Run With Getting Straight-Lined …

[JRutledge]

I have no idea, the official is standing right there.

I will say this, I tend to let that stuff go unless there is a clear foul. There is not a clear foul. And it is on the other side of the ring. Just came from a camp that wanted us to stay off of these kinds of plays for the most part.

I also come back to what the Head Clinician stated to us. Assume they are going to block the shot. He said that every year I worked the State Finals.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Assume they are going to block the shot.

An interesting variation of, "Anticipate the play, not the call".

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Kind of an interesting variation of, "Anticipate the play, not the call".

Kind of. But many officials will call any level of contact on a play that no one is going to really complain if you allow the play to continue. We have officials that think any little contact warrants a foul on these plays and his point was to understand this will happen and do not call cheap fouls.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... officials that think any little contact warrants a foul on these plays ...

Possibly home sick the day incidental contact was discussed in their rookie training classes.

In third grade, I was home recovering from chicken pox the day Miss Germanese taught cursive upper case Q's in a penmanship lesson.

I'll go to my death bed without ever being properly taught how to write an upper case cursive Q.

Are kids today still taught cursive writing, or is it all keyboarding?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Assume they are going to block the shot.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

An interesting variation of, "Anticipate the play, not the call".

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Kind of ... officials that think any little contact warrants a foul on these plays

How about a combined philosophy, "Anticipate the play, not the call. Anticipate the best outcome, a no call; but be prepared for the worst outman, a foul".

Patient whistle:

[JRutledge]

I am not trying to tell others what to think about to help them be consistent. At the level of ball that I see at the high school and college levels, it is not acceptable to call fouls on blocked shots with minimal contact. Just does not go over well with anyone. Often high school officials try to be so pure when the game not only does not need a whistle on some plays, but plays that everyone would accept nothing being called. This play based on the angle fits that standard for me. I see nothing that stands out that this is a foul. And if you called nothing it probably does not even make this forum.

After all rule 4-27 clearly states that all contact is not a foul and contact that does not prevent a player from normal offensive and defensive movements, should be ruled incidental. This is a perfect example of incidental contact. This is big boy basketball. No one fell to the floor and no one would have cared if nothing was called and everyone would have been talking about that block.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am not trying to tell others what to think about to help them be consistent.

Why not?

You're a very successful basketball official in multiple states. You've got all that experience (on two levels). You've got the resume. You've got all those state finals under your black belt. You've been on the cover of Referee magazine. I believe that you've been a trainer/clinician/interpreter/instructor/camp counselor, etc. You've obviously figured out the puzzle (a difficult puzzle for many) of how to be a successful basketball official (as well as a successful state finals level official of two other sports, most likely with some dove-tailing between the three sports). You got a lot to offer (tricks of the trade) both inexperienced officials, and veteran officials.

Why not share?

[JRutledge]

I did share, but people learn and understand differently. It is up to the person to buy in, not for me to dictate. I will say it this way, there are many high school officials that do not want to learn anything but what they did 20 years ago. You cannot help everyone.

Peace