Its Got No Teeth ...

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

And I'll stand with you, with emphasis (no pun intended) on the word "aware", which doesn't imply a completely full understanding.

Note: Locally, schools have to send one coach to the preseason meeting, sometimes the short straw is pulled by the freshman coach, and information doesn't always get accurately (if at all) moved up the ladder.


And I stand by my statement. Over forty years, for the number of times I've heard a coach correctly complain about a point of emphasis for a relevant play, I've heard an almost equal number of coaches incorrectly complain about a point of emphasis for a irrelevant play.

And, certainly not very numerous, but I have heard coaches complain by mentioning a past (not distant past) point of emphasis , "Hey BillyMac, wasn't that a point of emphasis a few years ago?".

Your view is very limited to a small corner of Connecticut. I apparently officiate coaches with a higher basketball IQ. I have definitely officiated a lot more localities and levels than you have.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Officials know the full background (past rules and interpretations) of all new rule changes and POE. Coaches often don't. Officials fully understand the philosophy of purpose and intent, and advantage disadvantage. Coaches tend to be more literal. Coaches cherry pick, hearing what they want to hear. Officials see the big picture. Coaches often attend these preseason meetings reluctantly, under duress, somebody made them come. Officials often attend these preseason meetings reluctantly, under duress, somebody made them come.

Again, if we are seeing the same materials all those what-ifs are moot. If you want coaches to get different material, go for it. Good luck in trying to figure out if they got the same message as you.

Your bolded statement is a huge assumption that is not true for most HS officials. Just b/c you're a history buff who thinks knowing a timeline of a rule is essential to enforcing the rule doesn't mean that's how others think or approach their rules knowledge.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Your bolded statement is a huge assumption that is not true for most HS officials.

Yeah, that's me looking at the world through rose colored glasses again. Glass half full, not half empty. One of my many character flaws.

I didn't mean going back to ancient rules and interpretations, but a solid understanding of rules and interpretations that is normally needed to be good official.

Unfortunately we've got more than a few local officials that don't know if the basketball is inflated or stuffed.

And they're not all rookies.

I know, I work with many of them in my mid-afternoon middle school games.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Again, if we are seeing the same materials all those what-ifs are moot. If you want coaches to get different material, go for it. Good luck in trying to figure out if they got the same message as you.

I misspoke earlier. Coaches see the same slides, etc., that we see, but may get a slightly different oral explanation since their rules knowledge won't be as complete as the rules knowledge of officials.

Also, officials will often share "secrets" that only officials can say to other officials (protecting star players, different calls in close games versus lopsided games, rule of thumb shortcuts, etc.).

Over forty years ago, at my first preseason meeting, my interpreter used a stack of three by five index cards, a grease pen, and an overhead projector, to cover everything. We've progressed to Power Point slides, slides that often contain both the NFHS and the IAABO logo, and videotapes of plays.

This year, local IAABO boards, if they wish, can use an IAABO International professionally produced preseason presentation videotape, with a voice over, that includes static slides, and videos, of changes and points of emphasis. It has everything needed for a preseason presentation in one package.

Turn on the videotape, walk away, and take questions after the presentation.

Will certainly (if used) lead to consistent statewide (or international) presentations for both officials, and for coaches.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I misspoke earlier. Coaches see the same slides, etc., that we see, but may get a slightly different oral explanation since their rules knowledge won't be as complete as the rules knowledge of officials.

Also, officials will often share "secrets" that only officials can say to other officials (protecting star players, different calls in close games versus lopsided games, rule of thumb shortcuts, etc.).
...

I have no "secret handshakes". Again, maybe I'm just used to dealing with different types of coaches than you have in your little corner. I find just being honest about what I'm doing (I don't explain for my partners) is the best route. Also, my state is not in the habit of putting "secret handshake" material in the annual clinics.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

I have no "secret handshakes". I find just being honest about what I'm doing is the best route.

