Rinky Dink Gym

[bigdogrunnin]

There is a HIGH SCHOOL in Louisiana (don't remember the name, sorry), that actually has POSTS INSIDE the playing boundaries. You have to avoid the posts while calling and playing the game. Private school, using a converted facility, but JEEZ, can you imagine the screens you can set??

We do have one private school nearby that I work on occasion that is really short (75') and narrow (40') and the stands are all the way to the sideline boundary. They even have a stage at one end of the floor where the preacher stands on Sunday. And instead of wood, they have those hard, interlocking plastic tiles that KILL your feet and legs! Dislike the facility, but the coaches are really great!

[sj]

......those hard, interlocking plastic tiles that KILL your feet and legs!


My understanding is that the guy who invented these things is in the Gulag in Siberia right where he belongs. His cell mate is the guy who invented those hard rubbered floors back in the 1970s.

[All_Heart]

I've officiated in a gym that was really short in width and in length. You could only shoot a 3 pointer at the top of the key because around free throw line extended the 3 point line stopped at the OOB line! You could not shoot a very high arching shot because it would hit the ceiling. It was awful because you had to "watch the ball" at the top of the shot, which means less eyes on the rebounding. This was a mens league which also meant more physical play because of less room. Needless to say I didn't go back there.

[j51969]

Alot of gym's I've had in the past that were that small had use of a restraining line. Certainly helpful when inbounding on sideline with peoples feet on the court.

[tomegun]

Dematha high school (Hyattsville Maryland) is one of the most legendary programs in the US (currently ranked nationally) and they play in a cracker box. They have terrible parking and the spectators in the front row often have their feet inbounds. All of this with many large players on the court that will be in D1 programs. It is nothing like what I thought their gym would be. The assigner even tells officials to be early so they can get a parking spot.

[Back In The Saddle]

I worked in a local gym calling some rec ball. The court is tiny as it is. But there is a low balcony that overhangs one end of the floor. It's low enough that it prevents the thrower from making long passes over the defender. So they've got a broken line a few feet inbounds that serves as the OOB line for throw-ins.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Dematha high school (Hyattsville Maryland) is one of the most legendary programs in the US (currently ranked nationally) and they play in a cracker box. They have terrible parking and the spectators in the front row often have their feet inbounds. All of this with many large players on the court that will be in D1 programs. It is nothing like what I thought their gym would be. The assigner even tells officials to be early so they can get a parking spot.

Definately worth it, though. Hell - I'd walk from downtown D.C. up to Hyatsville for the chance to call a Dematha game.

[daveg144]

There is a gym in Wilberforce Ohio that's really old. From the outside, it looks like an Army barracks. Inside, it's very dark. The floor has to be about 110 feet long! Additionally, the floor is not flat. There are small hills and valleys throughout the floor.

They did have good popcorn at the concessions stand, however.

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

The main problem was they didn't have a scoreboard. Nor did they have a horn. I gave the girl doing the hand timing thing a whistle and told her to blow it when the time ran down. She did (I guess), but couldn't blow loud enough for anyone to hear. I had to look at her constantly when I thought we were getting close.

Wow.

Originally Posted by bigdogrunnin

There is a HIGH SCHOOL in Louisiana (don't remember the name, sorry), that actually has POSTS INSIDE the playing boundaries. You have to avoid the posts while calling and playing the game. Private school, using a converted facility, but JEEZ, can you imagine the screens you can set?

There was one in Iowa, not too long ago, that had ceiling supports in the court as well.

My least favorite was (in Iowa again) working on a stage. Short court? Yes. Restraining lines? 3 of them. 8 feet off of one sideline the stage dropped down (about 4 feet) to the theater front row? Yes. To be fair, this was their "old" gym, and they had built a new one in the early '80's - but still used this for the nearby middle school.

[Junker]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCubP

Wow.

There was one in Iowa, not too long ago, that had ceiling supports in the court as well.

My least favorite was (in Iowa again) working on a stage. Short court? Yes. Restraining lines? 3 of them. 8 feet off of one sideline the stage dropped down (about 4 feet) to the theater front row? Yes. To be fair, this was their "old" gym, and they had built a new one in the early '80's - but still used this for the nearby middle school.

What part of Iowa did you work? I work in Central Iowa for the most part. I had to work with restraining lines once last season (I went up north to help a buddy out). Luckily my partner explained the rules to me. I had never used them before.

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by Junker

What part of Iowa did you work? I work in Central Iowa for the most part. I had to work with restraining lines once last season (I went up north to help a buddy out). Luckily my partner explained the rules to me. I had never used them before.

I worked in Southeast/Central-ish Iowa. I was in the Iowa City Area Officials' Association from '02-'05. Worked all over the place in basketball and football.

I sure don't miss 2.5 hour drives one-way to get to games (or working on a theater stage), but I do miss the gyms/stands being consistently, completely packed every Friday night in both sports. Slightly different animal out here in Bay Area, CA.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCubP

...but I do miss the gyms/stands being consistently, completely packed every Friday night in both sports. Slightly different animal out here in Bay Area, CA.

This is a difference I've noticed here in western CO, too. Gyms in Iowa were always packed; middle school games were loud and AAU games had tons of fans. Here, not so much.

[Junker]

That's because Iowa is truely God's Country . I never made it to Grandview HS. I've had them on the road before but not there. I was actually a little bummed. One of my favorite small locker rooms was redone this year and they threw out the old diner seat I got dressed on. I brought the situation up with the prinicipal, but he assured me that the diner seat was gone for good .

[jeffpea]

During my days as a D1 asst. coach, we played Long Island University (Brooklyn) that has a gym that's not so "rinky dink" as it is odd. Check out the link:

http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/bbut11/g.../Schwartz1.htm

They played in the former Brooklyn Paramount Theatre. The benches/table sit in front of the stage that has hosted Bing Crosby, Mae West, Rudy Valee, and Little Richard. It has an original 1928 Wurlitzer Pipe Organ....how cool is that.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Junker

What part of Iowa did you work? I work in Central Iowa for the most part. I had to work with restraining lines once last season (I went up north to help a buddy out). Luckily my partner explained the rules to me. I had never used them before.

Never worked Grand View HS in Des Moines, Jeff? They've got restraining lines, too. Partner ended up calling about 4 violations on the offense for having a second player OOB (behind the restraining line) during a spot throwin. Three were on the home team. I grew up with restraining lines, but I hear they have a new gym at my old school now.