Fun With A Block/Charge ...

[JRutledge]

What did the defender do wrong? Why do we penalize defenders for doing their jobs? This is a charge all the way and not even close if you referee the defense.

Finally, I do not give a damn about an open hand vs. a fist. To me, this is one of the dumbest things we worry about at any level. We are not robots or have the same mannerisms to a tee. Why do we care about this stuff but to nitpick stupid stuff, but we cannot in any way talk about how to get plays right or what we are looking at. I wish we would stop talking about this kind of stuff. Yes, some things are important, but this is not one of them. No one but officials cares about this kind of stuff in the first place. We know if you have a block if your hands are open or if they are closed. And I have heard IAABO go on and on about signals being standard, but to me this is not the hill I want to die on. There are other things we should do or look similar, but with so many different people, body styles, personalities, you will have some slight differences. To me this is something for your local people not for everyone to nitpick. And at least where I live this is rarely talked about.

I remember when I worked the State Finals the last time, during my semifinal game I had an official/assignor call me about my directional signal. I tend to give "one finger" instead of the palm. I was told that "This is not a college game." But the reality is that college does not tell us how to signal in such a specific way and the people I worked for did not say a thing about may signal the entire weekend. Well, I worked the very last State Final in the State of Illinois for boys basketball working the highest-profile game. I say all of this because if my signals meant that much in that kind of way, I would not have worked that game that was for all the state to see. We worry about the wrong things and often things that do not change our basic communication or the ability. But if I talk to people about how to call certain fouls or philosophy, we get the purest come out and tell you the rule. There is an art and a science to what we do and there is a reason why some of us never can get anywhere because we are worried about something that does not help us do our job in the end.



End of soapbox.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... one has to admit that his signal ... is as smooth as silk.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

There is an art and a science to what we do ...

I've been to a lot of rodeos, and over the many years I've noted that high school basketball officiating has become more and more of a science, and less and less of an art.

In a lot of ways that's a good thing. Over the past forty years high school basketball officiating has very much improved, mainly because the teaching of high school basketball officiating has very much improved, especially with the use of technology (video).

But I agree with JRutledge regarding basketball officials becoming a bunch of robots. Officiating should leave some room for different personalities and mannerisms.

However, regarding such seemingly insignificant things as fist/open hands, finger point/open palm point, etc., it's important that rookies get off to a good start and are initially taught the "correct way" by instructors, maybe with a few reminders from mentors during early career observations (fix it early, it is difficult to teach old dogs new tricks, thus my fist blocks), but always noting that these are minor issues compared to the stuff that really matters, stuff like calling and managing the game, and being a good partner.

If an instructor has three choices, the right way, the wrong way, or don't teach either way, why would an instructor chose anything but the right way?

Who is the best to work a state final? JRutledge with fist blocks and finger points? Or the exact same JRutledge but with open hand blocks and open palm points? Who will be the best role model for young officials who are looking for a top notch official to emulate?

Who is the best to work a state final? An official who can quote verbatim all the rules, mechanics, and signals but doesn't know if the basketball is stuffed, or inflated? Or an official, maybe with some warts, who actually knows the game, and can call and manage a game, any game, no matter how difficult, getting almost all, if not all, of the calls right, and who is a good partner?



Yes Mr. Barkley, I agree that you may not be a role model, and that you shouldn't have to be a role model, but just because you say it doesn't mean that some won't still view you as a role model, so please try to be your best as much as possible. It is what it is, a tough yoke to bear. With great privilege comes great responsibility.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. (Ephesians 4:1)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

But I agree with JRutledge regarding basketball officials becoming a bunch of robots. Officiating should leave some room for different personalities and mannerisms.

However, regarding such seemingly insignificant things as fist/open hands, finger point/open palm point, etc., it's important that rookies get off to a good start and are initially taught the "correct way" by instructors, maybe with a few reminders from mentors during early career observations (fix it early, it is difficult to teach old dogs new tricks, thus my fist blocks), but always noting that these are minor issues compared to the stuff that really matters, stuff like calling and managing the game, and being a good partner.

If an instructor has three choices, the right way, the wrong way, or don't teach either way, why would an instructor chose anything but the right way?

Who is the best to work a state final? JRutledge with fist blocks and finger points? Or the exact same JRutledge but with open hand blocks and open palm points? Who will be the best role model for young officials who are looking for a top notch official to emulate?

Who is the best to work a state final? An official who can quote verbatim all the rules, mechanics, and signals but doesn't know if the basketball is stuffed, or inflated? Or an official, maybe with some warts, who actually knows the game, and can call and manage a game, any game, no matter how difficult, getting almost all, if not all, of the calls right, and who is a good partner?

Simple answer. The one that gets the plays right. I do not know anyone that cares about what your hand looks like if you cannot handle situations that come up in games and get plays right. That is what I have seen officials be judged ultimately on, not how straight your arm is or how many fingers you show compared to the diagram. I will tell you, I got there by being a good official and having the trust of many players. In my final game at the very last State Final that the IHSA held, there was a coach that did not say a word to me the entire game because he trusted the crew from past experience (and he lost). We had the winning coach who had the best player in the state on his team with 2 fouls early in that game. He ranted about how much "The best player in the state" was being treated and when he was finished on his rant during a timeout, I said to him, "Well I must have respect for you because I am over here while you are yelling at me." He said, "You are right and thank you" and we had no other issues the rest of the game. The best player in the state went on to get two more fouls and nearly fouled out during a run to get back in the game that they should have lost honestly. That was their second state title in two years and no one said a word to me about any conflict in that game. That interaction was caught on TV and no one even knew what took place.

