Officials as players

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by ChrisSportsFan

I do not advise them asking about a judgment call. However, I have no problem with them telling me something like: "could you watch their screens? I'm not sure they are staying set" or "my post player said #54 is holding his jersey during post play, could you please take a look at it?"
Others have also stated that if he is spending any energy worrying about the officials, he is not going to be the player his team needs him to be.

My Son has also started officiating and this is the exact advice I gave him. I believe being an official has helped him be a better player and vis-a-versa.

Great to hear about your son embarking on his officiating career. I get immense satisfaction partnering with my boys and watching from the stands while they manage a fast paced, pressure cooker game. I hope you are able to experience this unique pleasure soon and often.

I concur that judgement calls are off limits but many times an explanation given in response to a respectful question may provide for a teaching opportunity.

When my younger son was 10, he was called for a block. When he asked the ref what happened he was told he didn't give the dribbler a step and, even though he had good position that he was leaning backward and did not justify a charge.

My son's response was short and sweet 4---23---3

This official has since progressed to earn his Varsity stripes and we rehash that incident every time we meet. He refers to my son as his personal rules guru.

By the same token, my sons know the pat response to

Originally Posted by ChrisSportsFan

"could you watch their screens? I'm not sure they are staying set" or "my post player said #54 is holding his jersey during post play, could you please take a look at it?"

If they are going to engage in a tete-a-tete with a game official, it would probably be more in the vein of "Can the screener have his legs spread tthhiiiisssss wide?" or "Can you follow the airborne shooter til he lands safely?"
It would seem these are more salient comments and may lead to a better called game.