Cell phones at the table

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Do you normally remove team statisticans (note that in my OP, I clearly said someone else was the official scorer) for having cell phones turned on?

Stat-Man I know this isn't addressed to me, but I'm just trying to understand what you're saying. I don't see in your OP where you clearly say that someone else was the official scorer. You call the person a "student score-keeper" which could be the official scorer, or the visiting stat person, or whatever. I'm just wondering ...

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Stat-Man I know this isn't addressed to me, but I'm just trying to understand what you're saying. I don't see in your OP where you clearly say that someone else was the official scorer. You call the person a "student score-keeper" which could be the official scorer, or the visiting stat person, or whatever. I'm just wondering ...

Rain-Maker: Thanks, you do have a point.

At this particular school, they use students as the home book (for the most part). That's why I referred to the official scorer as a student. I was trying to convey that someone other than me was doing the home book. Perhaps I could have been clearer in this regard.

###

Back to the original discussion, I won't disagree that the official game crew of the official scorer, timer, and even the shot clock operator, should give their undivided attention to the game (meaning no yapping on cell phones). Anyone else (visiting scorer, sports info. directors (SIDs), statisticians, media at an adjacent "press row") is not in an official role and as long as they aren't editorializing official's calls or creating an unignorable distraction, I don't think it's a big deal. At one of the schools in this particular league, the sports info guy comes and does computer stats for his team and he also serves as the league info director. So, he talks calls all night form the other schools with their scores while he's inputting the game stats (without missing a beat). I don't remember being distracted by his phone ringing, but perhaps he has his on vibrate.

I just think that an official telling him he has to leave the table for taking phone calls, when they are brief and don't seem to distract anyone is making more of a scene than the SID doing his job. But I guess in dblref's judgement, anyone using a cell phone or having a ringing one is subject to being asked to leave.

I guess we agree to disagree here.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Rain-Maker: Thanks, you do have a point.

At this particular school, they use students as the home book (for the most part). That's why I referred to the official scorer as a student. I was trying to convey that someone other than me was doing the home book. Perhaps I could have been clearer in this regard.

###

Back to the original discussion, I won't disagree that the official game crew of the official scorer, timer, and even the shot clock operator, should give their undivided attention to the game (meaning no yapping on cell phones). Anyone else (visiting scorer, sports info. directors (SIDs), statisticians, media at an adjacent "press row") is not in an official role and as long as they aren't editorializing official's calls or creating an unignorable distraction, I don't think it's a big deal. At one of the schools in this particular league, the sports info guy comes and does computer stats for his team and he also serves as the league info director. So, he talks calls all night form the other schools with their scores while he's inputting the game stats (without missing a beat). I don't remember being distracted by his phone ringing, but perhaps he has his on vibrate.

I just think that an official telling him he has to leave the table for taking phone calls, when they are brief and don't seem to distract anyone is making more of a scene than the SID doing his job. But I guess in dblref's judgement, anyone using a cell phone or having a ringing one is subject to being asked to leave.

I guess we agree to disagree here.

I think that what dbl was saying was that for a scorer to have his or her own cell phone ringing would be a distraction. I don't think I'd ask someone to leave just for forgetting to turn the thing off, but I'd definitely make them turn it off. I think, especially for a student but even for a lot of adults, it would be hard to ignore.

I'll tell my own cell phone during a game story. About three years ago, I went into a classics tournament and before my own games I was watching another guy working. He talked on the cell phone for about half of the game as he was running up and down, when he was at the table. He did hold the thing away from his head when he reported, but he never put it clear down. It wasn't the same person the whole time, sometimes he was dialing or checking his phone book.

Then, a year ago, a friend of mine asked if I'd help him with a tournament he was assigning refs for. I always work for him every year, but that year he had a new job and he couldn't camp at the gym as he normally did, just to keep an eye on things and help out when he was needed. I owed him a huge number of favors so I gladly volunteerd to do it. I knew all the folks that were working and knew there would be no problems. HA!

First morning, I get there about 5 minutes before game time, no refs. Hmmm... Well, I was a little worried, because I'd left my then 8 (7?) year old at home alone and sick on the couch. The gym was only 5 minutes from home, and I figured I'd just check in and then go right back. I called home to be sure Mason was okay, and then looked around a little. Still no refs. I called my friend, the assignor. He said there was no one to call, and I'd have to fill in. I put on my shirt, got my whistle in place and started praying.

Meantime, I had to figure a way out of there. Can you see where this is headed? I spent the entire first half of the game on my cell phone, and then when the battery got too low, on another lady's phone. (yea, I know, not a good phone with only 15 minutes on the battery!). I had to laugh at myself later, to be doing the very thing I was so critical of in someone else.

Anyway, one guy who was assigned to that first game showed up late, but the other guy never did show. This one who did show was so bad that my friend begged me to stay for the first two games. I had to call and call to find a girlfriend to go sit with my son until I was finished. That was quite a day.

[Stat-Man]

Cute story, rainmaker.

At the site where i did pro games during the summer, they also have a high school and college league with games prior to the pros on many of the game days. since the gym is a converted church building, locker room space is very scarce, so the officials put their bags under the scorer's table.

As a result, it's quite common to hear beeping, ringing, and (depending on how the bag is packed), vibrating against the bleacher the bag is sitting on.

