I'm a second year official and I work primarily Freshman/JV HS games with the occasional girls varsity. In order to gain more experience, I do some CYO youth league games on the weekends. Typically I work with generally untrained, but occasionally experienced partners who are shaky with the rules and the mechanics. Last Saturday I did a 6th grade boys game and in a one point game, I whistled a double foul with Team A in the bonus and Team B not in the bonus. The AP was to Team A. I ruled that no free throws are shot on double fouls and was about to put the ball in play using the AP. The score lady emphatically called us over and insisted that Team A needed to shoot the bonus and although I explained the rule, my partner, who was by chance the R for that specific game, agreed with her. In order to get the call right I went to the table and got my rule book out and showed the reference to my partner, and then called the coaches together and explained the rule to the coaches and we resumed play using the AP arrow. My question is: did I handle the situation correctly and what could I have done better? My mentor suggested that the interruption of the game's flow perhaps outweighed the benefit of getting the call right at that time and that I shouldn't have gone to the rulebook in that situation. Sorry I rambled on, any suggestions?

"private conversation."
 

I would have not stopped the game to get my rulebook. If you do that once, it will be expected the next time. You needed to have a "private" conversation with your partner and "convince" him of what the rule was. If that did not work, we would have just done what he suggested and moved on. Then I would not have called anymore double fouls the rest of the game. ;)

Peace

I know what you mean, as soon as I called the double foul, which was clearly needed and recalled we had one in the bonus and one not in the bonus, I sensed we were in for some grief.

siituation w/ partner
 

I kind of agree with Rutledge; leave the rulebook in the dressing room. Talk about it at half-time or after the game, I would not stop the game for rule inpretation. Because the players are not playing, the coaches are not coaching, you and partner are not officialing, in situations like this, everybody got free time and nothing to do, that's when something is likly to happen....fights, getting in the face, taunting, ect......

Is this the wrong place to mention that I've never called a double foul since I started officiating high school basketball (1987)?

Probably is.

Rich

Calling a double foul can be a very valuable tool.

As for this situation, take the R aside, and tell him, "Trust me on this. I'm right." Just because he's the R does not give him the right to overrule you. If he still won't bend, do it his way, and then show him what a fool he is later.

Next time, he'll listen to you.

Please do not misunderstand my statement.
 

If it is warranted, call double fouls when you can. I agree with Tony, they can be very useful tools to control a game. My comment was more directed because the partner was ignorant of the rule as to what you do on a double foul. And if you call another with that partner, in that game, he will suggest you shoot the bonus. I do not want folks thinking you should never call a double foul. But I do believe also, that most of the time you want to call the first foul. You can use the double foul usually for post play that is getting completely out of hand. A message can be sent and they usually get it at that point.

Peace

Me neither, since 1982.

I just think it is more valuable to get the "right" foul and if necessary, get the other player at the other end of the floor. If necessary, talk to the players after calling the foul. One person is usually more responsible than the other.

My partner called one last night in a boys varsity game. No big deal.

We had a really good game last night, I think -- at least 25% of our fouls were off-ball fouls. My partner even heard someone near the table remark that "these guys don't miss anything."

Of course, that's not true. I missed the fact that I was working the game with the flu. I felt kinda crummy yesterday afternoon, but started feeling better near game time. Worked the game, passed on post-game dinner/beers, and went home. Started feeling a bit worse, took temp, 104. Yikes. Slept all day today. Eaten a piece of toast. Some flu shot.

Rich

What I was told...
 

I have been told in a situation like that get your p alone and say that "I will take full responsibility for this call." If he still says no then say, "you are taking full responsibility for it then."

I agree with the others -- leave the book in the locker room.

Denny

If you call it very often, you're probably missing the instigator. But when used judiciously , it's a great call to clean up post play when two players are being stupid.

Z

An alternative to calling the double foul that I learned at camp (for when you've got two players continually going at it) is to call a common foul on one them, and on your way to report tell the other player, "The next one will be on you if you two don't knock it off!". Have used it a couple of times and had good success with it.

I like 'em both. Great comments.

Hey kid, you have guts and made your point. Most novice referee's would never step up the way you did. My perspective on this issue is your eagerness to make the right call. In this case for me it's not a matter on who's right. Keep up the confidence and I advise you and your partner to continue reading the rule book as we all do.

A couple of years ago, I basically had the same situation. My partner called a double foul with a Team A in control of the ball. He said we were going to use the AP. I told him the rule quietly, he disagreed so I let it go considering he had 15 years more experience than I did. Later, he checked the rule book and realized his error.

This November, the same guy called me a couple of days before the exam. He wanted me to verify a rule that he was not sure about. It goes to show that your fellow officials will develop confidence in you, it just takes time.

Jay