Just trying to avoid a violation
 

Before I give the ball to the shooter for a free throw, I look down to make sure everyone's feet are behind the lines. If I notice any of the kids along the lane over the lines I say something like,"let it touch, check your feet, (and I tell how many shots). My question is: am I coaching or giving an advantage to one team or the other by doing this?

Less is my in my book.

" 2 shots"

"1 shot"

If I get some one entering early , next time, I might say " let it hit the rim"

Less is more.

Please don't say that. It doesn't have to hit the rim. They can also enter once it hits the backboard.

Some might consider it coaching. I consider it preventative officiating. What level are you talking about here, btw? For Jr High and below, I would definitely be a little more verbal. But for high school games, I would expect them to know by now that they can't be touching the lines.

I am only in my 2nd year. I do middle school and frosh. mostly.

In the spirit of "less is more", why are you telling them that there are 2 shots? Of course there are shots coming. Why else would we be lined up along the free throw lane like this? All you need to say is "TWO!" or "one" or whatever. Somebody's just going to turn to you once the shooter has the ball and ask "Two, ref?" anyway.

In the spirit of "less is more", if you must say something, just say "let it hit".

In middle school, I have no problem with a little "coaching". As freshman, they should probably know how things work.

Thanks for the help scrapper:)

I should mention that if you prefer the "more is more" philosophy, then my favorite directions usually go something like, "Ok, guys, we had a good hoop, so we got one shot coming here. Watch your feet, and make sure you wait till it hits. Go straight in, no pushing, ok? Here we go, shooter. One shot!"

I love working with that guy. :rolleyes:

Suppose that before you administered the FT, A was in one of the lower blocks and B had three players along the line. A had a player off the line, but below the FT line extended. Would you fix it, or administer the FT and call the violations? Same thing in your play with the toes on the line.

If I see someone "pushing the envelope" as it were, I tend to say, "One Shot. Make sure it hits." To me, thats preventative officiating.

I say "let it hit." If they cannot figure it out after that then that is their problem.

Peace

Depends if it's guys or girls...seems like a lot of freshmen girls haven't played much either.

Like others have said, preventive officiating. I usually bounce the ball a couple of times and look around to make sure everything is okay and everyone is set, then administer the FT.

this is the same guy who is jumping in the huddle after the team just took their first to going "ok coach 2 fulls 2 30's left!"

Let it Hit
 

I believe in the preventive school of officiating.

I look around, signal to my partners the number of shots, since 4 of 5 correctible errors are related to free throws, then check feet, and say something about number of shots, and "stay outside the lines until it hits". It's kind of a routine, so they hear the same thing everytime.

Last night, we had a slow learner, three times, same player was in early, didn't quite understand what it meant to "stay outside the lines until it hits", twice it meant a substitute throw, once it cancelled a made free throw.