someone help me!!
 

I am in an officiating class at my school and I have a couple of questions I hope someone could answer for me. 1) What are some of the basic fundameltals of being an official and 2) how should an official position himself on the floor when he changes ends? Thanks,
Kevin

Why should we answer your homework questions?
 

Didn't they give you a book?

Haven't they discussed these issues in your class?

What ideas do you have about these issues?

I can probably answer number 1 from my perspective, but the second question is extremely broad. Could you be a little bit more specific (on #2)? This would depend on so many things (mechanics set, fast break, half-court play, ball near the end line, ball up top, post players fighting for position, delay offense, lots of screens, lots of passing).

Peace

1) tuck your whistle in your shirt before you take a leak

2) preferably standing

The teacher is the football coach so we meet once a week for ten minutes to take a test, then we leave. We don't have a book, and like I said, we don't discuss anything in class. None of this needs to be specific, I just need something to put down on my paper.

This May Help ...
 

RATINGS GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION OF OFFICIALS

REACTION TIME
Reacts quickly enough to make a decision at the moment of its occurrence.
Makes quick and positive decisions, especially with respect to the “close ones”.
Takes the time to prevent an error from being made.

INTESTINAL FORTITUDE
Remains consistent when calling violations or fouls - without regard to the score, whom it may hurt, or how it may effect future relations with the coach.

CONFIDENCE
Exhibits a confident manner i.e. attention to detail, alertness, firmness, and timeliness of his/her reaction to a situation.
Has a resonant, strong voice that is supported by proper mechanics for purpose of clarification.

POISE
Has a quiet influence on the game that relieves tensions and creates a steady effect upon contestants (both players and coaches alike).
Has control of his/her emotions.
Is courteous and polite.

CONSISTENCY
Is consistent in all calls regardless of situation or point of time in the game. For example consistency in the determination of a block vs. a charge.

JUDGMENT
Uses fair and unbiased judgment and common sense in applying the rules of the game.

COOPERATION
Has the ability to work effectively as a “team” with his/her fellow official
Is not overly sensitive to constructive criticism.
Has a sense of loyalty to fellow officials, a willingness to share the responsibility and avoids attempts to shift the blame.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPER APPLICATION OF THE RULES
Presents a thorough knowledge of the rules of basketball
Appears to make his/her decision with consideration to the effect the calling, or equally as important, the not calling of a rule violation will have. (i.e. advantage / disadvantage)

MECHANICS OF OFFICIATING
Utilizes proper mechanics, up-to-date techniques and procedures as detailed in the Officials Manual.

APPEARANCE AND CONDITIONING
Is in excellent physical condition and exhibits hustle and energy
Official’s uniform and overall appearance is neat, clean and well kept

Billymac, why not go ahead and give him the test answers while you're at it? :rolleyes:

Reseach
 

BktBallRef:

As a former teacher, I would have been pleased if my students researched their topics with experts in their fields, and what better experts do we have in the field of basketball officiating than members of this Forum ? Whether your getting your information from a book, the internet, a person, a newspaper, a periodical, a video, a television show, etc., it's still research.

Now THAT made me laugh!

Tough class!

I think I'd drop . . .

Perhaps it's good that you are a former teacher.

Research is one thing. Asking someone for the answers is entirely different.

Stick around! We'll have folks here looking for NFHS exam answers next fall. You can help them out with their research, too!!!

Research
 

BktBallRef:

There is a difference between asking for specific answers to specific questions in the context of an exam that is supposed to be taken under certain, often controlled conditions, i.e closed book and monitored, open book and monitored, taken alone, taken with a "study group", etc., and with homework that involves researching the answer to a general question like, "What are some of the basic fundamentals of being an official ?".

