Rinky Dink Gym

[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.

[jeffpea]

Lakeview HS (in the Chicago Public league) has a main gym w/ a few oddities: a suspended overhead track prevents any shot attempt outside of 15 feet from the corners. One corner doesn't actually exist! The brick walls of an office protrude onto the floor in one corner of the court (approximately 10' x 8' of the corner is nothing but a wall covered w/ padding). Touch the wall/pads and you're out of bounds!!!!

[BillyMac]

Catholic Middle School League, Sacred Heart School, New Britain, CT: Gymnasium looks more like a bowling alley than a basketball gymnasium. Long and narrow. Sidelines are two inches from side walls. Hashed restraining lines. Three point line intersects sideline, not allowing a three point shot from the wing or the corner. Scorer's table on one end of court. Two teams on opposite ends of court. Substitutes enter from both endlines. Confusing to remember which side is opposite the table for foul shots and jump balls. It's tough to officiate a game there, but, this gymnasium has a certain "old time" atmosphere to it, kind of like officiating a game with Dr. Naismith as the coach.

Other "gymnasiums" in this league are really all purpose rooms, cafeteria, auditorium, etc. and have a tile floor over concrete. If I do a games at those gymnasiums, I try to remember to take two aspirin before the game, otherwise my knees and ankles hurt for two days afterward.

Also, the old Watkinson Prep High School, Hartford, CT gymnasium. So short in length that they have two division lines. Once the ball came into the front court over the second division line, the further back division line became the division line for a back court call. Thank God they built a new gymnasium.

[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.