Last night, during a J/V game, we had an overly zealous scorer. Everytime my partner or I would call a foul or award a time-out, the scorer would anticipate the call and record it in the book before we ever got to the table. As we reported the foul or time-out, the scorer would just sit there and shake his head affirming that he already had the info. I actually watched him record the call in the book before it was reported. Granted, many times it is obvious who committed the foul and undoubtedly they are aware of who called the timeout. But, isn't that unappropriate for a scorer?

no scorer i ever had be that smart to even try to do that. maybe that is a good thing:)

in the nba announcers sometimes announce who fouled and what the foul was before the officials report. they are very good. the nba guys seem to like it.

Scorer Behavior
 

Rev.Ref63:

This sounds like the work of an inexperienced scorer.

I've been workiing both sides of the table, so to speak, for over ten years. When keeping score, I'll sometimes nod to the official immediately after the report just to let him/her know I understand. Even though I may be in a hurry to record the information, I try to hold eye contact as long as he/she does.

Never would I anticipate the call; been burnt too many times.

Plus, I use a pen.

Sven

Next time, try this. After calling a foul, go toward the table and say, "Blue (pick a color neither team is wearing) 66, illegal crackback block. 15 yard penalty and the goalie is seatbelted for violation of the infield fly rule."

See what he does then.

Mark, have you been working with Dave again?:-)

Most scorers know who fouled because of either you bird-dogging or of how a player reacts. I usually tell them in the pre-game to humor us and at least look at us report. This will usually get a chuckle but unless there is a problem don't worry about it.

Scorers and Timers are part of the team....
 

All of us (especially those who work lower level games) can quickly identify how miserable life can be when you have a timer and/or scorer who obviously are NOT interested in what is happening on the court.

If you have a scorer who is "anticipating the report" and honestly listens when you do report, LIFE IS GOOD. Consider the alternative.

Don't fight it!
 

Most scorekeepers care and will do
the right thing.
The best you can do is go to your spot
and report as if they are giving you eye-contact.

War story from long ago:
Young female (20) married to coach,is the scorer.
When asked "How many team fouls?", her response
was "We're not in the bonus yet." This happened
every time I worked that school. After using several
different approaches without success, I gave up.
Some people are stubborn and think they have
the power.
It wouldn't be productive or professional to
cause a scene, and now many, many years later,
we interface in a business sense.
I'm glad I didn't force the issue.
Don't burn bridges.
Don't fight unecessary battles.

A couple of weeks ago had a scorer running the possession arrow who wanted to point the arrow at the bench so "he" could keep it straight who got the ball next jump. I told him to set it the direction of travel and he said "hey you guys work for me, who signs your paycheck?" My response was as long as I'm on the court and I'm wearing the stripes you are working for me. Besideds I dont recall your name ever being on my check. Come to find out this guy was the head coach of the girls varsity team at the school where I was working. I did win the debate and got paid!!!

At least he was consistant. The worst is the scorers who switch the arrow either after the throw-in is released or, even worse, switches the arrow before the player even has the ball for the throw-in.

I've had more problems this year with the AP arrow than ever before. Had a giy a couple of nights ago that wanted to point the arrow towards the team's bench, not their basket.

BTW, when I ask a scorer what the team fouls are, I don't want to know if we're in the bonus or not. I want to know what the team fouls are. If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked. I don't have to make a scene to find out. But the good news is that I'm getting better at remembering without the help of the scorer or board.

I get that in intramurals, too.

How many fouls on B?

"We're not at the 1 and 1 yet."

You ask again and again, then just drop it and hope they get it right when it's time for the 1 and 1.

I don't drop it. I simply walk over to the table and very professionally ask them how many team fouls there are or I look at the book myself.

I don't want to know when we get to 7. I want to know when we get to 6, so that I'm prepared to get the shooter when the next foul is called. That way, I don't get caught wondering, "Oh $hit, who got fouled?"

Pregame issue.
 

If the scorer has his/her head in the book when you are trying to report the foul just stand there. Wait until the scorer or the other table people realizes that you are just standing there. Then report your foul. Then after you have done that, go directly to the table and tell him/her, "it is not a foul until I or my partner(s) report it."

Who cares if you birddog or not, I have been on the floor and did not realize who exactly my partner called a foul on. I tell the table that this is a "pet-peeve" of mine to get across the point that I am the one that reports the fouls, they just record it.

In my first year, I had two players with the same number guarding each other. We called several fouls between the two, and the scorer put the wrong #45 in the book after he began to start writing after I called a foul. Well it happen to be the home team player, and he was fouled out of the game with 4 fouls (5 in the book). But it was too late because it was not until later in the game it was realized. Too late then to start assuming what happen 2 quarters ago. This has never happen to me since.