Modern teachers expect students to utilize the internet to research various topics, and there are specific ways to cite internet sources in a bibliography. How is utilzing an internet source, like the Official Forum, different from going to the library, finding a book on officiating, and copying that information ? How is getting information from BktBallRef or BillyMac from the internet different from having a telephone interview or a face to face interview with Chuck Elias or Mark Padgett ? This is the 21st century.

One thing that I'm sure we can both agree on, is the misuse of the internet by students who literally buy research papers from various internet sites. Thank God I retired from teaching before such activity became commonplace. I understand that some schools have started to utilize computer software to detect such plagarism.

You're Welcome, But .....
 

KevinC8022:

You're welcome, however, you only posted three times and your already namecalling. Remember, "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar".

You may be wondering why BktBallRef seemed upset about your thread and my post. Here's some background information. Most basketball officiating organizations, associations, or boards, require their officials to pass an exam, usually the NFHS exam, or the IAABO exam, every year. The exam may be very important because it is very often used for promotion, evaluation, or assignment puposes. The format of the exam varies from group to group, open book, closed book, individual, "study group", etc. Many of these exams are standardized nationally, or even internationally. With so many people involved, and with different groups giving the exam on different dates, the answer key will often make it's way onto the "grapevine". Before the advent of the internet, it was often difficult to get hold of the answer sheet, you usually had to know "somebody in a high place". Now, with the internet, it's easier to get hold of the answer sheet.

Every year, here on The Forum, usually in the fall, we get thread starters or posters who are looking for answers to the exam. Sometimes it may be their only thread or post of the year. Sometimes they have stories to tell like, "I've already completed my exam, I want to check my answers", or, "I want the answers for educational purposes". Most Forum members, including myself and BktBallRef, believe this to be a form of cheating and a misuse of The Forum. Occassionallly we get a legitimate question about a single, tricky question, the IAABO version of the exam is known for its tricky questions, and some Forum members will help that thread starter or poster out by directing him or her to the appropriate section of the rule book, or case book, to help with the correct answer, but that is the exception, not the rule, most thread starters or posters asking questions about the answer sheet are simply cheaters, no more, no less, period.

Hopefully now you can understand why BktBallRef was so upset. Good luck with your officiating class. Maybe you'll become interested in basketball officiating. You'll see some great basketball, up close, best seat in the house. You'll get a good work out several times a week. You'll meet a lot of people with a common interest in basketball, colleagues, coaches, athletic directors, site directors, etc. And you can make some good money, we get $ 80.00 each for a high school varsity game here in Connecticut.

This is a class you (or more likely your parents) are paying for?

And you're coming to the internet to ask what the fundementals of officiating are?

Here's the answer: find a lawyer and sue the school to get your money back. Sue them even if you (or your parents) didn't pay a nickel for this class.

btw, BktBallRef just might be the biggest dick on the planet. But he's forgetten more about officiating sports than you'll ever know. Nice work getting on his good side junior.

I am not sure why this is such an issue. The guy did not ask for a test answers, he was asking about information. If anything what was given might have been helpful. I am not sure how anyone can get upset with that.

Peace

Yeah, I too am wondering why the original poster got bent out of shape and decided to insult people.

No biggie though, life goes on.

I've taken master's degree level courses where we were required to glean from the experience of those in the field, rather than rely on some stale, static textbook. Cut him some slack, he's doing what he's supposed to do--learn from those with experience.

OK. I'm gonna jump in here and offer my two cents. If ya choose to ignore it, I understand. I still consider myself a relative newbie here. I look at the vast experience and knowledge here and I must say, this is an incredible web resource.

That being said, I have to say that newcomers are sometime treated unnecessarily harsh. It sounds like the OP was looking for some genuine advice. Regardless of the course methods, he chose to come here. Some choose to offer the guy some real advice. Others choose to make snide remarks and more or less insult him and the course. I thinks that's uncalled for.

To top it off, BillyMac chooses to share some genuine stuff with the OP, then HE gets jumped on and insulted. I particularly dislike the comment about it being "good you're a FORMER teacher". Maybe I'm just noticing the nastiness more, but some of you need to lighten up and try to be a little more receptive.

