At the end of my first year reffing, one set of women's D1 games was played here in Portland (Oregon). I went, of course, and loved every minute of it. By chance I bumped into a couple of women refs from our association who had a lot of experience, and got to ask several questions.

In the program, was a biography and interview of/with Melissa Barlow. The headline was "You've got to love it when they boo..." and in the article, she talked about her first all-crowd boo, and how it affected her and her thoughts.

Since then, I've had one or two all-crowd boos, but I haven't always handled them very well. They've cut into my self-confidence and made me question myself.

But tonight I had not one, but three! And none of them left me even remotely frazzled. I knew I was absolutely right on all three, and that the crowd was simply being ill-informed fans.

It felt great to (a) get the boo, and (b) love it!!

Now, can I be the back up for Melissa Barlow?!?!

I had a game a couple of years ago, where the entire crowd was on one side of the gym. No seats on the other side of the court and the seats on the one side are about 3 times the height of a normal gym. The place was full and it was about 95% for the home team.

Stud player for the home team goes to the basket, defender jumps straight up and A1 clears him out with the off arm.

Whistle, no shot, PC foul and about 2,500 students start a, "You suck," chant.

Timeout for the home team, and the AD starts right for the student section, and jumps on them.

My partner and I had a really good laugh about it after the game.

I just ignore the crowd, especially if I know the call was correct. I notice at my game last night, the coach was actually reading the rule book during the JV game.

I was watching a BV game last night, and home team A1 (in front court)passes the ball to teammate A2, who leaps from the backcourt, catches the ball in mid air, and lands in the front court. The T, right on the division line, calls the backcourt violation. THE PLACE GOES NUTS!!!! Booing, etc. It got me to wondering what happens when the referees really blow a call.

Last year, someone in our chapter sent out a little memo, saying that if the crowd is reacting, it means you probably got the call wrong. At first, I kind of considered that true, but the more I see of fans' misunderstanding, or complete lack of knowledge of the rules, maybe I'd go to 25%.

I rarely hear the crowd and I don't understand how you can do your job properly if you do. If the gym is packed I usually only hear a din. Although for some reason a couple of nights ago, during a MS game, I did hear a couple of young boys yelling, " The clock isn't running!", sure enough it wasn't, so I guess rabbit ears do have their place!

Stop it ;)

I'd say you're correct. Whoever sent out that memo needs to sit back and watch a few games. Around here, there is a crowd reaction on nearly every close call. Add to that crowd reactions from misunderstanding the rules, and by the logic in the memo, officials in this area are wrong over half the time.

Officials just don't miss as many calls as the fans indicate.

Whoever sent that memo, must have never worked a game.

Any close call against their team, any strange looking play no-called, any play involving the BB myths, sprinkle in the calls they admit to but say, "Hey ref call it both ways," and I'd say it's less than 5%.

Nothing happens. ;)

Fans are clueless and they are only watching their team and usually the ball. Whoever sent that memo out is ignorant. I love the all-crowd boo. It gets my blood pumping.

Z

The all-crowd boo and how you handle it is just like being dealt pocket aces.
How you handle it, from body language to your next move, is what makes or breaks a good official?

Nobody works as a bb referee that doesn't love the game as much as the fans love their team that plays the same game. When the fans boo, you have to recognize that they have the same passion for the game as you do. You're just seeing it from a different perspective and training.

If the all-crowd boos are occasional in your games and you're not letting them influence what you do next, it's the best part of the game some nights.

a few years ago, BV cross-town rival game and home team is up by 15 early in 4th quarter. Their star has had two or three breakaway jams that has the student section and the whole crowd in ecstacy. Another breakaway heads away from me (2 man, T) and stud jams it home, does a two hand pull-up on the ring and flange for flash. Whack, and the crowd just unloads. During the report, the home coach smiles at me and signals time-out. Ok, administered the TO and went to my circle and the boos were non-stop. First horn, coach smiles again and calls another time-out. By now the students have really picked up on the coach and they continue to let us have it. Game back underway, with the stud on the bench (Thanks coach). Got the rest done, got out but that all crowd boo was unforgettable.

And to this day you remember it, right down to the feeling in your toes! And that is why we referee. To be part of the game, part of the inaction and to attempt to apply the rules with impartiality.

If this were me, I'd lose my temper and toss this coach. Okay, I already know I shouldn't lose my temper, but should I toss this coach? Doesn't this constitute riling up the crowd, even though it's not gesturing or "cheerleading"? Would anyone at least ask the AD to deal with this somehow?