Peace

Timer in Saturday's 9th grade game would alternate between
not starting the clock, and not stopping the clock.
Sometimes, if only a couple of seconds ran off, I would ignore it.
Fourth quarter, after a free throw, clock doesn't start. I look over and see timer on the CELL PHONE!? "TWEET!"
"GET OFF THE CELL PHONE AND START THE CLOCK!!!" Says I.
Didn't use the phone for the rest of the game.:p

Next time try this. Tell him you'll compromise. If he'll point toward direction the first half, you'll let him point toward bench the second half. ;)

I've been learning to use the quarter in the pocket trick because the grd schools I work either dont have an arrow or worse have someone who I dont have confidence in. When I work with certain guys, we both use a coin or whatever and confer with each other to make sure be are on the same page.

Larks....A Rookie plus a quarter buys you....A Rookie....

ALWAYS have an arrow at the table! If the home team doesn't provide one, take a piece of paper and draw an arrow on that.

Then there's the story about the official who carries a plush bird with a long beak to be the backup arrow. Whenever the AP arrow should switch, he tells the scorer to "flip the bird!" :D

Thats a good point Mark. My partner from yesterday and I were talking about just that. I've used a radio antenna and a baseball hat this year already mixed in with 3 weeks of the quarter in the pocket routine! We were talking about making a backup arrow to throw in our bags. Lets see...a 12" piece of 2x4 painted black with a white arrow. Not too tough and not much extra to throw in the bag.

Heh Heh....Flip the Bird! I'm gonna get a stuffed Monkey and face it the direction of the AP....that way, if the scorer incorrectly flips it, I can yell at him for touching my monkey!

(Aw cmon....at least I didnt go for the cheap "spanking the monkey" joke!)

Larks - Please dont touch the Rook's Monkey...it makes him mad!

be careful what you wish for
 

Just a word of caution to those of you who do a lot of lower level games. In many cases, it's better if the scorer doesn't keep the AP arrow. Here's why: if they don't understand how to keep it properly, it's going to be wrong about 50% of the time. If you are keeping track by having something in your pocket (I use a roll of mints - they serve a dual purpose that way), you will have a lot of occasions where you will indicate the proper direction and a coach will yell that you are wrong and point to the (incorrect) arrow. I have had this happen many times.

If the scorer has no clue as to AP procedure, save yourself a lot of grief and just do it yourself.

BTW - before one of you posts it, no - I don't keep the mints in my pocket because I want that area to smell good. And, for those of you who were thinking "taste good" - don't even go there.

Re: be careful what you wish for
 

Has a coach ever asked "Is that a roll of mints in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" :D

Re: Re: be careful what you wish for
 

Never - because all the coaches know I'm never happy to see them. Oh wait - it's the other way around.

BTW - for anyone to be confused on that point, it would have to be a banana in my pocket ;)

WE MUST STOP NOW!
 

Aw Cmon....I thought I had the corner on the adolescent jokes this post!

Scuze me Ref...but is that a bananna in your pocket...or is it just my AP?

Larks....Get off my monkey and grab a bananna! While you're at it...flip the bird! Translated: Blue Ball(s)!

P.S. Someone needs to stop this post before Puking on shoe and staring at pants talk begins!

Re: WE MUST STOP NOW!
 

I will do my mamma routine here, and change the subject to the original....

I bought a bright orange traffic cone, a small one from G.I. Joes. It only cost $1. I keep it in my car and use it for an arrow when the school or facility doesn't have one to my satisfaction. It works great

Re: Re: WE MUST STOP NOW!
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rainmaker
[B]Not me...I'm going with the Monkey!

http://www.stuffedark.com/monkeyflapjack.htm...$27.50

Larks...Nobody spanks the Rook's monkey!

Ok...Ok....I've gone too far....I admit it....geez....AND QUIT STARING AT MY PANTS!

this is interesting, i was reading this post the other day, thinking, it will never get this serious w/ me...hoping... and BOOM, today it did. i reported, Green, 24, did the mechanic (handcheck) and the scorer just gave me a blank stare. i did it agian, and asked him if he got all of it, and he just looked at me,and then finally said, yes, i had it b4 you reported it, i knew who the foul was on, it made me kind of irritated... i asked him if he could at least smile and nod at me, and he did, so i got a blank stare w/ a smile, and a nod every time i reported a foul. It was interesting... i didn't even know what to do other than smile back, it was odd. why do some scorers feel that they must do everything, including the poss. arrow, b4 we call it, crazy

Doug (or so we think)

Re: Re: Re: be careful what you wish for
 

Yeah, I read about those really tiny bananas they grow
up there in the Northwest! :D

At lower level games (where this happens more than at the hgher level games), I used to make a point to tell the scorekeeper to wait for us to report because we sometimes changed our minds between the time we called the foul and the time we reported it. ;)

ha... that is good, i like it.

LMAO!!!
 

That is the funniest thing I have ever heard, I would love to try this in a game. Most likely a junior high game.


(OK, not the FUNNIEST thing I have ever heard, but really damn funny!)