Last night, very competitive HS game between tall athletic inner-city kids (call the coach "Bill") and small suburban kids who can shoot the lights out (call the coach "Bob"). I've worked both these schools numerous times, am friendly with both coaches and they are friendly with each other. We all address each other by first names.

Athletic team attacked the basket all night, but often started the dribble after lifting the pivot foot; or took an extra step after a jump stop. Several traveling calls from both myself and my partner.

Bob is yelling for traveling on every other possession. Not obnoxious, not yelling at us, but is calling for it. A couple minutes left in the first half, Bill says to me, "Chuck, I'm not really sure that we're traveling as much as you guys are calling it." I said, "Yeah, but at least we're not calling it as much as Bob is asking for it." Bill laughs and says, "Well, I'll have to give you that one."

Not 30 seconds later, Bob says to me, "I know you guys are calling some travels, Chuck, but they're getting away with a lot of them." I said, "Bill thinks we're already calling too many." Bob laughs and says, "He would."

I just thought those were two very funny interactions. We're all watching the same game and have three different perceptions of what's going on. It was also nice to have those conversations in a non-confrontational way.

My rule of thumb is, if both coaches are not happy we are calling a good game.:D

I had a play a few weeks ago where a kid ran into some defense when retrieving a loose ball in the midcourt area and came to an abrupt stop. Looked awkward, but he established and maintained a pivot foot.

Home coach asked for a travel loud enough for the visiting coach to hear -- but quiet enough for me to ignore.

Then the kid drives with the ball, goes to jump stop (off one foot) and then brings both feet down (not simultaneously). I whistled the travel. Visiting team coach didn't like it and made a comment about the other coach calling the game.

I couldn't help but smile. Same call, whole different situation.

That is nice, isn't it?

This is nice, too.

Those coaches were nice.

It's nice to be nice to the nice.

:D

Nicely put.

Any nicer, it woulda made me puke on somebody's shoes. Probably Chuck's.

Knock off the mindless banter already.

Yea, get serious. Stare at his pants, already.

There's just something about this thread that makes me think you people have been working a little too hard lately! A nice little break might be good for you!(LOL)

This thread IS the break, rev!

ever see this one
 

Ok this isn't quite as nice as the previous posts, but my partner was very nice to a young lady monday...Freshman girls...we have all seen the kids stand out of bounds, lick their hand and wipe of one shoe then the other...we had a girl catch the ball in the back court, no pressure. while holding the ball licks her hand and picks up one foot, and wipes the bottom of her shoe...puts that foot down and proceeds to do the other shoe....LOL...partner passed on the call....he still can't get traveling right...but no one said a word LOL

Re: ever see this one
 

I can certainly visualize it but never actually seen it happen.
Players licking their hands and wiping shoes, sweating everywhere, coughing, yadda yadda yadda, that's exactly why I go straight to the sink and wash my hands at the half and end of the game. I'm not a germ freak but that ball has got to be full of them.

Re: Re: ever see this one
 

I just wear gloves, orange ones like traffic cops, makes me feel better when i'm directing subs in the game.

My only beef with traveling is when someone asked me what they did. I can never explain. I can't tell you why what you did was traveling. I can't teach other officials to see it. I can't break down an act to show someone why it was a travel. I just know it when I see it.

You need to read the rule... cause your probably getting some of them wrong.;)

I know a lot of officials are that way so you aren't alone. Probably 2/3 of my association relies upon that "I can't explain it. But I know it when I see it." I say BS. If you can't explain it, you don't know it and you're getting some of those calls wrong.... Oh, I just said that. Echo, echo.:D