Looking for a Toe

[fiasco]

I agree, get the call right, but if I was your partner I'd be a little miffed that you didn't come and talk to me about it before just changing it. It's my call, and if you have information you want to share, by all means come share it with me and allow me to change my own call so I don't look like an a$$.

Also, I think you were fine for seeing the toe on the line. A lot of people will give you a lot of grief for seeing things that are outside of your primary, but we don't work with blinders on. You can watch your primary and see things outside of it at the same time. Don't worry about that so much. Focus on your primary, and if you happen to see something outside of it, talk it over with your partner.

[ma_ref]

In this case, the outcome was good because the right call was made. Having said that, however, I'm not necessarily sure it's a good habit to get into. In terms of high school basketball, I think the thing that moved my game from being a sub-varsity official to being a varsity level official (Note: sub-varsity vs varsity official is not meant to be an insult to anyone...just an analogy) was learning to focus on my area and not follow the ball. This was tough, beacuse let's face it, the ball is where most of the good action is. The fact that you and your partner had focused on the shooter (regardless of whether or not your partner could clearly see the feet and 3 point arc), means that there were 8 or 9 other players on the court that neither of you were watching. And that's not a good thing.

It's absolutely possible that despite focusing on your primary, you may still have seen the shooter's toes on the line, but I think that'd be the exception, rather than the norm.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by fiasco

I agree, get the call right, but if I was your partner I'd be a little miffed that you didn't come and talk to me about it before just changing it. It's my call, and if you have information you want to share, by all means come share it with me and allow me to change my own call so I don't look like an a$$.

Disagree. This is the ONE situation where you just stop the clock, indicate two points, and move on.

[sseltser]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Disagree. This is the ONE situation where you just stop the clock, indicate two points, and move on.

That is what I have always read, so I just did it somewhat instinctively. I think I will mention it in a pregame from now on.


Also, I really wasn't ball watching, but I was cognizant of where the ball was. And the shooter just happened to be inside my field of vision when the shot went up.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by sseltser

That is what I have always read, so I just did it somewhat instinctively. I think I will mention it in a pregame from now on.


Also, I really wasn't ball watching, but I was cognizant of where the ball was. And the shooter just happened to be inside my field of vision when the shot went up.

I realize it didn't come across the way I intended it. I didn't mean to imply you were ball watching; I was talking about my personal progress as an official and how I've trained (and am still training) myself to quit ball watching. To me, it started with not calling the travels and double dribbles that I clearly should not have been seeing.

I know sometimes we catch that foot on the line; it only takes a brief glance.

I realize this is different than the travels, double dribbles, carries, and maybe fouls that I would dial long distance for in my early days. I'm willing to admit I was wrong on this one.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

To me, it started with not calling the travels and double dribbles that I clearly should not have been seeing.

I know sometimes we catch that foot on the line; it only takes a brief glance.

I realize this is different than the travels, double dribbles, carries, and maybe fouls that I would dial long distance for in my early days. I'm willing to admit I was wrong on this one.

I don't disagree with you, Snaqs.

Yet, I still find it a bit uncomfortable when I am table-side Center and I no-call a miss by my partners, ... while the Coach [behind me] wonders how I "...Could not see that !!?"

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mick

I don't disagree with you, Snaqs.

Yet, I still find it a bit uncomfortable when I am table-side Center and I no-call a miss by my partners, ... while the Coach [behind me] wonders how I "...Could not see that !!?"

I know. But it's a lot easier than explaining to my partner why I called a travel-that-wasn't right in front of him. Did it twice one season to veteran officials (one JV game and one varsity game). I apologized each time before they could bring it up.

[Back In The Saddle]

I agree that you don't want to even be looking at travels, etc. out of your area. In one of my first seasons I "helpfully" called a backcourt violation...from lead. And I got the call wrong. I too have had to train myself to not call stuff in my partner's pond when I see it, unless it's the proverbial elephant.

But would it be the next step in the progression from padowan umpire to Jedi referee (tm) to be aware of when there are situations where a single, well-timed glance into your partner's pond might put you in a position to help the crew?

It's a question I'm asking myself too.