Game Management?

[Rita C]

I'm relatively new to reffing basketball. This is my second year. I've umpired baseball for six years.

I sit in on the halftime talk between varsity partners and listen. I hear them say things like, "Team A has 9 fouls and team B has 2. We need to even that up." "Find something to call in the first few minutes to let the coaches know you are watching."

In baseball we are supposed to call the game the same in the last inning as we do the first. In a blowout we might widen the strike zone but we do it for both teams. Sometimes it seems like the basketball varsity guys and gals are adjusting to appease coaches.

Is this my imagination or a valuable game management tool in basketball?

Rita