Schoolin' from officials
 

The City of Buffalo finally has JV basketball. For the girls, trust me, this is real "instructional level" ball. I've noticed that some of the refs, during the course of the games, will say things like "watch the hand check" etc. to some of the more rambunctious girls. Good idea or not?

I think so, I'm always talking to the players. Try talking them out of things and get some type of flow to the game.

Straight up, hands off, clear the lane, etc.. It's done around here a lot. Varsity to 2nd grade, boys and girls. You do it when both teams or a match up are kind of going at it.

There is nothing wrong with attempting ot talk player out of possible fould or violations. Especially at the instrutional stage. Tell the coach if your having a problem with a kid in the lane, most will help. No one wants to call 30 plus fouls in these kind of games. Preventive officiating can help.

I talk to players at all levels. Get out of the lane, move your feet etc. I do this alot, especially at the beginning of games to set the tone. I ALWAYS talk to players before calling 3 seconds.

We encourage it.

I try to nip it in the bud early by talking to the players as is described above. "Get out of there 32" or "watch your hands 5" help set the tone early. Only once did a coach ask me not to "coach" his players. I told him I was just trying to prevent future problems...... some folks just can't be helped!

I talk all the time. If I can prevent a silly foul or violation, I want to do that. If they do not listen, then I put air in the whistle. But talking is always a good thing. They need to know some of what you are thinking.

Peace

Not to sound like a broken record, but I talk all the time too. Even in my pregame I tell my partners to try to talk them out of the lane and talk their hands off of them. I'm always saying, "don't hold", "get out 24", "don't reach", etc. Anytime you can talk them out of it you are better off.

Occasionally, I've had coaches even tell me "stop talking to my players". Of course I oblige - and start blowing my whistle.

I talk all the time too, I talk all the time too, I talk all the time too, I talk all the time too. (Broken Record . . . :D )

NO . . . I really do. Nobody paid admission to watch me blow my whistle and waddle to the table to report fouls, or call violations. I will talk the entire game, and in so doing, can help establish a flow. I agree with virtually everything that has been posted above.

I like this idea rather than the 60 calls we had in a JV game the other night. Single OT game before I was going to do the varsity games. I knew one of the JV officials and I told them to talk to the players more. Its better than 95 freethrows in a JV boys game.

I like it too and always have a positive comment to those officials after each game. I'm a rugby judge and this kind of preemptive refereeing is done in that sport too; just like in basketball, the input from refs can make for a game with more flow and less chaos. Thanks.

Called Preventive Officiating!!!! Do it all the time until I get tired of talking!