Keep instructions to a minimum, I agree. But having said that, it is amazing to me how little some players at the varsity level know about the game situation at times, whether they have been told or not. A player is fouled on a layup in the first 15 seconds of the game. "How many shots, ref?" Or, on the 7th foul, we announce 1&1, first shot is made, and half the players start to the other end of the court. etc.

Agreed. I usually follow this with, "One more, fellas." That's when you see a lot of light bulbs turning on.

Wow ! coaching?? how do you get that out of 'check your clock'? I suppose then during a 'long' time-out you don't inform the team that the 1st horn has sounded? or when lined up for free throws you don't indicate how many are to be attempted? or that you don't talk to players to de-fuse a situation? If you do any of those, then you must be guilty of 'coaching' as well. Welcome to the club...

You should not care what a team is doing when time expires or if their actions frustrate their coach. Your job is to officiate the action, not direct it.

You are unfairly impacting the game by alerting whichever team ends up with possession following the FT attempt to the clock situation or possibly the defending team which can now opt to employ a strategy that they otherwise would not have (purposely giving a foul). That kind of awareness is the responsibility of the team members and coaches.

You need to stay out of this as your advice could be seen as helping one side or the other near the end of a tight ballgame. That is WAY outside of the purview of an official. The game officials are to be neutral observers, adjudicators, and administrators of the contest.

Sorry, if this seems like people are jumping on you, but we really want you to understand how your comments can be taken and prevent you from landing in a seriously ugly situation.

There is a difference, Ray.
Stating 1st horn to the huddle is a required mechanic and stated in the NFHS Officials Manual.
Informing the players how many FTs are to be attempted is also a required mechanic.
Talking to the players if there is an altercation is a gray area. Some officials do it and some don't. Some are good at it and by doing so can help control the game, some aren't great communicators and have learned that the players just get more unhappy when they are engaged in that manner, so they refrain from such talk. There is no clear proper method for that.

However, what you are doing by saying "check your clock" is totally uncalled for in any administrative manual and can only be seen as offering extra advice to the players. A very poor idea.

LIke I said, one is preventative officiating. Preventing violations, fouls, etc. Some argue against it, others use it. It's expected.

But reminding them to check the clock so they are sure to try to get a shot off? Seriously? If you can't tell the difference, I can't help you.

Do you count down for them, too, so they don't forget?

I doubt you'll find a HS aged player that doesn't know what a one-and-one is. Do they get brain farts and do something silly, yes, but they're not misunderstanding. Either way it's not our job to make sure they know what to do.

Don't know where to begin...so I'll leave it simply as don't do this.


First of all, stating "first horn" on a "long" (or in fact a "short" :rolleyes:) timeout is required by our mechanics. So is indicating the number of FT's. Talking to player to defuse a situation is GOOD game management. The rest of what you are suggesting is nothing close to GOOD game management.

So I can't yell "watch out,half court trap"? It would give better flow to game and less fouls................darn.

Haha!

"One-Shot. White is going to press on a made FT, so red, make sure you set up the press break offense on the make, transition offense on the miss. Let it hit. Check your clock, not much left. Play."

You forgot, "Ladies/Gentlemen," to start.

I address the players as Ladies/Gentlemen. It has served me well. I have even received complimentary comments from coaches about it.

I Ref a local Rec League (12B) with a guy who does a pretty good job, but has little to no formal training. He is constantly shouting, "Hands Up! Hands Up!" He shouts for the entire gym to hear. Meaning of course watch your hands on D, don't reach. He must shout it 50-75 times a game. Gives me a friggin headache (ranks up there with, "Ball, Ball, Ball!" but, he's my partner!).

I said to him once, "Look, I know what you mean - but, just call the game. Let the coaches coach the players. It's not your job." He hasn't taken me up on my suggestion yet.....:(

I usually say "one" and then have said "and if he makes it the game will be tied and you guys in the white jerseys should run a screen and roll like you did last trip down to try to tie the game" Is this coaching a little too much?

Then he'll take you up on your suggestion ...
 

We've had a few threads on this ("Ball, Ball, Ball!") before, and most of us have decided that although it's as irritating as hell, it's not unsporting, and, in regard to the players, we can't do much about it. But in this case, I would make an exception, and "Whack" him.

I do as well, but not every time I administer a free throw; and it's never the beginning of a yoga class.