I tell the players to look around the gym, notice all the fans. Those fans are there to watch them, not us (officials). Your coach has chosen you to be captain for a reason. Be a leader, keep your teammates in control at all times. Don't make us (officials) have to get involved, then the crowd watches us, and, remember, they're not here to watch us.

A great line I heard one of my partners use during the championship game of a holiday tournament was this:
"All of the fans here tonight expect good sportsmanship. However, we, the referees don't expect good sportsmanship tonight. WE DEMAND IT!!!"

I also loved a line another partner used for the coaches (one of the coaches is known for his whining). It went:
"Coaches, you've heard it all year, sportsmanship, time-outs, coaches boxes. Coaches boxes are clearly marked. Use them for what they're there for. I encourage you to coach as hard as you possibly can. JUST DON'T HELP US!!!"

That was very nice of you to say that.

It was also very nice of your partner to say that too.

It was really nice what you and you're partner did.

How nice.

:D
ROTFLMAO

I wish I had the kind of personality and charisma some guys have to be able to joke out there and everyone just thinks you're funny when you're trying to be. I just don't have that kind of personality. Every time I've tried to be funny, I just fall on my face. Not literally - now that might be funny. I just keep it short and sweet and get the captains, who aren't listening anyway, back to their warm-ups. The captains meeting is my least favorite part of the job.

Except for your confusion between you're and your this was a nicely composed sentiment.

side baskets
 

In a gym where there are side baskets, we point them out and tell them that if the ball touches the side baskets it's going to be out of bounds...but then again if we are shooting at the side baskets we have bigger problems than it being out of bounds....about half the time it gets a laugh...and half the time it gets a look of horror.....LOL.. I have also told captains that my partner doesn't have very good hands so you might want to walk the ball over to him rather than throw it...usually a laugh, but no one to date has walked the ball over to them...

oh yeah, and we throw in the sportsmanship, shirts, jewelry.....all that stuff...

Except for your confusion between you're and your this was a nicely composed sentiment.
[/B][/QUOTE]Up you're's!

Re: Captains
 

...curious as to how "a little brevity" lessens the tension?

Up you're's! [/B][/QUOTE]

Hey!

That aint nice!

I try to incorporate something about the teams into my pre-game. I noticed at one of the varsity boys games a sign on their lockerroom door "NO EXCUSES". So I basically built that theme into my pre-game - "No Excuses and that includes not blaming the officials for losing a game......

The official I worked with tonight said, "guys you are going to miss more shots tonight, than I am going to miss calls. Don't get on me for missing any and I won't get on you." I thought that was pretty good!

Ihave had partners turn that around a bit.

"We won't make any baskets so please don't make any calls."

I work intramurals here at college and we don't allow dunking, its a technical foul and ejection. As part of our captains meetings we tell each team this.

When I do women's games I always say "There is no dunking or touching the rim. I know when the game gets going you want to take it to the hole and jam it down, but control youselves."

I always gets a laugh and lightens the mood seeing most of the girls are barely over 5'3" or so.

At the end of a very brief captain's meeting (good sportsmanship, etc), my partner closed with the "You guys dont miss any shots and we wont miss any calls. Good luck."

I loved it. I thought it set a great tone. He had a smile on his face and the players dug it. Maybe not right for every situation, but I filed that one away and plan to pull it out next season.

Clark

Captains meeting is a ritual dictated by rule.

It can be worthwhile, or at officials discretion, become a waste of time.

I do enjoy a moment to "chat" with the kids, shake their hands, say hello, and establish that me and partner are credible, informed, serious but human. Being with the kids is why I do this anyway.

Officials authority in the environment of the basketball floor (it is a game) is best introduced at captains meeting firm with a smile.