I'll try to talk them out of situations early. I should have a recorder with a tape that says nothing but "Straight up! Straight up!"

If needed after talking to them, I'll get that foul. But talking to them accomplishes 2 things -- it avoids the game interrupters and also lets them know that I'm watching.

Now, I don't spend the whole game talking instead of calling fouls, and this is the balance that takes a while to find.

Tell me what you would do at the beginning of a game:

1. Swim move by defense that results in the defender pinning/hooking the arm. Entry pass cannot be made.
2. Entry lob with defender fronting. Post player pushes off to accept pass.
3. Illegal screen which allows shooter to get open look.
4. Cutter is chucked by defender while running through the lane.
5. Offensive post player grabs fronting defender and puts him/her behind them and receives entry pass.

These are fouls. It is possible to try to talk a player out of some of these before they occur but once they happen air should be put in the whistle. Letting them happen will more than likely lead to them happening again. Somewhere along the line frustration will set in and all heck can break loose.

Call it early and if you have to call it often.

[Edited by tomegun on Jan 10th, 2006 at 12:03 PM]