In your primary??

[lukealex]

In the two man game, you can get into trouble looking into the lane and calling fouls. Worked with a guy last year who did that a few times during the game, double whistle, both had foul on same person. Never ended up being a problem, but a blarge could come up where the play should have been L's. Could also have foul on two different players. Should you call a multiple foul then, even when T was out of his primary and L had the play?

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by lukealex

In the two man game, you can get into trouble looking into the lane and calling fouls. Worked with a guy last year who did that a few times during the game, double whistle, both had foul on same person. Never ended up being a problem, but a blarge could come up where the play should have been L's. Could also have foul on two different players. Should you call a multiple foul then, even when T was out of his primary and L had the play?

The same thing can happen in a three man game and should be part of the pregame. Awareness can work a lot of this out. I think us high school officials really need to work on our awareness to keep certain situations from happening.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by tomegun

The same thing can happen in a three man game and should be part of the pregame. Awareness can work a lot of this out. I think us high school officials really need to work on our awareness to keep certain situations from happening.

We high school officials....

When Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy slips up, he has to be held to account.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

We high school officials....

When Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy slips up, he has to be held to account.

Dang it! Doh!

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tomegun

The same thing can happen in a three man game and should be part of the pregame. Awareness can work a lot of this out. I think us high school officials really need to work on our awareness to keep certain situations from happening.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

We high school officials....

When Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy slips up, he has to be held to account.

So is it official? Have we finally declared a winner of the vaunted position of Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy?

I'm currently only working 8th grade games (2 official) as I'm new to this.

I work very hard not to ball watch and stay focused on my primary areas.

I only ask the question because what I've read on these forums by some posters directly compared to what is stated in the officials manual. Just curious as to what the overall opinion is. I want to do it right.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by PYRef

I'm currently only working 8th grade games (2 official) as I'm new to this.

I work very hard not to ball watch and stay focused on my primary areas.

I only ask the question because what I've read on these forums by some posters directly compared to what is stated in the officials manual. Just curious as to what the overall opinion is. I want to do it right.

Well, to some extent, everyone's correct. Does that clear it up for you?

It has been proven that when an official calls outside their area, they are wrong way more than half the time. So when you ball-watch, or make a call that is outside your primary area, there's a real good chance you will be wrong.

However, there's an art to watching your area, but being aware of everything else. Has it happened to you yet where you're intent on the players in the lane, blow the whistle to call that 3-second violation on the post player, only to realize the ball just went through the basket on a 3-pt. shot? You were so intent on your area that you were not aware that a shot was in the air, and your count should've ended. You still need to have full-court awareness, while being focused on your primary. So there are a few times where that awareness will allow you see those "oh my god" plays that perhaps your partner went brain-dead on, and let you come in to help. But I also agree with tomegun in that "getting it right" is code for some officials that means "I'm going to watch on-ball and get all those calls my partner misses". "Getting it right" in this case is getting it wrong more times than not.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by PYRef

I'm currently only working 8th grade games (2 official) as I'm new to this.

I work very hard not to ball watch and stay focused on my primary areas.

I only ask the question because what I've read on these forums by some posters directly compared to what is stated in the officials manual. Just curious as to what the overall opinion is. I want to do it right.

Start with what is in the manual and pregame the rest.

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Start with what is in the manual and pregame the rest.

Sounds like a plan. Thanks

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

So is it official? Have we finally declared a winner of the vaunted position of Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy?

If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.

[Adam]

My thoughts on this are similar to Bob's. My biggest fear when working with a ball-watcher is that there's going to be a trainwreck of a screen set off ball in his primary and we're not going to have a whistle.
The first step towards not ball-watching for me was training myself not to blow the whistle on those plays. The fact remains that my partner is there for a reason, and if I don't let her officiate her own area, I may as well go solo. If partner wants to pass on that call, let her.

[just another ref]

Last year, boys jr. high, team A in transition, I was lead, out front of the play.
A didn't have numbers, so they pulled it out. A1 dribbled out to the 3 pt. line, near the baseline, then picked up his dribble. B1 stepped up to pressure him, and took a swipe at the ball. This is probably 5 or 6 feet from me. No other players were in between, I had a clear view. I had nothing. Partner whistled a foul from near the division line. My philosophy, which I shared with partner between quarters: If you make that call from there and you're right, it makes us look bad, and if you make that call from there and you're wrong, it is bad beyond my comprehension.