Pre Game

[zebraman]

Originally Posted by icallfouls

I was working a CC game with a rookie and a 3rd yr vet a few years ago. Rookie was the L, I was the C (my 4th yr), and vet was the T. Player A drives from the T side, into the L primary parallel to the endline. I had 2 other players in my primary away from the basket. On the drive and subsequent shot there was a OBVIOUS foul on the shot at the farther lane line. No call from the primary official (T), no call from the (L). I paused long enough to see that no one had this call, and cracked the whistle. After reporting, a timeout was called. Rookie said "thanks for getting that one." I just reminded them that was one we have got to have. Both partners agreed.

After the game our assignor came in, the first words out of his mouth, "great crew call, we had to call it." Rookie just had one of those rookie moments, and 3yr vet had given up the ball too early. Did I want to call it in front of them? HELL NO! If there is a no call on that one, the entire crew loses credibility. I will trust my partner(s) until they prove that I cannot.

Not all assignors make assignments with the idea that "this official can handle it," they are made so that an official gains experience. This can be an officials first HS game, first playoff game, whatever. We all go through the process of not having been there before. Otherwise we would all start at the highest levels. Sometimes our nerves can cause us to not see everything we think we should and a partner will come in and get one.

I said earlier that I do help out brand new officials who are still green. That is my exception.

At a CC game however, I would expect my partners to be able to hold their own and ref their areas without me babysitting them.

If it was an OBVIOUS foul, one of them has to get it. Otherwise they don't belong in a CC game or even a competitive HS varsity game. If they miss a call and get a little guff from the coach, it will make them work harder the next time. If I make a call in their area, I become an enabler and they don't learn to step up.

In the situation you describe above, my assignor would have asked the T and the L why they didn't make the call. Then he would have asked the C why they were reffing in the T and L's area and he would have told the C to quit being a ball watcher. In the situation you describe, we have all 3 officials reffing the ball. Who is reffing the other 8?

Z