Youth dribbler and defender running parallel

[FlasherZ]

A local junior high coach ]for years has taught his kids to squeeze the sideline and throw hip checks while in transition to attempt to knock the other team off balance, finding that rarely does his team get charged with the proper blocking fouls. It's a poor strategy, and it's a bad showing by officials that should know the very basics.

The same coach found it acceptable for the father of one of his players to officiate their games in tournaments (and the kid's father refused to turn down the assignment, arguing that he was assigned by the tournament administrator - an IHSA official himself), including the championship game. When pressed on the matter, the answer was "he's probably harder on his kids than another official would be" - but that's another matter.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by KansasJoe

New to officiating but coached two boys from K - 7th until the school takes over. Decided to officiate on the weekends with my 15 year old. Doing the lower elementary grades which I enjoy because I get to do quite a bit of coaching while officiating and everyone seems to really enjoy that....

Here's a situation which comes up multiple times. B1 is the defender in legal guarding position and A1 is ball handler. A1 drives but instead of B1 sliding over to keep his torso between him and the basket he simply turns and starts sprinting alongside A1.... What if they're side by side so shoulder to shoulder and A1 jumps sideways into B1? If B1's torso takes the contact then charge but in this case it's their shoulder.

Originally Posted by FlasherZ

A local junior high coach ]for years has taught his kids to squeeze the sideline and throw hip checks while in transition to attempt to knock the other team off balance, finding that rarely does his team get charged with the proper blocking fouls.

Let me guess: The players and coach in both places are used to soccer. And secondarily American football.

[FlasherZ]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Let me guess: The players and coach in both places are used to soccer. And secondarily American football.

I can't say that soccer isn't part of influence, but soccer isn't that big here. I believe it is a technique he is teaching to his team because it is effective for him. With "no blood, no foul" style officials, it gives him an advantage and frustrates his opponents, no matter how obvious it is.

He's doing a disservice to his players, though, in that it is teaching them bad habits that must be corrected later for HS.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by FlasherZ

He's doing a disservice to his players, though, in that it is teaching them bad habits that must be corrected later for HS.

What percentage of them will go on to play on a HS team?

I frequently see this attitude by coaches in football on the HS level, treating everything pre-HS as if it's just prep for later interscholastic play. Meanwhile those who coach at lower levels point out that if most of the players will never play on a HS team, it makes more sense to coach them for the level they are playing at. College coaches don't treat interscholastic play as just prep for college.

[SNIPERBBB]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What percentage of them will go on to play on a HS team?

I frequently see this attitude by coaches in football on the HS level, treating everything pre-HS as if it's just prep for later interscholastic play. Meanwhile those who coach at lower levels point out that if most of the players will never play on a HS team, it makes more sense to coach them for the level they are playing at. College coaches don't treat interscholastic play as just prep for college.

At the rate participation in HS basketball is going, lot of schools around here can't afford to drop any kids off that start on the lower levels . Especially on the girls side.

[FlasherZ]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

What percentage of them will go on to play on a HS team?

I frequently see this attitude by coaches in football on the HS level, treating everything pre-HS as if it's just prep for later interscholastic play. Meanwhile those who coach at lower levels point out that if most of the players will never play on a HS team, it makes more sense to coach them for the level they are playing at. College coaches don't treat interscholastic play as just prep for college.

30-40% will go on to play freshman basketball in HS here. I'm not arguing that he shouldn't coach them for that level, either - I just observe that his players have to do a lot of correction if/when they get there.