Advice on giving the Pre-game

[BillyMac]

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT BOARD #6
of
Approved Basketball Officials
One Rule + One Mechanic + One Interpretation = the Board #6 Way
A good pre-game establishes a seriousness and focus regarding the night’s game. The pre-game direction and topics should come from the assigned Referee in the game, with input from the Umpire(s). The pre-game should start during the subvarsity game, if applicable. It does not need to dwell on mechanics and rules as much as the following:
TEAMWORK
JUDGEMENT
GAME MANAGEMENT
TEAMWORK
• when to get captains and coaches.
• Let’s put the ball in play where it goes out of bounds or spot of foul. No Favors!
• Good Court Coverage (Primary Coverage Area Peter Webb, ME)
*Good looks off the ball
*not too many double whistles understanding each other’s area.
*discuss PCA for fouls, violations, out of bounds, throw-ins.
*live it during the game.
• Let’s get it right. Come together to change the call if needed. Both of us can do this.
• Substitutions: slow, beckon (one), count, eye-contact.
• Slow down the pace of the game when we need to…especially on throw-ins, substitutions, rough part of game, 4th quarter.
“composure allows us to concentrate better” Ray McClure, Georgia.
• good 4th quarter officiating… TO’s, importance of each call, foul shooter, etc.
• Let’s get through the “rough spots”. Every game has them. Sometimes we create them.
• One voice to clarify most situations with table, coaches, captains.
GOOD JUDGEMENT
• good preventive officiating, Good game talk.
“Don’t hold, don’t reach, get out, hold your spot, etc”
Let’s establish our standards in the pre-game.
• Let’s not reward an out of control player. A travel or no call instead of being fouled.
• Be consistent with calls. Good mirror calls at both ends….
calls and no calls.
• Protect the shooter.
• Trust our no calls. “If you think he did, he didn’t” Ray McClure
• Long 2 or 3 point shots….stay with the shooter to determine foul or no foul.
GAME MANAGEMENT
• Let’s remember who the captains are and use them (remind each other during introductions).
• Let’s be aware of the score, fouls, and the best player.
• We should comment on the game’s 2 coaches:
who are they, their personality, styles, how to manage them/communicate with them.
• Let’s be aware of the game they give us and ref it accordingly.
• Let’s talk and adjust at halftime.
• To the umpire: What would you like to go over?
Pre-Game Quotes
“A good pre-game shows we care about tonight’s game”. Pete Palermino
“600,000 HS boys and girls play basketball. What we do is good “civic service”. Peter Webb
“you don’t have to be sick to get better” OR “none of us are there yet” Peter Webb
“apply the rule…players will adjust” Peter Webb
“to make advancement, CT officials should move south” Ray McClure
“advantage/disadvantage only on contact. Not on violations”. Ray McClure
“have a patient whistle” Ray McClure
“withhold the whistle a fraction of a second longer” John McDonnell
“Take your time… no rush” Tony Scalise
What gives you goose bumps? Peter Webb
“Officiating a great game with a partner on the same page and in sync with each other. Mike Infantino