Pick A Ball, Any Ball ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am put off more by her comment as if it would it only happens in the Women's game. When the reality is this happened in a B1G game at Illinois like 15 years ago.

JRutledge: Great memory and great research.

I once started a girl's game with a boy's ball. A player complained between the first and second period. I was the referee, and the tosser, and I was very embarrassed.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I once started a girl's game with a boy's ball. A player complained between the first and second period. I was the referee, and the tosser, and I was very embarrassed.

Knowing that it happened in both an NCAAW Division I game and NCAAM Division I game makes it a little less embarrassing for me, but only just a little.

Back in ancient times, when the smaller girl's ball was first used, the first local guy to mix up the balls was a friend of mine, a great official. Even without any internet back then, word spread very quickly. He never lived it down. We were all still discussing it at his wake.

I recently told this story to a young official. He was completely unaware that in ancient times there was only one size basketball for both genders.

I'm getting old.

[SNIPERBBB]

On the Rawlings balls, you can add one pixel dot on the 29.5 to make it say 28.5 if someone really wanted to. My test for size is trying to palm the ball. I can palm the 28.5 without really trying. The 29.5 I have to grip it just right.

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

On the Rawlings balls, you can add one pixel dot on the 29.5 to make it say 28.5 if someone really wanted to. My test for size is trying to palm the ball. I can palm the 28.5 without really trying. The 29.5 I have to grip it just right.

That's exactly what I do...well, in addition to reading what's printed on it, just to confirm exactly what ball it is.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

My contribution to thi Thread can be found in the Comment #3 of the following Thread: https://forum.officiating.com/basket...onfession.html

MTD, Sr.