Pre-game Stretching
 

What is your opinion of how much stretching & warm-ups should be done by officials courtside (as opposed to in the officials' dressing room) prior to gametime? I will usually stretch prior to coming onto the court at the 15-minute mark and do some simple stretching while on the court to stay loose. But I've seen officials jogging from midcourt to baseline on the sideline as part of their warm-up routine. I think this prevents them from their main responsibility of observing the teams' warm-ups and generally looks poor. For purposes of this post, level = high school varsity.

I personally do not feel you should do much stretching at all out on the court. Now that does not mean that if you can briefly and discreetly stretch a hamstring (while standing up) that might be OK, but I would not make a habit of this. I would not at all be running from one end of the court to another out on the court. That is a little much. Stretching should be mainly for the locker-room or off the floor.

Peace

At the varsity level, none. The crew should be prepared and ready to work when they hit the floor.

Sounds sort of tacky. I bet it looks even worse. Stretch in the locker room & not on the floor.

I agree. In the dressing room, if possible. If it's too small, step outside and do it there. Be ready to go when you get on the floor.

From a coaches perspective, I view officials that go through extensive stretching routines on the court (part Rambo, part Richard Simmons, all business) as an official that potentially could be an attention-monger, trying to show everyone that "I'm ready for business so don't mess with me, look at how much I care and how serious I am." The type that love to make the dramatic calls, jumping in the air with a full twist and the hammer of Thor on a foul on a made shot, the type that flail their arms like they are directing a 747 landing when calling off a made shot on a charge call...

Not that this is the case, but that's my first impression whenever (rarely) I do see an official on the court doing their Ed T. Rush taebo jazzercise before a game.

It should discreet if you do anything at all.

NBA officials will do alot of stretching and running on the court. When I make to the NBA, I'll do the same.

But we aren't talking about rules enforcement here.:D :D

I don't stretch on the floor and I don't stretch in the locker room either, it hurts to much.

and I definitely don't warm up. It requires too much energy. I'm too lazy.

Interesting perspective. What's your impression of an official that's carrying around an extra 40lbs. of a gut?

As one who has some lower back issues, I will sometimes squat down during warm-ups as that stretches my lower back out some...but that's all I do, is squat there while the teams are warming up - looks kinda tacky, but I'd rather that than have a spasm in the first minute of the game.

I really don't have a problem with a squat or 3 on the floor so long as you don't rip out your pants and you can get up on your own.

I know that sometimes I tighten up a bit when standing for 15 minutes but I don't make a big to-do about stretching. My biggest deal is that my knees stiffen when standing there.

I work with guys who do this all the time and I don't think it is a big deal. Have I done it? Yes, but I don't do it all the time because I don't have a set routine.
Most of the guys I know who do this do it at college games. I don't think a lot of high school officials, the ones I work with at least, do it because they are about to piss on themselves because of the game.

What do you guys think about stretching in the men's room? :confused:

http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...ges/toetap.gif (Larry Craig icon)

Mark,

I didn't figure you did any pre-game stretching due to the fishnets. Any truth to this? ;)

Are you kidding? They're nylon, dude. :D

I would have guess polyester. But I maybe that died out with three-inch belt loops and green leisure suits.

Yea, too bad. I loved those really classy looking watch fobs.

Don't forget the watch fobs with a zoot suit. It's got a reet pleat, Daddy-o.


http://www.statecollegetux.com/image...oot%20Suit.jpg

Shouldn't that kind of stuff occur elsewhere? BEFORE you go out on the floor????:eek:

WOW, you're getting kinda personal don't ya think?:p

Come on, tomegun. That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

One of the reasons I do not post much anymore is the variety of inane, insipid and downright stupid responses people feel compleled to give when someone asks a legitimate question. Some may think they are funny, but I do not.
As far as stretching goes, for me stretching in the locker room before a game is mandatory. However, after standing on the sidelines fo 15 minutes I do tend to stiffen up a bit. My partner(s) and I have a system where if one or two of us NEED to stretch out just prior to game time, we leave the confines of the court and if possible find a vacant hallway or room to stretch out again. We take 3-5 minutes so that all of us have the opportunity to do this if we want. While we are doing this there is at least one official on the floor watching players and taking care of business. Is this the optimum situation?? No, but it does work for us. As an official, I am at my best when I am warm and stretched out and ready to run.

I don't mean to make another "inane, insipid and downright stupid response" here but you are only averaging 9 posts per year. How much more could you cut back?

In double headers I usually stretch a bit in the locker room at halftime. Stretching cold muscles isn't good for you. For me, the most important thing to do is stretch AFTER the game, before getting in the car. If I don't do that I'm sore for days.

Mike, the only see people getting upset over someone doing a Taebo workout on the floor, not a simple stretch in place that hardly anyone sees.

Peace

Not having a sense of humor is a handicap I would just as soon not have. We all have a lot of stress in our lives and coming onto this board and getting a chuckle or two is a great stress-reliever. People DO get their questions answered and this board has been a great help to me. I provide inane responses from time to time. A lot of us do. But please don't assume that any lack in seriousness in some responses translates into a lack of seriousness we take onto the floor. In that respect, we are really no diffeent than you.