Same thread, different subjects (I'm lazy).

1. Does anyone have any particular habits/rituals before a game?

I have plantar fac*** (however it is spelled) and finally found something to help with it during games. I tape my feet. There is a method to tape for this and I don't really like it when a trainer does it because it is too tight and I can't move as well as I would like. I have adopted my own method of taping and it works well for me. I use Spenco inserts too! The best inserts around IMO. I have 3 different sets of custom orthodics and they have all hurt in some form or fashion. They are just too hard sometimes and hurt for other reasons other times. Now, my feet don't hurt after games, whether it is two games (regulation) or one college game.

2. Have you guys seen anything like this? One of the boards I belong to has an MO that bothers me. Since coming to the area I have noticed a love for the traveling call. Years ago, I was told "don't let traveling be your best call." Not the case with this board. I have heard and witnessed guys crucify someone for missing a boarderline travel - an ant as opposed to an elephant - but say nothing of a crew who does a HS game without any off-ball calls in the post. I know it isn't mandatory to have calls like this, but it isn't mandatory to have traveling either. I just think a lot of what we are supposed to call in the post isn't being called. I have a game tonight and I think the over/under is 5 traveling calls, minus me. I probably can't describe this observation well, but it is real and it baffles the mind. Even some guys from the other board I belong to have said something to me about it.

Tell me what area you live in, because I have a couple of officials that need to work on that board. The only problem is, that board would have to add 3 secs. to the required call list.

I know what you mean. I worked a game early in the season and this guy called 3 seconds three times! It was so bad that me and my other partner had a double whistle on 3 seconds because of it! He called three seconds at the C as I was rotating. No big deal except he had the ball and a matchup in his corner, plus the defender kept the offensive player from leaving the lane.

Hey, do you live in Indiana? If so, have you ever reffed in Richmond? If so, how was it? My dream (hs) is to do a game in the Tiernan Center.

[Edited by tomegun on Feb 10th, 2006 at 10:46 AM]

Nah, Tom, I'm in Illinois. I have heard that place is nice though. Some guys from Indy were here for an AAU over the summer.

Yes, it is. It seats 8,000 and can also hold indoor track meets, to include pole vaulting.

Tom - re: your question 1 - how involved is the taping process? I've had that same little nagging ache all season; it usually doesn't affect me during the game, but I'll feel it after the ride home when I get out of the car, and the next morning when I get out of bed. Somehow walking on it loosens it up where it feels better. I picked a pair of inserts to wear in my everyday shoes, and that has helped a little. I also got a new pair of ref shoes (different brand) during the season and noticed almost immediate problems, so I switched the insoles from my old pair and it helped right away. I suppose the best thing for me to do is wait until the end of the season, then spend a lot of quality time with my feet elevated in the recliner. (Hmm...if I can get a doctor to prescribe that, I wonder if I can deduct the cost of the recliner?...)

Anyway, how involved is your taping process? Do you just use the standard tape, and cut it off after every game?

Tiernan Center?

It is the name of the high school gym in Richmond, Indiana.

M&M, it isn't hard to do. Email me and I will tell you about it.

THe taping process is different then taping for an ankle. I have injured mine a couple of times and the inserts are a waste, stretching does little, and rest (well, I just didn't have the time to rest).

I searched the web and found the following site that explains the injury and has a link to tape.

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/plantar/

Results were immediate for me - no pain while my foot was taped, but still some in the morning until i streched it out a little.

Like the initial poster, I too modified the way it is pictured, and found a method that worked a little better.

1- You can use what I call the chicken foot (which is pictured in the link above) and the figure 8. The chicken foot is the easiest to do if you have to do it by yourself. I disagree that inserts aren't any good. Evidently, ATXCoach hasn't brought the correct type. buy some Spenco inserts. THEY Work!

