I'll give you what you want

[Adam]

Originally Posted by KCRef

At a men's rec league last night we had a 3/4 court pass by A1 to A2 who caught the ball just inbounds near the sideline. B2 makes a little contact with A2, but enough to push him out (while A2 is holding the ball). My partner blows his whistle and says, "We're staying here, A's ball." The B team of course questions the call because A2 went out with the ball, but the ref is saying out on B2, who never touched the ball. My partner didn't like the complaining, so he baits them by saying, "What call do you want?" To which the B team replies, "B2 never even touched the ball, how could it be out on him?", which everyone in the gym knew to be true. With this comment, my partner yelled to the table, "OK, I've got a foul on B2," and then he administered the throw-in. This happened twice in this game against the same team.

Now, I know this is not right, not even in a men's rec league, but my question is, what do I say to B3 when he comes up to me and says, "That is not right. He can't do that," without hanging your partner out to dry?

In a men's rec league game, I can see going with the "force out" call. I'm more apt to let them play through some contact, and in a situation like this, I might be tempted to make the "easy" call. If the team that was saved a foul complains, then change the call to a foul.

Now, when B3 comes up to you, as the non-calling official, simply say, "Nothing in the rules says he can't change his call." If they keep going, feel free to hold the game up for a second and say, "You know, he tried to save you guys a foul on that and you wouldn't let him. By arguing with him, you forced him to make the correct call by the rule book."