Pre game

[Terrapins Fan]

I hear a lot about pre games are so important, and maybe sometimes they are, but I rarely get a pre game at all unless I am the R.

Tell me what you "REAL" pre game conferences are like, not what we are suppose to do.

In my "REAL" pre game I go over about 3 pages if things that I have covered for the past 7 years and I go over situation that have come up in recent games. I do that every time I am the R and people get tired of it, but I do it.

[JRutledge]

Honestly it really depends on who I am working with and what type of game it is we are working. If I am working with very seasoned veterans (college, playoff and state final officials as an example), I will not talk about that much if we are working a HS varsity game. I am not going to go over where to stand and what to do on very basic situations. What I will likely talk about are things about the coaches, teams, style of play, consistency, giving help, last second shot. And if I have worked with my partners before or several times in a short period of time, we discuss even less.

The only time I try to go over a laundry list of issues is when I am working with much newer officials or when we have a lot of time to go over things. Usually post-season games or when I drive with people and tournaments I might go over much more. Sometimes I will go over more with someone I have never worked with and I do not know much about them. More and more I know most officials on some level so I will not boar them with "after timeouts we stand on the blocks" type of stuff.

Peace

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

I hear a lot about pre games are so important, and maybe sometimes they are, but I rarely get a pre game at all unless I am the R.

Tell me what you "REAL" pre game conferences are like, not what we are suppose to do.

In my "REAL" pre game I go over about 3 pages if things that I have covered for the past 7 years and I go over situation that have come up in recent games. I do that every time I am the R and people get tired of it, but I do it.

Shameless plug here...

See my very, very relevant columns on the paid side, printed in December and January regarding the pre-game...

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Shameless plug here...

See my very, very relevant columns on the paid side, printed in December and January regarding the pre-game...

Ahhh...don't bother...

Rules changes, positioning, consistency, team tendencies, individual tendencies (coach & player), unusual situations, how to handle mistakes, how to handle T's, mechanics, when to go outside our primary, grab whistle zip up jacket & head out there.

Emphasis of particular items depends on time of season, knowledge of partners and the game.

Oh yeah...and if you're not R doesn't mean you have to live through a sh1tty pregame. Start it yourself.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Ahhh...don't bother...

Rules changes, positioning, consistency, team tendencies, individual tendencies (coach & player), unusual situations, how to handle mistakes, how to handle T's, mechanics, when to go outside our primary, grab whistle zip up jacket & head out there.

Emphasis of particular items depends on time of season, knowledge of partners and the game.

Oh yeah...and if you're not R doesn't mean you have to live through a sh1tty pregame. Start it yourself.

Thanks,Dan. That just saved me $50.

[BillyMac]

Discuss coaches personalities and how to manage them. Coaches and captains meeting: players properly equipped, players wearing uniforms properly, practice good sportsmanship, coaches must remain in their
coaching boxes.

Stay in your primary. Respect each other's area. Seldom should have four eyes on the ball. It must be obvious to come out of your primary. We’re not going to have too many double whistles if we are doing this right.

Keep in mind your boundary line responsibilities and last second shot responsibilities. Put the ball in play where it goes out of bounds or where the foul is.

On double whistles, let’s both hold our preliminary signal and not give a block or player control signal. Make eye contact with each other. Give the call to whoever has the primary coverage, unless you definitely have something different that happened first.

For out-of-bounds help, let's get it right. Come together for a change if needed. If I have no idea and I look to you for help, just give a directional signal. No need to come to me. Just point. If I signal but I get it wrong,
then blow the whistle and come to me. Tell me what you saw and let me decide if I’m going to change it.

On throw-ins, count ten players, make eye contact, check the table, and check the clock.

Be consistent with each other. If I have a very close block/charge play and I call a blocking foul, then the next time you have a similar block/charge play, you should have a blocking foul. Let’s try to remember what we’ve called earlier in the game, and what we haven’t called. Be consistent with what has already happened in the game.

Communicate at sixth and ninth fouls. We don’t want to be surprised when it’s time to shoot the bonus. If we know that the next foul will result in bonus free throws, then we’ll be more likely to remember our shooter.

Check the clock after every whistle to make sure the clock stops properly. Check the clock every time it should start to make sure it does so.

Near the end of the game, be aware of coaches calling time-outs and be sure to inform them after they have used all their time outs. We’re not calling anything in the last two minutes if we haven’t already called it earlier in
the game, unless it’s so blatant that it can’t be ignored. We don’t want our first illegal screen to be called with 30 seconds left in the game; but if the illegal screen puts a player into the first row of the bleachers, then we
have to call it. If the game dictates it, let the players win or lose the game at the line. We don’t want to be the ones who decide the game by ignoring obvious fouls just to get the game over. If the winning team is just holding the ball and is willing to take the free throws after strategic fouls, then let’s call the foul immediately,so the ballhandler doesn’t get hit harder to draw a whistle. Let’s make sure there is a play on the ball by the defense. If there’s no play on the ball, if the defense grabs the jersey from behind, or if the ballhandler receives a bear hug, we should consider an intentional foul.