2- Tommy, you think 5 traveling alls in one game is a lot? :confused:

2. Have you guys seen anything like this? One of the boards I belong to has an MO that bothers me. Since coming to the area I have noticed a love for the traveling call. Years ago, I was told "don't let traveling be your best call." Not the case with this board. I have heard and witnessed guys crucify someone for missing a boarderline travel - an ant as opposed to an elephant - but say nothing of a crew who does a HS game without any off-ball calls in the post. I know it isn't mandatory to have calls like this, but it isn't mandatory to have traveling either. I just think a lot of what we are supposed to call in the post isn't being called. I have a game tonight and I think the over/under is 5 traveling calls, minus me. I probably can't describe this observation well, but it is real and it baffles the mind. Even some guys from the other board I belong to have said something to me about it.


Do they play Ricky Nelson in pre-game?

On the traveling issue, when I first started officiating an old vet told me that if you have any doubt at all, then there was no traveling. I still follow that first piece of refing advice I ever got, and not just on traveling but on almost any call. Works for me.

Pre-Game Rituals
 

I always offer my partner a "curiously strong mint" ie. Altoids. My partners always like that little pre-game treat!

Bktballref, I think 5 "marginal" traveling calls and "mysteriously" clean post play multiplied by most of the games this board does is a lot. It isn't just one or two games, it is the overall mindset that bothers me.


Inserts are a great thing and I don't know how someone could say any different. All athletic shoes have inserts, aftermarket inserts are just better. If a pair of shoes is comfortable, replacing inserts would make them that much more comfortable. This would apply to all athletic shoes with the exception being some good running shoes. IMO. Orthodics are a whole different animal. While I have found my orthodics to be good for day-to-day activities, they just don't cut it for officiating. Orthodics are too hard to run in for me. Oh, believe Tony when he mentions Spenco, they are great.

The taping method on the site is involved and would be hard to do. Also, when I've had a trainer do it, they did something similar to taping an ankle. It was just too much for me. Here is what I do:

1. Tape an X on the bottom of my foot from the ball to around the heel.
2. tape all the way around the ball and top of my foot to hold the front of the X in place.
3. Two (wide) or three (narrow) strips of tape from the outside, under and up, starting towards the rear area of the arch. I put some tension on the inside which helps raise the arch. I hope I explained that well; it is sort of like if you cupped your hand and placed it under the arch area of your foot.

When I do this, I split the roll of tape so I'm using approximately half of the width of the roll. After a game, when I take my sock off it still feels like I have an orthodic on. It feels so good, I might do this when I go on vacation and plan on being on my feet all day. I did find that a good running shoe store will carry one or two models that basically have a built-in orthodic (but soft). I got some Asics that are very comfortable.

If you are having foot issues of any kind, you need to get yourself custom insoles for your shoes, depending on your foot. Read up on pronation factor and figure out what you are, then 1) look for the best shoes you can find (which is difficult since they have to be black) and 2) get a pair of insoles for them.

I need max cushioning as I underpronate and have a very high arch. I wear Sof Soles arch support in my Reeboks, but I think I'll go to the New Balance 895 soon. I might see if Brooks can custom "paint" me one of their running shoes in black.

I disagree - if you are saying what I think - about using orthodics. They may work for some but they are all hard to some degree. I'm all for whatever works for you and keeping the feet feeling good.

>>are all hard to some degree<<

What in the world are you talking about?

Go to a running store (or, I think even Sports Authority sells them now) and look at "Sof Sole" brand insoles. Report back to me how "hard" the ones that are designed as cushioning soles are.

Now, if your foot needs a motion control shoe, you do not want to purchase the same insole I use, as its cushioning will be too much. Likewise, I don't want to purchase a motion control insert as it will likely be too hard. Remember, that there are different kinds of feet and also different insoles.

Orthotics are hard.

Insoles are soft.

I've never found the soft insoles to be of much good, especially for plantar fasciitis.

[Edited by BktBallRef on Feb 13th, 2006 at 02:51 PM]

Nothing like quoting, not even really quoting, me and taking it totally out of context! You used the term "custom insoles" or "custom inserts" and I gave you the benefit of the doubt; the sentence before you "copy-and-pasted" mentioned orthodics. Now I will not give you the benefit of the doubt - tell me what brand of "custom" insoles/inserts you are referring to smart guy? I know of only one off hand and sof-sole ain't it! How can something be custom that you go out and buy in a package? Now orthodics (thanks Tony), which I thought you were referring to, can be custom and are HARD. I'm not going to say it must be nice, but I can only imagine it is easier to have over-pronation as opposed to under-pronation. I was just trying to share some things I've learned through many years of pain and also endorse what Bktballref said about Spencos, since I discovered how good they are this season. Sorry for trying so share, I w i l l s p e a k s l o w e r n e x t t i m e ! ! :D

The word, custom, was used to note an insole that isn't sold as part of a shoe. If that was unclear in my first post, that's reasonable. After my second post, it shouldn't have been unclear in the least.