If this were me, I'd lose my temper and toss this coach. Okay, I already know I shouldn't lose my temper, but should I toss this coach? Doesn't this constitute riling up the crowd, even though it's not gesturing or "cheerleading"? Would anyone at least ask the AD to deal with this somehow? [/B][/QUOTE]Juulie, never get mad. Just call it right down the middle the whole game. If you're gonna nail the coach, nail him on a clear violation-- outa the box, yapping at you, whatever- but if you do, make sure that you call it same against the other coach.

Let 'em play their little games. Be above it. However, if he does make <b>any</b> kind of comment or gesture,....

"T" the coach for calling a timeout???? Although seldom accused of this myself, I'd say maybe you're thinking too much.

Had a situation last week where working 3 person I had to reach through the lane for a clear hack. Both of my partners were straightlined, so I had to get the whistle. Coach (naturally) met me at the table when I reported and simply asked why the offical closest didn't have a whistle. I replied I did not know, but also asked the coach if she would disagree with the call. She paused a bit and replied that the call was correct, in fact easy; she was just wondering why no other whistle. I replied that we (the coach and I) had the best angle in the house and the other officials were perhaps straightlined. She smiled a bit, especially when I asked if she was going to explain the situation to the student body section that was now wearing me out. She chuckled and declined stating, "I know you can handle it". Couldn't help but smile back.

Reinforced to me that the better coaches know and somewhat understand the official's perspective at times and that, afterall, we're there to officiate the contest - not necessarily be loved and admired by all.

While you're tossing this coach, or tattling to the AD, don't fail to remind them how much you love the boos.

[Edited by Jesse James on Dec 8th, 2005 at 08:51 AM]

Juulie --

How's that report to the state going to read: "I ejected Coach A because he called TO."

I don't think that's going to fly.

All he did was call a couple of time-outs and smile. Just enjoy the moment.

Z

Bob, I think Dan's response to me when I once used that reasoning, was along the lines of, "You mean you call the game based on what will go in the report later?"

I think it's funny that nobody thinks this tactic is T-worthy, even tho everybody in the gym knows why the guy is calling the TO; but everybody thought that the stare-down was T-worthy. They seem to be essentially the same to me.

FWIW, I agree with the "no T" crowd on this one.

I have a thought on the memo saying that if you get an all-crowd boo then you probably got the call wrong. One possibility is that the memo was talking about OOB calls, rather than judgment calls. We all know that nobody likes a foul called against their team. But if the ball goes out and you call "blue" and everyone in that section goes, "WHAT?!?!?" you may have missed something.

I've heard that "expanation" as well. In fact, in pre-game one night, my partner said, "If I call an OOB and the whole crowd goes nuts, just come to me. Even if you didn't see anything, just run over to me, and I'll change it."

I don't say this in my pre-game, personally. Just throwing out one possible interpretation of that memo.

I think it's funny that nobody <font color = red>thinks</font> this tactic is T-worthy, even tho everybody in the gym knows why the guy is calling the TO; but everybody thought that the stare-down was T-worthy. They seem to be essentially the same to me.

[/B][/QUOTE]If you <b>think</b> it's unsporting, that's not good enough for a T imo. You have to <b>know</b> it's unsporting.

A stare-down is "T"-worthy imo. It's an unsporting act. A TO <b>might</b> be T-worthy and <b>might</b> be an unsporting act. I wouldn't call a T unless the coach came right out and told me that he was calling the TO just so the crowd could boo me. If he's dumb enough to go that far.....

[QUOTE]Originally posted by missinglink

Quote:

a few years ago, BV cross-town rival game and home team is up by 15 early in 4th quarter. Their star has had two or three breakaway jams that has the student section and the whole crowd in ecstacy. Another breakaway heads away from me (2 man, T) and stud jams it home, does a two hand pull-up on the ring and flange for flash. Whack, and the crowd just unloads. During the report, the home coach smiles at me and signals time-out. Ok, administered the TO and went to my circle and the boos were non-stop. First horn, coach smiles again and calls another time-out. By now the students have really picked up on the coach and they continue to let us have it. Game back underway, with the stud on the bench (Thanks coach). Got the rest done, got out but that all crowd boo was unforgettable.

Wow! Great story! And that is 1 smart coach!

You can't T him for that, just stand there & smile right back at him. But there is a reason they sew pockets into our sansabelts.

If you're the type that is inclined to use them.