Does anyone have anything they include other than the obvious in pregame conferences?

OOB and division lines for visitors

Uniforms tucked in

Keep hands to yourselves

Get ball back to official after foul or violation

Speaking captains and their roles

I stole this from a partner "As you are representing your schools, Don't use any language here that you wouldn't use in the classroom"

http://www.officialforum.com/thread/...&postid=165246

This thread has some suggestions, as well as some links to similar threads. Hope it helps.

One thing I added this year that I seemed to have pretty good success with was to tell the players and coaches that we would gladly answer questions, but if they were complaing, throwing their arms up and such, we were going to take care of it. It seemed to help.

At the upper level, I wouldn't say any of those. My pregame is simple: 1) get both floor captins; tell them both if we've got anything we are coming to you, if you have anything come to us, 2) sportsmanship is the number one thing 3) coaches are your players legally equiped 4) good luck. Takes 30 seconds tops.

The ones you listed above I might say something at a 5/6th grade game or something like that.

Captains:
They never remember anything we say about rules so I just make sure they know that they are up here for a reason. That they are leaders and they are going to be held accountable in that regard.
Coaches:
Coaches box is marked
Everything from the bench comes through the head coach
Both sides are expected to communicate professionaly
I specifically don't ask them if they have any questions. Gives them a time to bring up something negative that has nothing to do with anything.
Good Luck coach(shake all coaches hands).

captains meeting
 

(To visiting team) _____, welcome to _____.
(To all) I'm ____, this is _____, and _____.
I need a speaking captain for each team. Captains, you are leaders for your teams tonight. That means you may address us respectfully with any questions you have throughout tonights contest. Also, you know your players better than we do. If you notice them getting upset please try to get to them before we have to.
Coaches, are your teams legally and properly equipped within (MHSAA) specifications?
Will you be using the instructional boxes tonight? (All do, and often more.)We would greatly appreciate your help tonight by staying inside the lines, thank you.
(All) Please be sure we know what type of time out you want. If we are not sure, you will be charged with a full time out.
(All) Sportsmanship is all important. Treat your opponents with respect tonight and keep your conversation to your team mates.
Any questions?
(Partners, anything to add?)
Let's all work hard and have fun tonight!

This takes a minute and 1/2 max. We don't need to preach a sermon nor go over all the rules but if some things have posed a problem in the past or are points of emphasis mandated by your state or assocation (such as the ones mentioned above) you may want to mention them. I find no merit in talking about things such as court lines unless that particular court is confusing. While, in general, it seems a good idea to keep it short I think the meeting is important enough to address pertainent issues. There is no reason to see how quickly you can get through it.

speaking captains
 

here is a question for everyone. If during the captains meeting 23 blue is the speaking captain, and they are on the bench at some point, does that mean you won't recognize anyone else?? With that being said, the speaking captain thing to me is a Huge waste of breath and time. I will answer any question from any player, and if I see a need to address a potential situation, I am not afraid to handle it with the player..I just mention jewelry, sportsmanship, sometimes the special court markings or situations play hard and have fun....

[Edited by cmathews on Mar 22nd, 2005 at 01:02 PM]

We ask this also. It's a general question to coaches regarding uniforms and numbers, legal braces, jewelery, hair clips removed (usually for the girls games), etc.

It was a directive from the NFHS a couple of yrs. ago(I believe) available for state adoption(I think). Alleviates some legal issues I believe was the premise.
We say it here too.
AAR

It's going in one ear and out the other.

Captains:

Introduce, shake hands, speaking captains, sportsmanship, questions, have fun. 30 seconds tops.

Coaches:

Introduce, shake hands, your box, players properly attired, sportsmanship, questions, good luck. Again, 30 seconds.

Um, it's a rule, Rob. Specifically, NFHS rule 2-4-5--<i>"Prior to each contest, the head coach shall verify that his/her team member's uniforms and equipment are legal and will be worn properly, and that all participants will exhibit proper sporting behavior throughout the contest"</i>.

This is not meant to pick on ref18, I am just using this as an example for my comment.