Is that what happens after you've been in officiating too long? Ya get cranky and suspicious?

Like I said. Just my .02. Feel free to pile on if ya see fit.

I'll pile on a DITTO! :)

Bad Zebra,

Take it up with the person that made the statements. Everyone did not do anything or treat anyone in any way. Also this is the World Wide Web. People literally from all over the world post on this web site. If you do not like the advice, go somewhere else. If you do not like the responses, I am sure you can find out other information at other places. I can tell you that this site has no more credibility than any other place. Yes, you might have good people that respond, but not everyone has the intentions to help you learn or sees things through the same set of eyes. No one here owes anyone anything on this site. Also it would help if you are new, that you do not come out with guns a blazing when you ask a very vague and ambiguous question.

Peace

You've taken masters level classes without understanding the fundamentals of the subject?

1. Thanks for enlightening me how a web board works. I needed you to clarify for me.

2. To the contrary, I DO like the advice. It's the attitude that turns me off and your last post is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Thanks for validating my earlier point about being unnecessarily NASTY/Rude.

Peace. Out.

Why are you here?

Peace

To learn. To test my rules knowledge. To try to improve...but certainly not to explain myself to you. I believe I'm done with you.

He's a teenager and felt threatend. What would your response have been at 16-18?

You already did explain yourself. ;)

As Dan said, life does go on.

Peace

I won't speak for Bad Zebra, but I'm here to learn. This is the most active basketball officials' forum I've been able to find on the Web which applies to the field I'm preparing to enter (ie, NFHS/NCAA). There is a plethora of knowledge on here and I have learned tons just in the last few weeks I've been participating.

That being said, the tone at times, especially to new posters, can be very petty and immature. I realize this is a free country, and it's not illegal to be a jackass, but it's also just plain bad manners.

It seems to me that, for some reason a good number of posters, for whatever reason, feel the need to add snide comments, a tone of superiority and/or rude responses as part of a junkyard dog type mentality.

Again, no one is saying, JRut, that it should be required for posters to say only nice things and everyone should hold hands and skip in meadows of daisies. But there is no need for a lot of the nastiness that goes on here, especially to newcomers who are just looking for a place to get started, or get information or just to pick someone's brain about the rules of basketball and/or officiating.

These are not unfamiliar themes. These are everyday things. I often wonder how certain posters on here function in everyday society with the type of attitude they display on this board. If certain posters act they way they do on here in real life, I wonder how they could possibly have any friends or hold a real job or have any respect for anyone. Or maybe it's just that people feel they can act differently when they're talking to a computer screen instead of a real-live human being.

Either way, in the end it all comes down to the golden rule. You don't like being disrespected any more than anyone else out there. So show a little respect yourself.....please :)

Just my $0.02.

Wow, who said that???:confused:

Are you advocating that even if you are beginning a master's course, you can't learn anything from people with practical experience in the field? Even as an experienced pro, you can always learn from others. That's why I come to this forum.

I know I would have shown more respect. But then again when I was a teenager I did not have the same attitude towards adults as they do today. I guess the parents are responsible for those things.

Peace

Your stuff didn't stink then either, huh? I thought that might have been a later life development.:D

Nobody owes you anything on this site or any other place for that matter.

As for the Golden Rule, "Treat others as you would like to be treated." I can tell you I have rarely ever said anything to someone I would not expect if I made similar comments on the other side. As an official I like people to tell me the truth. If that means that I said something or did something that was "out of pocket" I will not be offended. I know when I am evaluated I tend to ask more questions to get a real response out of people even if I do not like what I just heard at the moment. I guess we have a different definition of "respect." It is not disrespectful to question the motives of someone asking a question that can be considered very vague or unclear. Unless someone calls you a name out of the box (which did not happen) then I might agree with you. The OP did not even clarify his position when he was being very unclear. If you do not want people to have that reaction, then do not ask any questions at all. I know I have asked questions that were vague and later had to come back and clarify. Then again, I am confident in myself and realize that communication is often a two way street. I think we have a bunch of people on this site that are very sensitive and cannot take the fact that someone even questions them on any level. If you cannot take it here, I question what is going to happen when you have people in your face and really calling you names.