So you would have no problem saying, "Yeah coach, they both hit him and maybe #15 did hit him a split second before #12 did, but #15 is their best player and he has four fouls in the fourth period a close game".

Note: I'm not a big advocate of protecting star players, but I do try to be aware of star player foul totals for 50/50 calls in the last period. Other officials I work with, in my opinion, go over and above to protect such players.

Originally Posted by Raymond

My state is not in the habit of putting "secret handshake" material in the annual clinics.

Exactly my point (for presentations to coaches).

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

So you would have no problem saying, "Yeah coach, they both hit him and maybe #15 did hit him a split second before #12 did, but #15 is their best player and he has four fouls in the fourth period a close game".

Note: I'm not a big advocate of protecting star players, but I do try to be aware of star player foul totals for 50/50 calls in the last period. Other officials I work with, in my opinion, go over and above to protect such players.



Exactly my point (for presentations to coaches).

Since your Little Corner apparently has a problem with coaches knowing the rules maybe your locality should change up the ineffective "coaches only" training presentation and have them receive the same one you get. And maybe your locality shouldn't be including "secret handshake" training with its officials. Coaches, players, and fans are not stupid. The recognize when officials are blatantly calling the game differently for stars or for blow-outs.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

... problem with coaches knowing the rules maybe your locality should change up the ineffective "coaches only" training presentation and have them receive the same one you get.

The only "educational" contact we have with coaches is regarding new rule changes and Points of Emphasis.

It's only an hour each year, and yet we have problems getting coaches to attend. Penalty for not attending is not eligible for annual sportsmanship awards. And each team only has to send one coach, even if it's the freshman coach.

After a few years of coaching, I realized that I didn't really understand all the rules, and was getting a lot of technical fouls. So I took the local rookie officiating class only to learn the rules. Took the test, passed the test, and then discovered that I could make some extra money officiating basketball (Connecticut teachers were poorly paid back then). Coaching lasted for "only" twenty-five years, forty years later and I'm still officiating.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

So you would have no problem saying, "Yeah coach, they both hit him and maybe #15 did hit him a split second before #12 did, but #15 is their best player and he has four fouls in the fourth period a close game".
....

You are way too verbose.

"I had a foul on #12, maybe I got it wrong".

You pose questions to me like I'm new to this and trying to figure things out and your giving me examples of things I never fathomed.

I answer direct questions with as few words as possible. I don't conduct rules clinics on the sidelines. If a coach starts a whole bunch of BS after I respond to them I say, "You asked me a question, I answered it" then turn my attentions fully back to court. I'm not worried about what a coach is thinking at that point.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

"I had a foul on #12, maybe I got it wrong".

The whole truth ...

Of course we would never say, "Yeah coach, they both hit him and maybe #15 did hit him a split second before #12 did, but #15 is their best player and he has four fouls in the fourth period a close game", to a coach in a real game, but I'm sure that some of us have heard this philosophy at our officials-only meetings, if not "officially", maybe at the pub after our games.

Answering, "I had a foul on #12, maybe I got it wrong", while knowing that there's actually more to it, is our little secret.

Players know it. Coaches know it. Fans know it. But it's never talked about in the presence of non-officials.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Your view is very limited to a small corner of Connecticut. I apparently officiate coaches with a higher basketball IQ. I have definitely officiated a lot more localities and levels than you have.

Absolutely 100% true. Haven't officiated more than a handful of games outside of my little corner of Connecticut (never outside Connecticut) and only two games above the high school varsity level.

And keep in mind that even back when I was working a full varsity high school schedule, I was still working recreation games on off nights (for the money, three kids going to college), and Catholic middle school games on off nights (because I liked the league, the assigner, the officials, the money, and all games close by).

And for the past few years, due to chronic arthritis in my ankle, I have self regulated myself to subvarsity games, which due to my retirement from my day job, and my availability in the mid-afternoon, have mostly been middle school and freshman games.