Preventative Officiating Techniques

[NoFussRef]

Maybe 10+ years ago or more, telling youth boys to "quit slapping at the ball like the girls do" or telling girls to "stop acting like the boys and play good defense" would get a good chuckle and the desired effect of better defense etc...

However nowadays, and as of about 3 Seasons ago... nothing but trouble.

I made that mistake at a game and it turns out one of my assignors was in crowd. WHOOPS!

While administering FTs I told a group of 10-12yr old boys (both teams in double bonus, stop clock, terribly lazy defenders just hacking at everyone and everything) "Guys, let's stop just slapping at the ball the way the girls do, I wanna see good defense, and move your feet!"

Had sparingly used this speech in a few times over the years with either sex of player and always got the chuckle from the players, and the crowd. But this time I got a gym full of both sides booing, even my bookkeeper would only show me disgust the rest of the game.

Worst part was after game one of my area sports managers approaches and asks me if I had learned anything.... :> Uhhhhm Yep.

[APG]

Originally Posted by NoFussRef

Maybe 10+ years ago or more, telling youth boys to "quit slapping at the ball like the girls do" or telling girls to "stop acting like the boys and play good defense" would get a good chuckle and the desired effect of better defense etc...

However nowadays, and as of about 3 Seasons ago... nothing but trouble.

I made that mistake at a game and it turns out one of my assignors was in crowd. WHOOPS!

While administering FTs I told a group of 10-12yr old boys (both teams in double bonus, stop clock, terribly lazy defenders just hacking at everyone and everything) "Guys, let's stop just slapping at the ball the way the girls do, I wanna see good defense, and move your feet!"

Had sparingly used this speech in a few times over the years with either sex of player and always got the chuckle from the players, and the crowd. But this time I got a gym full of both sides booing, even my bookkeeper would only show me disgust the rest of the game.

Worst part was after game one of my area sports managers approaches and asks me if I had learned anything.... :> Uhhhhm Yep.

Just want to point out that this thread is from six years ago.

Generally, as officials, we don't want to be coaching players. You might be able to get away with a little bit more at the lower levels but beware. I certainly wouldn't use the line that you did.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by NoFussRef

Worst part was after game one of my area sports managers approaches and asks me if I had learned anything.... :> Uhhhhm Yep.

I hope that what you learned is:

1) Don't make a long speech about "moving your feet on defense"
2) You mis-used the "I usually only see that in girls' game" technique
2a) It's not used for "illegal defense", it's used for "annoyances"
2b) It's said quietly to one player, not loudly to both teams and the stands.

edit: 3) Don't reply to threads from 5+ years ago.

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by cmathews

Coach I am reaching my limit here..... [/B]

Not even then.

Arm extended with palm facing the coach with, "I have heard enough, coach."

[cmathews]

Ok that was a good one...I will keep thinking here LOL

[davidw]

[The word REACHING should NEVER be used by an official, EVER. [/B]

I completely agree with this.

[cmathews]

I was reaching for my whistle when the foul occured?? to explain a late whistle??

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by cmathews
I was reaching for my whistle when the foul occured?? to explain a late whistle??

Nope,

"It was late, but it was right."

[Camron Rust]

Originally posted by blindzebra

Do you tell a player to get out of the lane on 3 seconds?

Why should other timing violations be different?

Since this is about preventive officiating, I'll do a pre-emptive strike on your answer.

The other team's defensive effort could be what is causing a near 3 second violation.

I do sometimes tell a player to get out of the lane. Sometimes I don't. I don't if it is good defense that lead to it. Of course, its usually not due to good defense...the player is certainly free to move out in nearly every case.

What are we preventing by telling them? Are we taking away a well-earned turnover?

I like to reward good defense. They play a crushing press cleanly for 10 seconds...they're getting the ball. Why should I help the offense avoide the turnover?

I completely agree with preventative officiating when it is not a direct part of the play where it can erase a good effort one team or the other.

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by Camron Rust

I do sometimes tell a player to get out of the lane. Sometimes I don't. I don't if it is good defense that lead to it. Of course, its usually not due to good defense...the player is certainly free to move out in nearly every case.

What are we preventing by telling them? Are we taking away a well-earned turnover?

I like to reward good defense. They play a crushing press cleanly for 10 seconds...they're getting the ball. Why should I help the offense avoide the turnover?

I completely agree with preventative officiating when it is not a direct part of the play where it can erase a good effort one team or the other.

Where did I say what circumstances I say anything?

You have never had a coach talking to their player while the ball was coming up the court without defensive pressure?

Have you ever had a defender within 6 feet, but was not actively guarding?

Have you ever had a kid take the ball, wait a couple of seconds and then hit the ball yelling, "Break," on a throw in?

If we are talking the defense out of contact that is bordering on a foul, are we not penalizing the offense?

It is all about judgment, we pick and choose, and prevent what we can.

[TimTaylor]

Originally posted by blindzebra

No the warning is for BREAKING the plane, not reaching across the plane.

When a player hears straight up, their reaction is normally to put their hands up and stop leaning into the plane.

The word REACHING should NEVER be used by an official, EVER. [/B]

You might want to read casebook 7.6.3.C & 9.2.11.B - the specific terminology used by NFHS is "reaches through". The warning for violation of 7.6.3.C is for delay - boundary line violation, but the action that precipitates the warning is reaching through the boundary line.

Also see items 3 & 4 of the penalty section at the end of 9-2 in the rule book - both use the specific terminology "reaches through the throw-in boundary".

Making eye contact with a defender bellying up to the sideline and saying "don't reach" before handing the ball to the thrower is clear and unambiguous - and it works. You can use what you want, but since that is the specific terminology used by NFHS, it will continue to be my terminology of choice until they decide to change it.

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by TimTaylor

You might want to read casebook 7.6.3.C & 9.2.11.B - the specific terminology used by NFHS is "reaches through". The warning for violation of 7.6.3.C is for delay - boundary line violation, but the action that precipitates the warning is reaching through the boundary line.

Also see items 3 & 4 of the penalty section at the end of 9-2 in the rule book - both use the specific terminology "reaches through the throw-in boundary".

Making eye contact with a defender bellying up to the sideline and saying "don't reach" before handing the ball to the thrower is clear and unambiguous - and it works. You can use what you want, but since that is the specific terminology used by NFHS, it will continue to be my terminology of choice until they decide to change it. [/B]

Any official that uses the term "REACHING" on a basketball court keeps a myth alive.

Both rules, you cite do not use the term reaching, they say the defender may not have ANY part of their body through the boundary plane, or a warning occurs.

The penalty areas you hold up, are dealing with contact with the thrower or the ball which goes beyond a warning it is a technical foul or intentional foul, so you are connecting "reaching" with a foul.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Any official that uses the term "REACHING" on a basketball court keeps a myth alive.

+1

On an throw-in, I simply tell a defensive player, "watch the line."

By the way, do you guys use hand whistles, no lanyards? It sounds like a lot of the suggested verbage happens during a live ball. I do a lot more preventative officiating in soccer than in basketball, where my mouth is typically occupied by my whistle.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bainsey

+1

On an throw-in, I simply tell a defensive player, "watch the line."

By the way, do you guys use hand whistles, no lanyards? It sounds like a lot of the suggested verbage happens during a live ball. I do a lot more preventative officiating in soccer than in basketball, where my mouth is typically occupied by my whistle.

If I'm talking, I take the whistle out of my mouth. Duh.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

If I'm talking, I take the whistle out of my mouth. Duh.

I talk around the whistle, but I have a big mouth.