I gave 4 Technical Fouls in just one game

[jmaellis]

I'm curious how many hits this topic will get with a title like that.

Actually I didn't purposely throw down four Ts. You may recall from a previous post that I am an new official and only involved in youth rec games right now. I also officiate volleyball (I have a couple seasons under my belt).

Last Saturday was my second time officiating BB, the coach calls for a time out, which I promptly acknowledged ... by loudly blowing my whistle and forming a "T" with my hands. The gym went silent, and my partner and both coaches just stared at me. I immediately realize that something is wrong, but can't figure out what it is; oh yeah, I need to report the time out. I make my way toward the table and it went something like this:

Me: "Blue coach" and then I form a T with my hands.
Coach: "What" as he extends his arms, palms up and shrugs his shoulders (get the visual).
Me: "Time out"
Pause
Coach: "Oooooooooh"
Partner: "Ooooooooh"
Fans: "Oooooooh"
Pause
Me: "What" as I extend my arms, palms up and shrug my shoulders.
Pause
Me: "Oooooooooh" as I realize my mistake and apologize.
Fan(s): "Dumb a$$" (actually I didn't hear anybody say this, but I know they did).

Anyway, it happens two more times during the game. The first time I was like and everybody else was like , the other two times I was like and everybody else was like .

[M&M Guy]

Darn it. I was hoping for a good game management story.

I'll bet you probably won't do that again, will you? That's how a lot of us get through our mistakes - we do it, realize what we've done, and it's usually in the front of our mind when the same situation happens again.

Welcome, btw.

[Junker]

Since you're a volleyball guy, how many travels did you call bringing in subs?

[Adam]

this is the first instinct that new officials need to get corrected. I remember doing it, too.

[SWMOzebra]

Nothing is quite so humbling as making an obvious mistake in a gym full of people watching you. I do hate being the center of attention as I stand there and the realization of just how dumb I can be slowly dawns on me!

Hey, if I was perfect I'd be a coach, right?

[Junker]

Ah, but nothing is as satisfying as knowing you made the right call and everyone in the gym knows it...and sometimes even when nobody but your partners know it. Keep working hard. Basketball is, to me, the toughest sport to officiate. It takes time. There's a lot of helpful stuff posted on this forum.

[jmaellis]

Originally Posted by Junker

Since you're a volleyball guy, how many travels did you call bringing in subs?

Thankfully that hasn't happened.

[Hartsy]

I confess to doing the same thing, though I didn't get the same reaction you did. I'm sure someone noticed though.

I'm currently battling the habit of raising my hand in anticipation of an infraction, like the opposite of an inadvertant whistle. That surely raises eyebrows every now and then, but have not yet been called out on it. I'm sure some coach wants to tell me to "go ahead and get some air in that whistle. You wanted to, why didn't you?"

[SWMOzebra]

I've done the fist starting to go up and then no whistle routine a time or two, thankfully only in rec league games...which is exactly why I started with the rec league routine first, to help me get my mechanics down and court confidence up!

[bigdogrunnin]

Since the topic has been opened, had a game once where we gave SEVEN technical fouls. My partner gave SIX, I gave one.

First one was for dunking before the game.

Next one (#2), player from visiting team complains about a call (openly and loudly) to my partner.

Third one, visiting coach is all over my partner.

Fourth one, same player as second T; he yells at me, "call the foul B&*ch!" As he tried to split two set defenders. Yep, he got tossed.

Fifth one, visiting team coach is all over my partner again. He gets the heave-ho.

Sixth one, the assistant from the visiting team gets it after getting on my partner again.

Seventh one, the assistant from the visiting team gets the big "see ya!" Then proceeds to go after my partner. My partner then "escorts" this coach to the door. (I know, NOT recommended, but he "knew" what he was doing - yeah right.)

Visiting team has to finish the ENTIRE 4th quarter with a student-teacher intern as their "acting coach." The Head Coach, Assistant Coach, the Player, and about 20 parents are ALL waiting outside for us after the game. Let's just say I didn't stop to visit. My partner did though. I learned a lot about how NOT to handle games that night.

Private, "Christian" schools! Gotta love 'em! Oh yeah, and those "mistakes" that we ALL make . . . they happen. It is about how well you adjust and move on that will make the difference in the rest of your night. Have fun, and welcome to the board.

[Stat-Man]

We had a scrimmage the other night involving our public middle school boys team and the nearby boys CYO team. Each league has different rules for defense: Public School conference requires man-to-man whereas CYO allows man-to-man or zone.

The coaches got together beforehand and the CYO coach said he'd play man to man with a zone press after made baskets. No problem there.

At start of one of the quarters, I give to ball to Green (our team) for a throw in and as Green is setting up for their offense, I notice White in a 2-3 zone. So, I wait three seconds, and whistle their center for an illegal defense since he was in the lane for 3 seconds without guarding anyone.

Every adult sitting in the stands (not that many, luckily) was in shock. And I then found out from my friend (the public MS coach) that he wanted the white (home) team to play zone this quarter.

After mentally hiding under a rock for a moment, I gave the ball back to green on the side and continued play from there.

And unrelated to the above, but on the topic of T's, I once saw a coach get 5 technical fouls in one dead ball when I was in grade school. One for a sub that ran onto the floor straight from the bench and then 4 more for arguing about it with the referees. (Of course, back then Ts were only one shot in NFHS).

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by jmaellis

the coach calls for a time out, which I promptly acknowledged ... by loudly blowing my whistle and forming a "T" with my hands.

Just curious - what's your signal for a technical foul - arms outstretched to your side with your hands in fists?

[Ray_from_Mi]

The safe mechanic is to simply blow your whistle (one extended blast) and extend your arm pointing to the bench calling the time-out. Once the coach notifies you if its a full or 'short', then signal that to your other officials and the other coach. If there is no indication from the coach (and I let them know this when we meet prior to the beginning of the game) then he/she will receive a full time-out.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by bigdogrunnin

Since the topic has been opened, had a game once where we gave SEVEN technical fouls.

Sounds like a typical quarter to me.

[SCREF]

Looking for a thread about "T's" and came across this page. Last night at HS tournament the following takes place: Less than 10 secs left in game, team A leads by three points and has break-away steal; A1 is headed towards his basket followed by B1 and trailed by A2; A1 lays ball up and misses, trailing A2goes high above basket to slam home the rebound but is unable to secure control of the ball. A2 then decides as long as he's up there he grabs the rim. A! and B1 are not under A2 and A2 is in no danger of being hurt if he had simply returned to the floor without grasping rim. Official calls foul, team B makes 1 of 2 and then ties game with two point shot, goes into OT and team B wins game. Wrath against official is minimized because team A coach blew 15 point lead with 5 minutes to go in the game. What do you guys think; was the T the correct call?