[quote}"Hi guys, what's up, I'm Julian and that's ........"[/quote]

I've noticed in these threads about pregame as well as allowing my partner to handle the pregame that alot of refs introduce themselves by first name. "Hi, I'm Sally and this is Jim" and so on.

Am I the only one that introduces myself as Mr.

I just feel that it is this type of relaxed atmosphere that has been leading to a downfall in respect amongst our youth. I see it everywhere now. Kids calling their coaches by their first name, my kids call their Scout Master by his first name etc... It just bugs me.

< End Rant >

"Hi, I'm_____and this is ________ (and) _________

Who are my Speaking Capts?

Any questions?

Partner(s) you got anything? (They better not!)

Play hard and Put the ball in the hole"

==================

I never did understand why guys go into this dissertation about the floor markings or if the ball hits the trapeze or rope up there, it's OOB. I learned quickly, no one, including most of the time my partner(s) are listening!

Tradition is tradition and I dont mind it but I certianly dont put a lot of time in mine. Just not important to the kids past just being selected to stand there.

Captains Meeting
 

Thanks to you all for answering the question (correctly) about being legally equipped. It's a rule.
Some of you talk about the meeting as though it's a waste of time. It probably is if you think so.
Of course most of us would talk to any player on the court who addresses respectfully. But we don't HAVE to. One reason this is important is to be clear that we're not there to hear EVERYONES complaints/comments all game. Yes, this (mostly one way) conversation often helps take care of legal issues, as mentioned above. It can also be a useful tool in addressing problems that have been brought to the state or local associations attention (or our own) such as points of emphasis. Early in the season I sometimes give a reminder of important rule changes.
I try to say things that are meaningful and if a captain or coach is looking into space I get their attention and say, "I want you to hear this". This is also an opportunity to let them know (body language, etc.) your here to take care of business.
Yes, introductions should be Mr. or Mrs.

[Edited by stilerng on Mar 23rd, 2005 at 10:12 AM]

Re: Captains Meeting
 

Why? No offense, but do you think the captains go back to their lay-up lines and say, "Hey guys, closely guarded counts are a point of emphasis this year. They're going to count tonight."?

They aren't listening. And even if they are (which they're not), they aren't taking that info back to their benches. So just do intros, get floor captains (not "speaking" captains, ok?) and let them get back to their warm-ups.

Re: Captains Meeting
 

For a two-man crew, "Hi, I'm Larry and this is Daryl."

For a three-man crew, "Hi, I'm Larry, this is my brother Daryl and this is my other brother Daryl." :D

floor captains
 

Chuck,
I see you denoted a difference between floor and speaking captains...No one has really been able to answer for me, why we ask for either? Maybe you can explain why, in the captains meeting you would want to know the Floor captains, or speaking captains, for those that want to call them that...I can honestly see no reason, because much as you say they aren't listening to what we say or at the very least not taking it back to the team, which I agree with by the way LOL...are we not going to interact with anyone but the floor captains...again I say I will talk to anyone who addresses me in a respectful way...I may talk to those that address me in a non-repectful way as well LOL :)

Re: Re: Captains Meeting
 

Of course not.

But what they will say when they head back to the lay-up lines is this, "Man, did you check out the gut on that one?"

"Yeah, but what about the other dudes breath?"

Re: floor captains
 

3-1-1 and 2. Notice how it just says captain.;)

don't have the books with me
 

BZ,
I don't have the books with me, give me a little more of a quote if you would :) thanks :)

Re: floor captains
 

The floor captain is the guy I can go to and say, "Number 55 is getting rough. You want to handle it or do you want me to?"

The speaking captain is the guy who thinks the "speaking" part gives him the right to come to me 100 times and say, "Sir, they're pushing off every time they have the ball."

I prefer to have a floor captain.

3-1-1 says: Each team shall consist of five players, ONE of whom is the captain.

3-1-2 says: The captain is the representative of his/her team and may address an official on matters of interpretation or to obtain essental information, if it is done in a courteous manner.

