/kayak session (no gym, doctor's orders due to COVID, walk today, too cold and windy for a bike ride), gave me time to think, and was re-living my first time real speed though the video to figure out why I screwed up (not an excuse, it was inexcusable, but a reason). If nothing else, thoughtful introspective shows one that I do care about improving. I figured it out. I remember that I was concentrating on the ball touch, or lack of, by the player in the middle of the floor, paying primary attention to the "touch" and (obviously) not enough attention (in hindsight) to his foot six feet away from his finger. I was distracted. I incorrectly assumed something that didn't happen. I was wrong. Lesson learned: Concentrate, pay better attention.

Bad calls. Wrong calls. Incorrect calls. Impactful, or not impactful. All these bother me. When they don't bother me any more, it's time for me to hang up my black belt.

Early in my career, bad calls like this bothered me throughout the remainder of the game, effecting my concentration, and thus, my performance. I finally learned to file it away during the rest of the game, and to lose sleep later that night analyzing the "screw up" to improve.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

When they don't bother me any more, it's time for me to hang up my black belt.

Past three consecutive games. Three partners wearing black belts. All four (including me) very experienced veteran officials heading into the winters of their careers and helping our local board to cover those "hard to cover" mid-afternoon middle school assignments. One guy is working his 51st year (still works some varsity games).

It was only a few years ago that we had a veteran official working a state tournament final wearing a black belt.

Note: I tell the rookies in my mechanics training classes to purchase beltless slacks. Belted slacks with black belts are so passé, as am I.