Peace

No, I just did not say a lot of things to adults as kids do today. I knew my place. I do not think many kids know what that even means. If you step on their shoes they want to feel disrespectful.

Peace

I agree, I know what you're saying. I just couldn't resist giving you a little grief. I was at a game in cognito recently and there were a couple of teenagers there yelling and berating the refs in a grade school game. I finally made a comment to them about showing some respect for people, and they were astounded that I said something. Their arguments?

1) they get paid for this, so it's OK
2) we're not cussing, so it's OK
3) the refs were out of position and had bad mechanics, so it's OK
4) they had played some HS and college ball, so they knew what they were talking about (yeah, I remember when I was young and had all the answers)

The same refs will be doing some conference semi-finals this year, they were doing me a favor by taking these grade school games. IOW, there was no problem with mechanics or positioning. It's just the modern person's right to trample the refs.

I could not image when I was that age acting that way. Usually we had adults that would squash that behavior before it got too far. Then again we have adults that would rather be these kids friends than be the bad guy and tell them what is right.

Peace

Perhaps you missed this part of my post?

I agree with the overall message of your post. However, I think you might have looked past my overall message.

I'm okay with criticism. I'm okay with asking for clarification. What I find disrespectful, oftentimes, is not WHAT is being said or asked, but the WAY it is being said or asked.

This was a general statement. It said this without any consideration of your post.

Once again, much of what I said was not in a direct response to everything you said. I am talking in generalities of this site and other places where officials decide to come. This place is very tame compared to other places that have been on the web. So if the things said on this thread are offensive, I really hate to see how some of you new guys would respond on some other sites that really get personal and call more names.

If you have a problem with what people are saying, that is not going to change because you get upset about it or come here and complain. I guess I am a person that tends to worry about those things that I can control. I cannot control what people say on the World Wide Web or any website at any time. I can choose who I listen to or who I think has a valid point. I also take into account the experience of the people, where they live, what level they work and over all history of their postings. I guess over the time I have been here I learned that very early. I got over it really quickly how I was treated, because nothing said here ever affected me when all was said and done. This why I keep saying how a disagreement is not going to affect my schedule because at the end of the day I have already proved what I can do to the right people. Just because someone takes you on with an issue does not make them rude or in the wrong.

Peace

When I was 16-18 my response would have been face-to-face up close and personal and I would have thought twice to make sure I could back up what was about to come out of my yap before opening it.

How about you?

Well, the OP and you, just to name 2


Nope, not advocating that at all. OTOH...if I know the basics of carpentry it's not likely I'll go to the internet to find out if a saw or a screwdriver is best tool for cutting wood. Just sayin'

Face To Face Or Face to Computer
 

From DC Ref 12: "Maybe it's just that people feel they can act differently when they're talking to a computer screen instead of a real-live human being."

DC Ref 12: Great point. I certainly hope that what you say is true. I've been reading and posting on this Forum for a few years now, and up until recently, I had trouble understanding how some of our members can function in every day society. I imagined not ever wanting to meet any of them in person, however, after your statement above, maybe these members do act differently when they're face to face with a real person, instead of being an anonomous "poster". Did you ever notice that those members who use their real names and identify their real basketball affiliation seem do get involved with little namecalling?

I find this Forum to be great source of infomation about basketball officiating. I just wish it was a "kinder and gentler forum". As Rodney King said, "Can't we all just get along ?". At mass this weekend we were reminded about the "Golden Rule", "Do unto others what you would have them do onto you".