2006-07 Rule Changes:
Changed the guidelines for headbands and sweatbands.
Added that a school logo/mascot is also permitted on the pants, compression shorts, sweatbands and headbands.
The exact time observed by the official may be placed on the clock when a timer’s mistake has occurred.
A fourth delay situation was added for water on the court following any time-out.
Changed the procedure for delay warnings to only one warning for any of four delay situations (previously three).
Established a new signal for a team-control foul. The arm is extended and the fist is punched.
Clarified that a player who has any amount of blood on his/her uniform shall be directed to leave the game until the situation is corrected.
Clarified that a closely guarded count is terminated when an offensive player in control of the ball gets his/her head and shoulders past a defensive player.
Clarified that an unsporting foul can be a noncontact technical foul which involves behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.
Clarified that a player is one of five team members who are legally in the game at any given time except intermission and that during an intermission, all team members are bench personnel.
Clarified that during a 30-second time-out, no on-court entertainment should occur.

2006-07 Points Of Emphasis:
Concussions
Uniforms
Time-outs
Intentional Fouls
Rule Enforcement/Proper Signal Use

Connecticut Mechanics:
Arms extended not closely guarded signal.
Point to floor for two-point field goal try.
No long switches when foul is called in the backcourt and there is no change of possession or direction.
Team members are not allowed to congregate at midcourt during introductions.
Coaching Box must be marked. If home coach and/or home management refuse to designate coaching box with tape, the home team will not use a coaching box for that game. However, the visiting team will be allowed a coaching box. Notify Board Secretary or Commissioner the next day.

[Jurassic Referee]

Thanks, Billy. That just saved me $50.

[BillyMac]

Coaches And Captains
Players properly equipped.
Players wear uniforms properly.
Practice good sportsmanship.

Double Whistles
Let’s both hold our preliminary signal and not give a block or player control signal.
Make eye contact with each other.
Give the call to whoever has the primary coverage, unless you definitely have something different that happened first.

Pass And Crash
Let’s have the Lead official follow the pass, stay with the ball.
The Trail will be responsible for the crash.

Out-Of-Bounds Help
If I have no idea and I look to you for help, just give a directional signal. No need to come to me. Just point.
If I signal but I get it wrong, then blow the whistle and come to me. Tell me what you saw and let me decide if I’m going to change it.

Press Coverage
Help each other. New Lead will wait at midcourt.

Technical Fouls
If I T a coach, get me away from the coach. The situation is heated and I don’t want to whack the coach back-to-back. Let’s move away from the benches. Non calling official should inform the coach that the coaching
box privilege has been lost.
Let’s get together and make sure we administer the penalty or penalties correctly and in the correct order and at the correct basket.
If one official issues a warning to somebody (player or coach), make sure the other official knows. If I’ve already warned the coach, the coach shouldn’t get a free shot at you.

Two-Point / Three-Point Shot
If one official incorrectly signals the number of points, the other official will simply blow the whistle immediately, discuss the play with our partner, come to a decision, signal the correct number of points to the table, and resume the game. We will only correct if we are 100% sure.

Goaltending And Basket Interference
99% of the time, the Trail will be responsible for the call.
Lead can help out on a quick shot in transition, when Trail hasn’t made it into the frontcourt yet.
Let’s remember that it’s never basket interference or goaltending to slap the backboard. Coaches and fans always want it, but we can’t award the points.

Last Shot
99% of the time, the Trail will be responsible for the call.
Let’s both have an opinion, in case Trail’s not sure.
How will we handle a full-court pass when the Trail is stuck in the backcourt?

Foul Mechanics
Preliminary signal given at spot of foul for all common fouls.
Calling official must designate throwin spot or number of shots.
Noncalling official, get the shooter. If the ball enters the basket, inform partner that ball went in.

Throw Ins
Ten players, eye contact, check table, check clock.

Timeout Mechanics
When the ball is dead, we must be alive.
Team calling timeout must have player dribbling or holding the ball.
Both officials must know the game situation when play resumes following a timeout (team, direction, spot or run baseline, shooter, number of shots).
One official at spot of throwin or free throw line with ball facing direction in which it will be put into play.
Other official at division line, quarter for 30 second and three quarters for 60 second.

Post Play
Let’s not allow a defender to use a leg or knee to move a player off the block.
Let’s make sure the offensive player isn’t holding off the defender, or holding him with his off-hand.
As Lead, let’s find the post matchup as soon as possible so that we get the first foul.
Remember the RIDD. Don’t let players Redirect, Impede, Displace, or Dislodge.

Ball-Handler / Hand-Checking
Two hands on the ball-handler is a foul. Automatic.
One hand that stays on the dribbler is a foul.
Remember RSBQ. If the dribbler’s Rythym, Speed, Balance, or Quicknes are affected, we should have a hand-checking foul.

Screens
We must work hard off the ball.
In the first half especially, let’s clean up the screening action. The screening action will be right in front of the defensive coach in the first half, so if the coach sees an illegal screen, we should too.
In the second half, with the defensive coach 60 feet away, let’s be aware of the screening, but we don’t need to focus quite as hard on it. If there’s an obvious call to be made, let’s absolutely make it; but we won’t make it
our “point of emphasis” in the second half.