Ok thanks BZ I am with you now, but here is my point....When we are at the captains meeting, and we ask for a floor/speaking captain, what happens if that player isn't on the floor when one of the players has a question?? This has been my point all along, if we are going to recognize and talk to anyone anyway(and I certainly will, with the sportsmanship caveat) then why ask for one at the meeting??... :D

Maybe some of the (really) older poeple can help out on this, but I was under the impression that a long time ago, the captain actually had specific duties during the game. Over time, these duties have diminished, to where I believe one of the few things left a captain can do is designate who will shoot technical foul shots (along with, of course, a coach). As far as the distinction between a "floor" captain and "speaking" captain, I would think that came about due to what happens when one is substituted for in a game. Now, I think the designation of a captain is largely ceremonial, with no real duties, so designating one is really not that necessary. However, during the pre-game I do congratulate them for getting the big bucks now that they are a captain. I have also been told NEVER ask them if there are any questions, because that opens you up to, "Hey, ref, I wanted to ask you about the other night..." Don't give them that opportunity. But we still have to mention sportsmanship here in IL, and I tell them good luck. Short and sweet, because they don't need (and don't want) a "pre-game" like we do in the locker room.

Captain, coaches meeting
 

Hey, this is fun!

Saddle - That was GREAT! I'm still laughing!

Chuck - Floor captains? I've not seen that term in the books but I like it! Semantics can matter tremendously. Speaking captain does give the wrong impression to some.

B Zebra- Thanks for the rules specification. (3.1.1,2) Good job! That's where I got the term "respectfully".

Matthews - No Offense but it maybe you shouldn't bother with the meeting at all.

Re: Captain, coaches meeting
 

Stylerng,
Rest assured if the meeting wasn't part of protocol outlined in the book I would skip it, and I would venture to say, more of us here would skip it, than would hold it, if not required...... Like was mentioned above, they don't listen to us anyway......

"Badaba-do, badaba-de, sportsmanship, good luck and have fun". That's what they hear.

OK, I've heard of scooby-doobey doo

http://www.oscarpeterson.com/op/phot...nk_sinatra.jpg

I've heard of doobie-doobie doo

http://www.allfunpix.com/humor/pics2/coolyoda.jpg

I've heard of yabba dabba doo

http://www.awn.com/mag/issue1.4/imag...Schechter6.gif

I've even heard of badda-bing badda-boom

http://travel.discovery.com/fansites...y/sopranos.jpg

but I've never heard of Badaba-do, badaba-de

c & c meeting
 

Dan_ref - That's some great picture work! You guys crack me up for sure! Yoda was hilarious!
Other than the funny stuff though - Really guys? We can't give an interesting enough meeting to hold the players or coaches attention for one minute or so? Is it possible that because of this players don't listen and by the end of the season coaches don't even attend? Have you ever finished this conference and had a coach say, "That's the best captains meeting I've ever heard" ? I have and I say this meeting can have some significant meaning if we'll put some effort into it. It's up to us! If most of us don't care to though we'll continue with the same ceremonial, mundane, meaningless, required meeting. We can do better as officials than just go through the motions, pick up our checks, and take our free showers. Ooops, maybe I've gone too far. No offense (unless it will help)

You missed "Obla-di, Obla-da"

(pic of John, George, Paul and Ringo goes here)

Wow, I thought I was anal. Get a load of Mr. Best captains' meeting I ever heard! Let's hurry up and give him the state championship.

You do a lot of 6th grade girls, don't you. :)


That wasn't intended to be as mean as it sounded, I was just having some fun at your expense, but seriously, as almost everyone else here has told you, the players DON'T CARE one bit what you say in that stupid meeting, and the coaches just want your name so that they can beg for calls during the game.
Once you understand that you are eligible for promotion to freshmen girls.

Might I suggest worrying more about your game control once the ball goes up and less about how wonderful your pregame talk was.

And I've never had a coach tell me after the game, "You guys called a terrible game tonight, but I loved your pregame meeting." :rolleyes:

OK, Mr. Nevadaref. As much as I would like to I will not reply directly to your comments. I realize I may ignorantly be addressing an NCAA div 1 official. (God help us)

I had hoped this was site for serious officials. Sorry!