I'm not really interested in what you know about so-called brands, but Sof-Sole IS a brand of what I refer to as custom insoles. The reason I call them that is not to assert they are made specific to one individual, but rather are a product made to switch out part of a shoe and they come in different flavors for different foot types. If you are uncomfortable with that word, custom, being used to describe what I'm talking about, that's fine. But the context of what I wrote wasn't tough to figure out. If you had a tough time with it, I apologize.

Further, the word is "orthotics", not "orthodics," which is a pretty silly error for someone harping on someone else for being a little less than precise (not to mention someone who's holding themselves out as an authority on the subject). Besides, this is a generic term and is used to broadly describe the insoles I'm speaking of. You can do a google search that I have linked and find the term used with the specific brand I recommend.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...cs&btnG=Search

There's nothing I wrote that took you out of contex. You are assuming a word means something more specific than what it really means.

You got me on the spelling, what can I say; when I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Here is the definition of custom: made or done to order for a particular customer. It is pretty silly for you to emphasize use of the word in the wrong way! :D You mention what YOU call them and how YOU refer to them, but those of us who speak English and spell Orthotics :D correctly do not consider a "off the shelf" insole custom.

I don't think there is anything custom about going out to the Sport's Authority or Dick's and getting an insert. This will be good to hear (read); you made a good point and I lead off admitting it, we will see what you do. I can't really take you out of context when you use a term the wrong way and then emphasize using it the wrong way. You can take me out of context when I said, in the previous sentence, that I thought your comments referred to a custom orthotic :D, since there aren't custom inserts/insoles - at least the ones you mentioned aren't custom. Anyway, I thought we - that need them - were talking about foot pain, taping feet and Spenco. By the way, if you think sof-sole (which I have) is good, you should go buy you some Spencos immediately if you don't already have them. The two don't compare. IMO. :D

How was that Mr. "report back to me?"

[Edited by tomegun on Feb 13th, 2006 at 07:58 PM]

I stand by what I said. Custom is also defined as "made to order." That didn't specify one person. While there are exceptions, most people's feet fit into one of a few categories. A "made to order" insole could fit one type even if hundreds of thousand of people could use that same type. Incidentally, the insoles I'm familiar with come in sizes to fit a couple of shoe sizes, which means they can and likely should be cut to fit. That should satisfy your definitional fetish here.

It would have been a lot more helpful, after my second post to then post your statement of "you should go buy you some Spencos immediately." But, whatever.

I will check them out.

Is there a taping method for a sore jaw from eating too much popcorn while reading these threads? :D

Tom, when do you use the taping method? If the Spenco and Sof-soles work, why would you need to tape as well? Or is the taping for those extra-heavy weeks when you've got games every night? I got a pair of the Powerstep inserts (hard) from a local running store, and they seem to keep my feet comfortable during the day. But the one time I tried them in my referee shoes I had to get them outta there by halftime - they were way too hard. I did find when I changed shoe brands, I was more comfortable when I put my old shoe's inserts in my new shoes.

Maybe I just need to get through this week, and I can spend more time watching basketball from the recliner. (Honest, honey - I can't take out the garbage because the doctor said I need to stay off my feet and ice them down with this cold beer can...)

I do it because Plantar Faciitis is a funny thing. The tape gives my feet the support similar to an orthotic. The Spenco insert gives better cushioning than the insole that comes with the shoe and has a soft arch support that helps the arch problem also. This thing is a day-to-day problem and is very finicky; last night my left foot was hurting, around the ball of my foot, and I don't know why. Maybe it was because I rested for 2 days! I have two intramural games on base and I'm going to wear some different shoes. I will see how it goes.