How is the preseason in your area?
 

I was just thinking about the games I've had so far. We start early here so with college and high school double-headers I've already had about 15 games.
I don't really remember a good game yet. It seems like both high schools and colleges have either single games or tournaments involving teams they know they can beat. Is it coincidence or is it that way where you live too?

My high school schedule hasn't started yet, but my D3 game yesterday was fantastic. Two quick athletic teams, both shot pretty well. Ended up a 6-point game.

I bet that was fun. None of my college or high school games have been close.

What?!? No overtime?!?

I've had a couple of close ones, and a couple of blowouts. One of the close ones was two bad teams playing each other, and one blowout was a small-school girls team that blew out the large-school team.

I haven't noticed anything different this year than past years; it seems like teams just haven't hit their stride yet.

Yeah - traveling can be a bit*h. :rolleyes:

What do you mean by Pre-season? I have an idea but I am not completely sure.

The reason I ask is because there is no such thing as pre-season where I am from unless you are talking about scrimmages and games that do not count. Even college games at the level I work are for real now. They might not be conference games, but they count towards rankings and record.

Peace

Game 1: HS Varsity (Girls); Final score 76-33.

That's all we have had so far.

I have to admit my biggest frustration here is little to no pre-season and off-season basketball. first scrimmages are this weekend, and those schools whose football teams are in the playoffs aren't generally participating.

1st scrimmage this Saturday. 2nd one on Monday. 3rd one on Tuesday. Then the season starts.

My first scrimmage is tomorrow. My first game is next week.

My .02
 

I have not officiated Bk in a long time, say 12-15 years, except for some JH/MS stuff to help some people out.

This year, I have done a lot of HS boys and girls BK, pre-season scrimmages for them. My pre-season has been great:

1. 3-man is stealing compared to 2 man stuff. I can count the number of times I was out of position on one hand, though I still react a little too slowly to TO's when I am Trail. that's fixable.

2. The game is much more physical, and since I called a tight game in the past, it has been a transition for me. There is too much reaching and grabbing, and defenders seem to believe that if I don't extend my forearm very far I can ride the driver, or block him from the cut to the hole. To me, I see a lot of fouls others don't call. I may need to make adjustments, but I have a hard time not calling blocks/holds on defenders who ride hands on a hip down the lane, lead with a forearm, or constantly hand check/off/hand check. The contact may be cheap, but advantage/disadvantage is crucial here, and I see too many defenders giving the slight to medium bump or hold, and thinking they can get away with it since it's not heavy contact, but it affects the o players drive.

3. Post players are really sloppy, everyone wants to move all the time, with motion offenses, no posts offenses who flash four or five different people in, but none of them can move inside well, or make a legal move inside w/o a travel. On the same side, everyone wants to run, and play up tempo games, and so many teams settle for bad shots, cheap TO's, or make some stupid play with the ball into a bad shot because they hear Coach A say, push it, push it.

4. I've sen too many quarters end up in a hackfest, esp. when one team plays full court and the other team has quick guards that abuse the pressure. It's either give up the layup, or give the foul, and too many people give the foul instead of just playing good old fashioned half court man.

5. Another reason why play is so physical is that shooting is so bad these days. Man alive, can't anyone hit a 15' j anymore? No let's throw up a 3, or an out of control drive then send 3 or 4 to the boards and and win the scrum inside. Yuk!

But, I got a say, for all the complaints, it is fun to be doing it on the court again. I never realized how much I missed it. Just like I miss so much being in the circle, another change I am making...

Our last scrimmages were tonight

I have my first Scrimmage (Girls Varsity) tomorrow morning. It's been a while since I've done some basketball and I'm nervous. It's gonna take some time to get the cobwebs out

I guess I'm glad it's at a scrimmage and not a real varsity game.

First scrimage tonight Girls V..looking forward to getting back on the court.a couple of more scrimages next week..then the season starts for me the first week in December. Just a god time of the year..Officiating sure helps me get through the long winters up here in NH

Last night was more of the same. The girls game - we do double-headers - was OK. The visiting coach was complaining about us not calling many fouls against the other team. He had to do something because apparently he has coached his girls pretty well and he didn't need to say a lot to them. They moved the ball with a purpose better than most girls' teams. Well they ended up being up by 1 with 12 seconds left and the other team only had 3 team fouls. I guess sometimes the very thing you complain about is a benefit to you later in the game. The home team fouled 4 times, the away team hit both free throws and there was 4 seconds left. Game over.

The boys game was an out of body experience. I had to do some math all night. The visiting team hit a basket at the end to cut the lead to 58. Yeah! :D

Since this is my first year doing college ball, all of my college games have been great. I'm more mentally drained after a college game and I think it is because I'm trying to be perfect and putting to much pressure on myself.

Had my first high school game over the weekend (holiday tournament). 1st game was a boys game that went into overtime. Great play, great athletes and alot of above the rim play. My thing is that the play was much better then college ball because I do womens college. But I felt more comfortable and more in control of myself to the point where I was very relaxed and saw and called everything that I needed to call. I can't for the life of me figure out why I can't feel that way during my college games. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on this?

you're in NH? what board are with?

the winter officially started up here, 3 inches of snow today and I'm going skiing on friday...life is good

I am with board 118 North/Central NH ..are you in NH also?

Girls varsity started last Friday night.

Friday night's game: 39-32. Decently played, although not a great deal of talent on the floor. Home team only had 7 players dressed, and of course they were the first team in foul trouble. They kept it in check in the second half and only one girl fouled out.

Saturday night's game: 50-40. Championship game of a season opening tournament. Much better game than Friday night. Both teams had decent size and ball handlers. The team that won just had too much talent (one girl could shoot the 3 pretty well and she's also very quick). No trouble in the game, although the crowd did react to what they thought was a backcourt violation (both feet crossed the division line, but the ball stayed backcourt, she moved her feet into the backcourt before finally getting everything over the line). The coach knew the rule and he said nothing.

The boys start this weekend.

Hey, Mike. Golf course officially closed for the season?

I'm with 118 as well. I'm in North Conway.