There is more to what we do than how we signal we have to be the calm in the storm and many people are not capable to do that in those moments. My experience and understanding of the coach in that situation was an asset. And like it or not, that means more than how your hands look compared to the signal. Not tooting my horn, but that is what I learned by guys more experienced than me years ago before that opportunity. And again, the powers that be who could have pointed this out during the weekend, did not say a word. That should tell us all something.

If you also look at the Final Four and the officials that worked the Championship game, none of them have "textbook" mechanics on every situation. Not even close. And I work for one of them at the college level and we have those conversations as a staff.

Peace

[bob jenkins]

charge (PC foul)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Who is the best to work a state final? JRutledge with fist blocks and finger points? Or the exact same JRutledge but with open hand blocks and open palm points? Who will be the best role model for young officials who are looking for a top notch official to emulate?

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Simple answer. The one that gets the plays right ... calm in the storm ... experience and understanding ...

In my hypothetical JRutledge questions, both versions of JRutledge got the plays right.

Why not an official that can do both, gets the plays right; and knows rules, mechanics, and signals? They're not mutually exclusive.

Granted, they're probably rare birds, but they do exist, I know because we have a few here in my little corner of Connecticut.



I 100% agree with JRutledge. As a coach looking for a good official to work my game, or as an official looking for a good partner, I would value an official that gets plays right, is calm in a storm, and has experience and understanding; over a rules, mechanics, and signals expert who doesn't know if the basketball is stuffed, or inflated.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

In my hypothetical JRutledge questions, both versions of JRutledge got the plays right.

Why not an official that can do both, gets the plays right; and knows rules, mechanics, and signals? They're not mutually exclusive.

I have never been under the impression that the signals were to dictate every specific positioning of every finger and hand. Now if that is the case, then they could easily make this stated in other literature. I do not see anyone in other sports having that same position. I do not see anyone say a thing about a holding signal that is not off to the side and more in the middle of the torso, but we worry about if you do not use all the same fingers in the diagram or complain what your hand position is on a block. If we are going to be detailed in our mechanic, then do it with everything.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Which version of JRutledge is the winking JRutledge?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Which version of JRutledge is the winking JRutledge?

I am sure you will make a long post about it and answer yourself in the same topic.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... signal that is not off to the side and more in the middle of the torso ...

Back when we (IAABO) were using one hand reporting we were told not to report with our hand in front of our body but to keep the hand slightly off to one side, to supposedly make it easier for the scorekeeper to observe.

Of course, with two hand reporting, that no longer applies.

I get the feeling that IAABO is more anal about consistent signals than most, if not all, non-IAABO organizations. Might have something to do with IAABO being an educational organization as much as an assigning organization.

And as usual, when in Rome, check your local listing, and different is not necessarily better, or worse, just different.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Of course, with two hand reporting, that no longer applies.

Did, and still do, disagree with the change.

https://www.armystudyguide.com/conte...military.shtml

"Red. Tree Fife. Push."

Have to go now and yell at the neighbor kids to get off my front lawn or I won't turn the hose on them.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Back when we (IAABO) were using one hand reporting we were told not to report with our hand in front of our body but to keep the hand slightly off to one side, to supposedly make it easier for the scorekeeper to observe.

I get the feeling that IAABO is more anal about signals than most, if not all, non-IAABO organizations. Might have something to do with IAABO being an educational organization as much as an assigning organization.

And as usual, when in Rome check your local listing, and different is not necessarily better, or worse, just different.

I look at that as very different than what I am saying. There is a practical reason you give the number away from your face. It might be hard to determine the numbers because you have your face as a background. That might actually cause confusion. But if I do not give the "holding" signal off to my right hand side of my body, does anyone really not know what I just called as a result? What about if it is further in inside my torso? IJS seems a little silly to be that specific or have that kind of mirroring detail.

And this is not just an IAABO thing there are people across the country that have similar silly expectations. Not everyone to the extent we are discussing this, but many places it is not the biggest priority. That kind of stuff we usually have nothing much else to say if we have to correct someone's signal. Or you are so new you have no idea what to do.

Peace

[Altor]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

End of soapbox.

Peace

I'm just sad that you posted a meme with your semi-rant. Next thing we know, you'll be replying to yourself to post the meme.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Altor

I'm just sad that you posted a meme with your semi-rant. Next thing we know, you'll be replying to yourself to post the meme.

I should have shown me jumping off the box. But that would have been much (I hope I did not......). Gotta go!!!

Peace

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not give a damn about an open hand vs. a fist....

I had an official/assignor call me about my directional signal. I tend to give "one finger" instead of the palm.

The only way I could see such trivia matter is if fists on hips meant one thing and palms on hips another, or pointing with a finger one thing and whole hand another. But that'd be as dumb as an organization having distinct terms "live" and "alive", and who'd be crazy enough to have it like that?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But that'd be as dumb as an organization having distinct terms "live" and "alive", and who'd be crazy enough to have it like that?

My nomination for "Post O' The Month".