Would be curious to see an official's reaction if they inquired about the cell phone, only to be told it was either theirs or one of thier partner's phones making the noise.

[Junker]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Would be curious to see an official's reaction if they inquired about the cell phone, only to be told it was either theirs or one of thier partner's phones making the noise.

Personally, no matter what level I'm working, as soon as I leave the car, the phone is off. I'm getting my head on the game or games ahead of me. Just a bit of a ritual for me to get ready to go on the floor.

[Mark Dexter]

I've once had a scorekeeper on the phone during a game. I called a foul, went to the reporting area, and just gave her "the look" while I waited there. She sheepishly put away the phone, and we didn't see it for the rest of the game.

[SCalScoreKeeper]

I serve as the official scorekeeper for a small Christian high school in Southern California in two sports and they are volleyball (JV/Varisty Girls/Playoffs)and basketball (Var Girls & Boys, Tournaments, and Playoffs). I just completed my third season of volleyball and am entering my fourth year of basketball. As you can imagine this means I've logged hundreds of hours behind a scorers table and seen the way a lot of table officials behave. The worst problems I have ever seen is visiting scorekeepers wearing I-pods or talking on their cell phones. They do stop when the floor officials tell them to however.
In our basketball league we play all four teams (JV Girls, JV Boys, Var Girls, Var Boys) on the same night starting at 3:00! I show up early to avoid the traffic getting into school and supervise scorekeepers for the games I'm not responsible for.
Here are a list of things I look for when teaching and watching basketball scorkeepers:
A. Introduce yourself to the officiating crew- This sets the tone for your game together as friendly and professional!
B. NO DISTRACTIONS DURING YOUR GAME- This could mean anything from cell phones and I-PODS to significant others hanging around near the table. If you have to be on your phone please wait either until halftime or your game is over.
C. Signal- You have got to signal for 1 & 1, Double Bonus, and 5 fouls! I also signal the type of time out if it is not reported to floor officials and # remaining if late in the game.
D. Bench Interaction- Make sure you notify coaches when kids reach the following foul benchmarks: 2 quick fouls in first half, 3 fouls, 4 fouls, and 5 fouls. When you notify coaches of foul trouble make sure they are not talking with their players.
E. Book-
1. Fill in all pertinent pre-game information (Teams, Date, Site, Officials Names, Scorekeeper's Name, Players Names & Jersey Numbers)!
2. Put 3 full timeouts and 2 30's at the top of your book!
3. Write timeouts in correctly! (Find the period then write in the time remaining and separate it from type used by a dash.)
4. Running Score is marked and filled out correctly!
5. Quarters are totaled!
6. Fouls are marked correctly and any questions are asked immediately!
In my experience when student assistants know they are being watched the quality of their work is exemplary!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

First morning, I get there about 5 minutes before game time, no refs.

Juulie - you should have called me. Oh wait - if the gym was only 5 minutes from your house, it must be on the east side. Never mind.

[dblref]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Rain-Maker: Thanks, you do have a point.

At this particular school, they use students as the home book (for the most part). That's why I referred to the official scorer as a student. I was trying to convey that someone other than me was doing the home book. Perhaps I could have been clearer in this regard.

###

Back to the original discussion, I won't disagree that the official game crew of the official scorer, timer, and even the shot clock operator, should give their undivided attention to the game (meaning no yapping on cell phones). Anyone else (visiting scorer, sports info. directors (SIDs), statisticians, media at an adjacent "press row") is not in an official role and as long as they aren't editorializing official's calls or creating an unignorable distraction, I don't think it's a big deal. At one of the schools in this particular league, the sports info guy comes and does computer stats for his team and he also serves as the league info director. So, he talks calls all night form the other schools with their scores while he's inputting the game stats (without missing a beat). I don't remember being distracted by his phone ringing, but perhaps he has his on vibrate.

I just think that an official telling him he has to leave the table for taking phone calls, when they are brief and don't seem to distract anyone is making more of a scene than the SID doing his job. But I guess in dblref's judgement, anyone using a cell phone or having a ringing one is subject to being asked to leave.

I guess we agree to disagree here.

If you are going to comment on my post, at least comment on what I actually said. I stated earlier that I had already warned the individual about using the cell phone, and it rang again just as the shooter was about to take the shot. Yes, it was a distraction -- to the shooter, to the officials, yada yada yada. That's why he was removed.

And you are absolutely correct. We agree to disagree. That's why they make more than one flavor of ice cream.

[Jimgolf]

Cell phones don't work in our gym. Too bad they can't bottle that up and sell it.

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by Jimgolf

Cell phones don't work in our gym. Too bad they can't bottle that up and sell it.

Ohhhh, just wait... I'm sure they are working on it. Along with the you make the call system. It's a system that let's the fans vote...popular vote wins and that's the call on the floor.

[loners4me]

just get one of these.


http://www.vxian.com/item/Cell_Phone_Jammer/292

[NathanRT]

I haven't really had a problem with cell phones, but last year I was working a JH girls game and had to tell the track coach who was doing the clock that the iPod headphones had to come out of hear ears during the game. She didn't have a clue why we wouldn't want her listening to music during the game but I never saw them again so all was good.