Officials and Development

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

It is somewhat scary that a first-year official is concerned about giving technicals to coaches for yelling.

When I hear/see a coach or player show negative emotion with respect to a call that is made by me or someone on my crew, I immediately ask myself several questions:

It is completely scary imo that any official would be concerned about a first-year official issuing technical fouls for coaches yelling at them. That's a ridiculous statement. What difference does it make if the official is in their first year or not. Coaches aren't supposed to be yelling at officials. Period.

One of the questions that you should be asking yourself is why you've come up with a million excuses on why officials shouldn't call technical fouls. Nothing personal, but I'd rather officiate with people who don't overthink what they're doing out there. I'm kinda partial to officials who see unsporting conduct being displayed and have the testicular fortitude to actually do something about it. Hey, if you want to let everybody vent and coaches yell at you, be my guest. It's terrible advice for any new official (or any other official) though imo.

[TheOracle]

This topic has many layers. The better the judgment, the less emotional reactions you will get from coaches. Credibility also plays into that. New officials have to earn credibility, and good judgment over time builds that.

For the purposes of development, which is the topic being discussed, new officials should be working on judgment, as that is the base building block to game and people management. The more they can be introspective, and understand that for a coach to start yelling or throwing out insults is frequently the culmination of several things (judgment, calls, posturing, how you project), the quicker they will develop.

For context, since my "scary" description seems to have stricken a JR nerve, is that far too often new officials feel the need to be the enforcer, and draw a line that they won't put up with anything. Typically, actions that warrant a T by coaches have many precursors. New officials should try and understand these, and understand how their judgment, and they way they react to difficult/controversial calls, can either escalate things to a T situation, or de-escalate them. We have also seen the new guys that get off on giving T's and ejecting coaches/players. They brag about it.

I am unhappy whenever I have to give a T. I am very unhappy when I have to T a coach--it represents the lowest common tool in my box to manage the situation, and tells me that I was unable to prevent it. It should be the tool of last resort--the ejection handle for Goose and Mavberick from Top Gun. Where if you don't use it, you're dead.

My advice to new guys for the purposes of their development--use the T sparingly. Learn how to be stoic and have a thick skin. It will serve you well when you advance, and you'll be surpirsed how sparingly you'll ever have to use it when you get there.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

The more they can be introspective, and understand that for a coach to start yelling or throwing out insults is frequently the culmination of several things (judgment, calls, posturing, how you project), the quicker they will develop.

Now I know you're kidding.

Every spring/summer I T & toss more coaches at AAU and "exposure" type tournaments than I do in 5 years of winter basketball. These are the types of coaches we're talking about here.

I am unhappy whenever I have to give a T. I am very unhappy when I have to T a coach--it represents the lowest common tool in my box to manage the situation, and tells me that I was unable to prevent it. It should be the tool of last resort--the ejection handle for Goose and Mavberick from Top Gun. Where if you don't use it, you're dead.

Geeze...Top Gun? wtf is that about?

Just wndering - when was the last time you actually refereed a game where more than the 10 players actually cared about the outcome?

[TheOracle]

Yep, I don't work AAU and exposure tournaments in the summer. Totally different animal. However, the best officials use the T the least, because they don't have to.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

the best officials use the T the least, because they don't have to.

I just fundamentally disagree with this. In my first few years, I don't think I gave ANY technical fouls because I was intimidated. Are you saying that I was actually a GREAT official because I didn't give out technical fouls that were richly deserved? That's just silly.

On the other hand, the NCAA has practically given men's officials a hunting license to whack coaches with its "zero tolerance" policy. Absolutely any unsporting conduct, including gestures for "missed" calls, is supposed to get a technical this year. I worked a college game this year with a guy who works a couple D1 conferences and he told me he'd already given 5 technical fouls in the first 2 weeks of his season.

IMHO, the best officials are not those who give the fewest technical fouls. The best officials are those that give technical fouls immediately when they are necessary and warranted; and who do not give technicals when they are not necessary and warranted.

I don't know you and I certainly do not mean to disparage you or your officiating experience. But in your last two posts, you've made statements that are glaringly false.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

Yep, I don't work AAU and exposure tournaments in the summer. Totally different animal.

And these are the coaches the new guys must work their way thru before they know as much as you think you do.

However, the best officials use the T the least, because they don't have to.

And if I said the best officials call travel the least because they don't have to your response would be....?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

For context, since my "scary" description seems to have stricken a JR nerve, is that far too often new officials feel the need to be the enforcer, and draw a line that they won't put up with anything.

Naw, JR just thinks that your whole officiating philosophy is a complete load of doodoo. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, let alone a new official just starting out.

Don't let that deter your oracling though.

[TheOracle]

See, that's the funny part. Because neither of us is right or wrong. What you and the other two guys advocate is correct by the rule book. So is my philosophy. All my post said was to think about those things and make up your own minds. I can never argue about whether a T is correct. But I can say that newer officials make a lot of judgment mistakes, and defensive officials never realize how many judgment mistakes they really do make. When you penalize reactions for your own mistakes, is that good for anyone? What works for some doesn't work for all.

[26 Year Gap]

I can name that Old School in 10 posts.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

I can name that Old School in 10 posts.

No way. This guy is actually literate enough to use caps in the right places and spell all his words correctly. I disagree with a couple of his posts, but at least I understand them.

If I had to guess, I would say that he's a coach or former coach who remembers things from the coach's side. (They're more reasonable as you get to higher levels, you can always avoid the T, etc.)

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

If I had to guess, I would say that he's a coach or former coach who remembers things from the coach's side. (They're more reasonable as you get to higher levels, you can always avoid the T, etc.)

Naw, he's a lawyer. They're trained to be wishy-washy weasels.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Naw, JR just thinks that your whole officiating philosophy is a complete load of doodoo. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, let alone a new official just starting out.

Don't let that deter your oracling though.

The really scary part is that someone would have the arrogance to call him/herself an "Oracle". Wow.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

The really scary part is that someone would have the arrogance to call him/herself an "Oracle". Wow.

See post above yours.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

See post above yours.

Yea, interesting, eh??

And, btw, how's the weather in your area? I know the news has been saying y'all have been slammed "in Vermont" but they're also saying that Oregon is in a state of emergency, but my neighborhood is fine. So how is it where you are?

[26 Year Gap]

10-12 inches. But the snowblower hit an immovable object so that's gonna cost a few game fees.