PRE-GAME CONFERENCE

[IndianaUmpRef]

I just want to get some opinions on how they do their pre-game conferences.

i.e. what time they grab the captains, what they say in the conference, etc.

just want to see how they differ and if I am missing anything big.

Thanks

[BktBallRef]

We established our Pre-Game Countdown last year. We sent it to Dick Knox and he had it published in the NF Mechanics Manual, along some details, to clarify all points. There is also another pre-game countdown in the manual.

15:00 Enter the playing court area and go directly to positions.

Opposite score table, Ref - Division line, U1 - observe home team, U2 - observe visitors.

12:00 Umpires will get respective captains and meet Ref at center court. Designate team color for each team and speaking captain. Discuss sportsmanship expectations.

10:00 Referee goes to score table and briefs score keepers and timer

1:30 Greet coaches and ask them the pertinent questions. Stress sportsmanship and ask for their assistance.

1:00 Teams leave court area, officials go score table side and prepare to begin game.

Remove jackets after the National Anthem, during introduction of players

If teams leave and return to dressing room with more than 1 minute showing on the game clock, officials may return to an area near their dressing room or wait near the score table area.

[IndianaUmpRef]

Anybody else have their setup??? Looking for more to draw from.

[Tim Roden]

The only difference is that 99% of my games are two man so we have the U observe home while R observes visitor. I have done the 10 8 2 schedule. 10 minutes on book 8 with captains 2 with coaches. In Texas, the captains are specified in the book so I can just go find those numbers and bring them to the meeting.

[dblref]

My pre-game is pretty much like BktBallRef's except I usually go to the table at the 12 minute mark (especially if F/JV game)and then get the captains after I go to the table. Sometimes the table personnel are not very experienced. I like to have a through pre-game discussion with my partner(s). I think this is one of, if not the most important part of working together and making sure we are all on the same page. This is especially true if you are working with someone new. In the pre-game discussion, I try to cover all rules -- particularly new ones -- and we talk a lot about "this is what I will do if so and so happens". We talk about double whistles and whether a call should be changed and if so, how will we do this? I will never come in on my partner(s) unless I am absolutely, positively sure that didn't see something. Even then, I will only come in and ask if they saw such and such. A good pre-game discussion is critical to having the game go smoothly. I believe in discussion, discussion, etc. Now, having said all this, we know that things do not always go the way we hope.

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by BktBallRef


...

If teams leave and return to dressing room with more than 1 minute showing on the game clock, officials may return to an area near their dressing room or wait near the score table area.

Are you saying that all officials can leave the area? Or
must at least 1 stay?

[ChuckElias]

My routine is pretty much the same as TH's, with a few variations.

We come out at 15:00 and take our positions. If, when we enter the court, the clock is not running, I instruct the timer to put 15:00 on the clock and start it immediately.

As somebody else mentioned, I go to the table at 12:00 or so, instead of at 10. That way, if there's a problem with the book, we can get it straightened out before the 10 minute mark. I've never given a T for not having the book ready, but someday, some coach is going to be a bozo and demand one. So, I feel it's just a little preventative officiating to check the book before the bozo coach thinks he has a legal right to 2 shots and the ball.

I get captains at 6:00. I spend 20 seconds with them.

My partner and I shake the coach's hands around the 2:00 mark. I've found that if you wait for 1 minute, then you have to interrupt the huddle, and I personally hate doing that.

Stand at table, place hand on heart, shake partner's hand, throw it up!

Chuck

[RookieDude]

In the Officials Manual (2 man) it has the Umpire on the same side as the Visiting Team and the Referee on the same side of the court as the Home Team. The manual states that the Umpire observes the Home Team and the Referee observes the Visiting Team. Does this mean we stand on one side of the court and watch the other? In other words, we are "crossing" our vision with each other.

Also, I believe the manual states that the Umpire gets the Home Team captain and the Referee gets the Visiting Team captain...am I correct?

Also, I thought that we were to ask the coaches if they want to participate in the captains meeting.
I have found it more comfortable to greet the coaches at this time, rather than have a meeting with them and then "greeting" them later at the 1:30 mark.

[RookieDude]

Oh Yeah,
IndianaUmpRef, One remark I like to say to the Captains and Coaches in the meeting is..."My Mother isn't hear tonight, so there isn't one person that paid to come see me officiate...they all paid to see you players play and you coaches coach...give them a good show...we'll keep it fair."

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by RookieDude
In the Officials Manual (2 man) it has the Umpire on the same side as the Visiting Team and the Referee on the same side of the court as the Home Team. The manual states that the Umpire observes the Home Team and the Referee observes the Visiting Team. Does this mean we stand on one side of the court and watch the other? In other words, we are "crossing" our vision with each other.

My guess on this is that where you stand is referring to the bench - teams should be on the opposite side from their bench for pre-game warmups.

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Dan_ref

Are you saying that all officials can leave the area? Or
must at least 1 stay?

If both teams leave the floor, the all officials can leave the floor as well. But they must return when either team returns. I think some of our college guys put this in because college teams rountinely leave the floor.

BTW, where ya been?

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by RookieDude
Also, I thought that we were to ask the coaches if they want to participate in the captains meeting.
I have found it more comfortable to greet the coaches at this time, rather than have a meeting with them and then "greeting" them later at the 1:30 mark.

In NC, we don't require the coaches to attend the pregame conference with the captains.

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by RookieDude
Oh Yeah,
IndianaUmpRef, One remark I like to say to the Captains and Coaches in the meeting is..."My Mother isn't hear tonight, so there isn't one person that paid to come see me officiate...they all paid to see you players play and you coaches coach...give them a good show...we'll keep it fair."

Dude, this is just my opinion, but why in the world would you mention your mother in a pre-game conference? The less you say, in general, the better. Your captains' conference should go like this:

"Gentlemen, shake hands. I'm Mr. RookieDude, this is Mr. SuperRef. Black line all the way around, make sure your players aren't wearing any jewlery. Questions? Have a good game, guys!"

You'll quickly learn that they aren't listening to you anyway. They simply don't care if your mom's there or not. You're going to catch just as much crap either way. And someday, some smart*** is going to make a crack about "your mama".

Short and sweet. This applies to the captains; it applies to the coaches when you greet them; it applies to your foul reports to the table; and it applies to when you line the players up for free throws. It even applies to any explanations you give to a coach. You give a correct explanation, but keep it as short as possible.

Again, that's just my opinion, but I think it'll benefit you in the long run.

Chuck

[BktBallRef]

Okay here's my pet peeve!

Why in thw world would you tell them where the OOB line is? I mean, I know that there are v-ball lines and additional court lines on some floors but I've never seen a court where it wasn't obvious which lines were the main boundary lines.

BTW, I agree that the less we say the better. I know a couple of young officials. They always say, "I'm Mr. Smith, this is Mr. Jones and we're in charge." Geeeze!

[Tim Roden]

If the lines are confusing such as if you don't use the standard court but use the crossways courts, you need to remind them where the lines are. Otherwise, the basketball lines are usually the dominate lines on the court. I will indicate that it is the inside of that second red line that we are playing with if there is confusion.