I'll keep working on my game. ALL OF IT.

it is.......
 

It is for serious officials......and most serious officials concentrate on areas other than pre game conferences....areas such as correct calls at correct times...game managment, rules knowledge, advantage/disadvantage

C & C meeting
 

It is for serious officials......and most serious officials concentrate on areas other than pre game conferences....areas such as correct calls at correct times...game managment, rules knowledge, advantage/disadvantage...

At the start a young official asked a question. Why didn't someone just tell him immediately that serious officials do not talk about such insignificant things? Of COURSE these are all more significant but they were not the subject.

Why is there an presumption that because one tries to make the best of a comparitively insignificant part of the game that the rest of his officiating lacks, and to the point of insults? Why wouldn't the assumption be that if one is serious about such a minor he must be serious about the whole package? Why is there offense taken at the idea that this meeting can be constructive?

I sure did not make the assumption that because the majority think the meeting is a waste that the rest of their game was lacking.

Please forgive me for using the word "I". It wasn't mean't to give the idea that I'm wonderful but just that a good C & C meeting is possible. I didn't mean to offend anyone, I'm truly sorry.

I ask that in every sport I work. You better. Or at the very least we are required to ask a question so that the coach cannot later say we did not do what we are supposed to do. It puts the onus on the coaches, not just the officials.

Peace

I've noticed in these threads about pregame as well as allowing my partner to handle the pregame that alot of refs introduce themselves by first name. "Hi, I'm Sally and this is Jim" and so on.

Am I the only one that introduces myself as Mr.

I just feel that it is this type of relaxed atmosphere that has been leading to a downfall in respect amongst our youth. I see it everywhere now. Kids calling their coaches by their first name, my kids call their Scout Master by his first name etc... It just bugs me.

< End Rant > [/QUOTE]

No, you are not the only one. I am not as rigid with college players, but teenagers are not equals to the officials. I think that calling adult by their first name is really not appropriate. Then again that is how I was raised. I still call adults that were adults in when I was a kid Mr. or Ms. to this day.

Peace

Why? Is it some due diligence? Does it absolve us from some liablity? If little Susie gets maimed in a tragic hair-clip accident, will having asked this question save my butt at trial? I have a hard time believing that asking "Are all your players legally equipped?" is going to save anybody's behind.

If some bozo in PA gets acquitted for assaulting an official because he said he didn't know the guy in the striped shirt was an official, then why should we expect that the courts will hold the coach liable for an injury if all he has to say is, "I didn't know it was illegal for my players to carry automatic weapons?"

How would I prove that the question was ever asked or answered? I say I asked and the coach said his players were legally equipped. My partner says, "Yeah, we usually ask that question, I think the coach said yes." The coach says he doesn't recall being asked. That team's captains say they weren't paying attention, the other coach and captains say they're not even sure there was a captains meeting.

If this is about making the coach liable for his players being legally equipped, then it seems to me that you'd have to be able to prove two things in court: that the coach knew, or should have known, what it is he was certifying; and that the coach did, in fact, certify that his players were legally equipped. I don't see how we meet either criteria by asking this question in the captains meeting.

[Edited by Back In The Saddle on Mar 25th, 2005 at 06:55 PM]

I cannot speak for every state. I am not a lawyer or do not know why specifically this is required. But this puts some liablity on the coaches if the players are not properly equip, then they have to bear some responsiblity. They know what their players are wearing or what their uniform consists of better than we do.


Well considering there are at least two officials present, players and coaches as well, I would assume someone might remember the conversation. First of all I cannot speak for what goes on in PA or any other state. I just know we are required to do this in Illinois in all sports. Now I am sure some lawyers came up with this and decided this would put more liability back on the coaches. Whether that is true or not, I am not sure. I just know we are required to ask this every game. It is not a big deal to me, it is so common and the first thing I say when I am the Referee, Plate Umpire or white hat.

Again, I think this is an issue for each state. The laws might be different where it does not matter one way or another where you live.

Peace