Unprofessional Comment ?

[Corndog89]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

"Let's try and not go totally stupid these last couple of minutes."

I have no problem with the statement because it addresses behavior, not personality. However.........

Words have meaning and some are more powerful than others...I have found through experience that "stupid" is a word that evokes powerful reactions. While deployed in the desert a couple years ago I officiated a lot of intramural games...in one, I told a guy (turned out to be a captain MD in the medical squadron) to stop the "stupid" play (he was frustrated and getting a little out of control). He got very angry that a referee had called him "stupid". I never did...I referred to his play, his behavior if you will. All he heard, however, was "stupid". Was my observation about his play correct? Absolutely. Was my choice of words in that emotional situation (and really, aren't sports at their very essence an emotional experience) the smartest? No, not at all.

For the last few years when play starts getting rough or potentially out of control, in a stern, directive voice I'll tell the players that this isn't a wrestling match, and instead remind them that we're playing basketball and they need to do just that. Works almost every time for me.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

I have no problem with the statement because it addresses behavior, not personality. However.........

Words have meaning and some are more powerful than others...I have found through experience that "stupid" is a word that evokes powerful reactions. While deployed in the desert a couple years ago I officiated a lot of intramural games...in one, I told a guy (turned out to be a captain MD in the medical squadron) to stop the "stupid" play (he was frustrated and getting a little out of control). He got very angry that a referee had called him "stupid". I never did...I referred to his play, his behavior if you will. All he heard, however, was "stupid". Was my observation about his play correct? Absolutely. Was my choice of words in that emotional situation (and really, aren't sports at their very essence an emotional experience) the smartest? No, not at all.

For the last few years when play starts getting rough or potentially out of control, in a stern, directive voice I'll tell the players that this isn't a wrestling match, and instead remind them that we're playing basketball and they need to do just that. Works almost every time for me.

Excellent point imo....

[SmokeEater]

I have been using this phrase loud enough for all on the floor to hear.

"Alright everyone, here we go, lets keep everything legal out here!"

Then the ball is given to the inbounder or passed for the free throw attempt.

[Chess Ref]

The last 2 minutes of this game went pretty much how the previous 14 went. out of control and tweeting till the end. The Varsity evaluator thought the comments were unprofessional-but he didn't hear me say them . The coach of the out of control team mentioned them to him........

So I will proably NOT say that again.....

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

...in one, I told a guy (turned out to be a captain MD in the medical squadron) to stop the "stupid" play (he was frustrated and getting a little out of control). He got very angry that a referee had called him "stupid". I never did...I referred to his play, his behavior if you will. All he heard, however, was "stupid". Was my observation about his play correct? Absolutely. Was my choice of words in that emotional situation (and really, aren't sports at their very essence an emotional experience) the smartest? No, not at all.

It has been my experience that most officers, for some reason, do turn "stupid" when participating in intra-mural basketball.

[Zoochy]

I try to use positive statements. SmokeEater had a good statement "Alright everyone, here we go, lets keep everything legal out here!" I use "Let's play smart" Both of these phrases tell the players what we want them to do. Not what we don't want them to do.
Many years ago I said "don't be stupid" to a player. He had a quick reply. "Hey, I'm not stupid. I have a high IQ." I had to laugh and then tell him to be smart.

[LarryS]

I was working a boys JV game the other night and things started getting rough in a real tight game. My partner and I were both talking to them...trying to calm things down. While getting ready for a FT my partner said (loud enough for all to hear) "Gentlemen, we have tried to clean things up with our voice...we will now start using our whistle. If you don't want to watch the end of this game, you know what to do."

Worked like a charm...

I've never used the word "stupid" but have told players who looked like they were about to lose it "Stay smart...stay in the game."

[JRutledge]

I have used the word stupid before when talking to players. It really depends who you are talking to and how you deliver the line with the word. I would agree that not everyone can use this to their advantage. But when things are getting really hairy, I think you can use any word short of cursing to get a point across. Not all kids respond to "positive" talk. Some kids you have to get in their face and they will get the point across. Just know your audience and the situation.

Peace

[Corndog89]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

It has been my experience that most officers, for some reason, do turn "stupid" when participating in intra-mural basketball.

I'm laughing pretty hard right now; many, many years ago when I was a young captain I got thrown out of an intramural b-ball league...not just the game, but the whole league and put on double-secret probation for all other sports...for punching a senior master sergeant. Of course it was the official's fault

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

I'm laughing pretty hard right now; many, many years ago when I was a young captain I got thrown out of an intramural b-ball league...not just the game, but the whole league and put on double-secret probation for all other sports...for punching a senior master sergeant. Of course it was the official's fault

Thank you for letting me know how smart I was not to volunteer my services as an intramural official while I was overseas.

[Corndog89]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Thank you for letting me know how smart I was not to volunteer my services as an intramural official while I was overseas.

Always a good choice But I have to say officiating was one of the best parts of the deployment.

Even funnier, a few years ago I was playing military intramural flag football. I caught a high pass across the middle and some guy leveled me. I came up seeing red and looking for him. A guy on the other team told one of my teammates they should stop me because that was a major I was trying to fight. My teammate said don't worry about it, his teammate was a lieutenant colonel. Yeah, that was one of my prouder moments

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

It has been my experience that most officers, for some reason, do turn "stupid" when participating in intra-mural basketball.

Perhaps like some pastors in some church leagues? When I was in college, the most violent team in the intramural league was the professors from the -- get this -- Quaker seminary attached to the college. They finally were forced out of the league. One guy in particular, who was the Bible teacher, and one of the advisors for Conscientious Objectors, frequently fouled out in the first half. I didn't believe it back then, although I never watched him play. Now I'm quite sure it was true.

[Corndog89]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Perhaps like some pastors in some church leagues? When I was in college, the most violent team in the intramural league was the professors from the -- get this -- Quaker seminary attached to the college. They finally were forced out of the league. One guy in particular, who was the Bible teacher, and one of the advisors for Conscientious Objectors, frequently fouled out in the first half. I didn't believe it back then, although I never watched him play. Now I'm quite sure it was true.

Yeah, it's weird how people in leadership roles can just come unhinged on the court/field. I'm very logical, laid-back, and in control--until I play sports, then I tend toward lunacy...I think averaged 5 (fouls, not points) in every basketball league I ever played in. Yet as an official I'm very un-emotional...it's one of the reasons I think that I'm a much better official than I ever was a player or coach...that and I'm a spaz

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

Yeah, it's weird how people in leadership roles can just come unhinged on the court/field. I'm very logical, laid-back, and in control--until I play sports, then I tend toward lunacy...I think averaged 5 (fouls, not points) in every basketball league I ever played in. Yet as an official I'm very un-emotional...it's one of the reasons I think that I'm a much better official than I ever was a player or coach...that and I'm a spaz

I'm very emotional in everyday life, and even more so as an official. I've also discovered a temper which I never knew I had. It's been very difficult as an old coot to learn to deal with all the unexpected lava and steam. I never played, and I'm still a spaz!

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

I think averaged 5 (fouls, not points) in every basketball league I ever played in.

It's pretty tough to AVERAGE five fouls when the MAXIMUM you can receive is five before being DQ'd in high school and college.

Of course, a lot of men's leagues allow 6. But still. . .