Consistency
Let’s see if we can call the same game. Be consistent with each other.
Let’s try to remember what we’ve called earlier in the game, and what we haven’t called. Be consistent with what has already happened in the game.
If I have a very close block/charge play and I call a blocking foul, then the next time you have a similar block/charge play, you should have a blocking foul.

Game Situation Awareness
One of us should quickly check the clock after every whistle to make sure the clock stops properly.
One of us should check the clock every time it should start to make sure it does so.
Let’s try to be aware of the foul count during the game. We don’t want to be surprised when it’s time to shoot the bonus. If we know that the next foul will result in bonus free throws, we’ll be more likely to remember
our shooter.

Last Two Minutes
Near the end of the game, be aware of coaches calling time-outs and be sure to inform them after they have used all their time outs.
We’re not calling anything in the last two minutes if we haven’t already called it earlier in the game, unless it’s so blatant that it can’t be ignored. We don’t want our first illegal screen to be called with 30 seconds left in the game; but if the illegal screen puts a player into the first row of the bleachers, then we have to call it.
Let’s not put the whistles away in the last two minutes: That wouldn’t be consistent with the way we’ve been calling the game. If the game dictates it, let the players win or lose the game at the line. We don’t want to be
the ones who decide the game by ignoring obvious fouls just to get the game over.
End of game strategic fouls: If the winning team is just holding the ball and is willing to take the free throws, then let’s call the foul immediately, so the ballhandler doesn’t get hit harder to draw a whistle. Let’s make
sure there is a play on the ball by the defense. If there’s no play on the ball, if the defense grabs the jerseyfrom behind, or if the ballhandler receives a bear hug, we should consider an intentional foul. These are not basketball plays and should be penalized as intentional.

[Jurassic Referee]

Thanks, Billy. That just saved me another $50.

[BillyMac]

I have concentrated on two things during my pregames this season:

1) Our local board recently switched from NFHS mechanics to IAABO mechanics. Many of our veteran officials, like myself, are used to NFHS mechanics, while our newer officials are used to IAABO mechanics. I make sure that we're both on the same page, especially in regard to line responsibilities on out of bounds calls. Many of our veteran officials, especially those that don't officiate college ball, want the lead to be responsible for his or her sideline, all the way into the backcourt, all the way back to the backcourt endline. Many of our newer officials, and those that do a lot of three-man college ball, want the lead to be responsible for his or her sideline only out to the frontcourt foul line extended. The diagram in the IAABO manual actually says that these responsibilities are "optional". I don't want a lot of double whistles on out of bounds calls, or even worse, I don't want it so that neither official blows his or her whistle on an out of bounds call.

2) For some reason, Connecticut IAABO boards have come up with a "Connecticut" mechanic, which, I guess is based on some college or three man mechanics: No long switches when foul is called in the backcourt and there is no change of possession or direction. You wouldn't believe how confused some of our officials are. I've seen outstanding officials not switch on an ordinary player control foul. Also, for those of us who have been used to hustling to switch on every foul for the past twenty-plus years, it's difficult to remember not to switch. I've asked my partner to please help me out with a stop sign if we're not supposed to switch.

[Terrapins Fan]

Billy Mac, This is what I was looking for. Thank you. This helps a lot. and so did the others...BTW, I will be looking up the post by rainmaker.

I don't know how I missed that.

[Mountaineer]

I also say it depends on who I am with but a bit different than JRut. If I am working with people I have worked a lot with previously, I typically don't have a long pregame. There are a couple of guys that I work with 6 or 7 times a year - those are the games that we don't dwell for long periods on pregames. It gets scaled from there. If it's a one-time shot, it will certainly be a complete pregame - or if they are from another board. I will always be sure to say, I'll stay the f--- out of your area - please stay the f--- out of mine! I did freak a guy out tonight with that line . . . unfortunately, about 2 min into the game, it became painfully clear that he didn't understand what I meant by that line.

[Terrapins Fan]

Now, here's the problem I have.....

The Line...

I am an official and you are an official....If I see something that you missed and it's in your area, isn't it better for all of us, if I make the call?

[bigwhistle]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Now, here's the problem I have.....

The Line...

I am an official and you are an official....If I see something that you missed and it's in your area, isn't it better for all of us, if I make the call?

Not necessarily!!!! It depends on the situation. If you are leaving your area to fish in somebody else's pond, the call had better improve the game. For example, if you think your partner missed a travel, you coming into his primary to get it probably will hurt the overall game more than help it. However, if you happen to notice a rough foul (elbows, etc) and come and get that, the game will be improved by the call being made.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Now, here's the problem I have.....

The Line...

I am an official and you are an official....If I see something that you missed and it's in your area, isn't it better for all of us, if I make the call?

Because you could be wrong. If I pass on something that was in my area and I had a great look at, you will not make me happy by coming from out of no where making a call. I better have been screened off or a play that everyone in the gym could see but me. If I get a good look at it, we are likely going to have some words about it later. Both of us being an official does not give you the right to call anything you "think" you see.

Peace