Floor Markings
 

I just worked a game for the first time in a new HS gym in our area. When marking the floor, they did not put down the semi-circle at the top of the free throw lane. When I questioned the AD, he said it wasn't necessary since there were no more jump ball situations at the free throw line. I argued that it is required by rule, both in Rule 1 and Rule 9. Rule 9 states that free throws must be taken within the semicircle - if it 's not there how can that rule be enforced. Granted in reality 99.99% of all free throws are taken directly at the line so it's not really an issue, but none the less I believe it is a requirement by rule.

Obviously we played the game. I guess I am now supposed to file a report with the state about the irregularity. I am surprised that a month into the season, I am the first official that has worked there that has mentioned this to them. I'm curious what some of you more "senior" folks think?

I would have done exactly the same thing. I think you were right to mention it to the AD, play the game anyways, and write a report to the state. Did you mention it to the visiting coach in the pre-game metting?

I'd be surprised if you were the first official to say something, but I suppose it depends on your area. Some idiot decided to save $25 by not marking those lines, but Click and Clack are correct: "the stingy man pays the most!"

colors
 

I worked in a Gym last year that did not have the lines of the 12 ft circle just the free throw line marked however the floor was painted a different color in that area so that the outside edge of that color served as the line.

No, unfortunately. Quite honestly, I didn't notice it until we were about 3 minutes into the game and had our first shooting foul.

Wow! An obscure reference to Tom & Ray Magliozzi (The Tappet Brothers). I used to listen to them all the time when I was stationed in Europe in the 80s. Way to go mbyron! :cool:

I actually called a violation this past summer in an AAU game when the free throw shooter wouldn't get inside the circle before receiving the ball from the lead. I told her she needed to step inside the circle and she wouldn't listen. She got the ball with one foot completely out of the circle and I whistled the violation.

She now knows.

I work a HS gym that has a division line that is 4" wide. Is it worth telling anybody about?

Interesting, although I think that circle could be eliminated and the rule changed or dropped.

I have a school 15 minutes from me with no center circle, just a big M in the middle of the division line.

Tell the AD to get out some masking tape, get down on his knees and put the semi-circle on. If he won't do it, tell him the game is canceled due to the gym floor being inadequate. If he gives you any grief, stuff the tape down his throat so he chokes. Also take everyone's cell phone so no one can call 911 to save him. Then stand over him and laugh in his face as he slowly expires. Then drive really fast to Canada.

Or, you could just play the game. Nowhere near as much fun, though.

Isn't There An Exception For That ???
 

Volleyball ???

I am not a volleyball guy, is that the reason?

Volleyball has 2" line just like basketball should be.

The architect that designed our gym here was pretty dim. They specifically told the contractor not to touch the center logo. I brought up the shadow lines to make notion of where the center line is, but no they listened to the architect, so we have to put floor tape down and ruin the wax finish.

Also they put the score boards at mid-court on each side rather than on the ends to the side of each backboard? Last second shots are near impossible to keep an eye on the time and last second shot, rely way too much on the horn..

Apparently the architect had awards in his mind than the rules of basketball. There is a note somewhere in the rule book, or maybe on the court diagram, where there is an agency or something other that architects can contact for specifics in making sure their designs will be within the rules and all.

Gruenwar:

They are great. I try to listen to them every Saturday morning.

MTD, Sr.

[QUOTE=kwv001;565025]I just worked a game for the first time in a new HS gym in our area. When marking the floor, they did not put down the semi-circle at the top of the free throw lane. [QUOTE]

Our in-city CYO rival has a gym, but the ceiling is low and the court dimensions are small. And they, too, have no semicircles at the lane (and no 3-point lines). The court is so small, the scorers table is in the entrance to the adjoining kitchen.

About ~8-10 years ago, their JV teams (4th-6th grade) would play in this gym while the 7th/8th grade teams played at the nearby Catholic High School. Now, all their teams play at another site.

Speaking CYO, we have a league here that is similar, it's called the PAL (Parochial Athletic League). One of the gyms in that league was so small, the 3-point line only went to the free-throw line extended, at which point the line went to the boundary line. Pretty awkward design.

Foul On Blue #32, And He Picked Up The 7-10 Spare ...
 

Same thing here in one of our Catholic middle school league gyms. Home bench, and table crew, on one endline, and visitors bench on the other endline. It feels like we're playing basketball in a single lane bowling alley. But the gym does have some charm.

Also, I've actually worked a high school (prep school) varsity game in a gym that was so small that the feet of the players sitting on the benches were inbounds most of the time, and the court had two division lines, one closest to the basket the team was shooting at for the ten second violation count, and another one farther back for a backcourt violation. Really.

Ref Ump Welsch - The gym you described sounds like our current home gym for CYO. An adjoining school closed two years ago, but the parish lets us rent their gym since we have none. The gym is narrow enough that the three point line meets the side line.

###

Now, it's time for my story about the smallest gym I've ever been in.

When my "career" staterted 25 years ago, we had a home and home scrimmage series with an area Montessori Academy. Apparently, they must not have played many games or had much of a sports program because they actually brought cheerleaders with them when they scrimmaged us at our gym. I remeber my friend (who was my co-student manager) and I asking each other "who brings cheerleaders to a scrimmage?" :confused:

When we went to their gym the following week, coach asked that only the reserve players go so that they could get more playing time and experience. I still remember walking into the gym and seeing that it was so small that the free throw circles intersected with the large half court circle. :eek:

They didn't have a scorer, so I ended up having to do the scorebook. Thank goodness my dad had taught me the basics during that first year of mine. To make things even more interesting, some of the home players were listed in the book with no number since they didn't have jerseys, just team warmups.

In lieu of a scoreboard, they had some bulletin board behind the table where some lady would manually adjust the score by putting up cards with the numbers on them. The clock was a football timer and what looked a bicycle horn you had to blow to signal subs or the end of the period.

Since the kitchen was also adjoining the gym, every time Montessori scored, people inside the kitchen would bang on pots and pans.

We ended up playing six periods. We got outscored in the first four, but we ended up winning the final two. Not too bad for playing our second and third units exclusively. Final results notwithstanding, the experience was definitely priceless! :D

I also remember on the drive back home (I can't remmeber if my dad drove players or if I was driven by other parents), some of the players were saying "If they join our league, they need a real gym!"

Drived? :D

You Know, Like Sing, Sang, Sung ???
 

Drive, Drived, Drove.

This Gym Was So Small.....Here's Johnny!
 

ARGH!

Dug up this old thread as I reffed two boys 12U games last night in a horrific gym.

Carpet floor with absolutely no room for players, coaches, parents, etc. to sit/stand. Coaches are nearly forced onto the floor as there is little room for them to stand on the sidelines next to the table. Spectators are barely off the court, and are ON the court when they stretch their legs. Plus all of the various equipment (mats, benches, poles) along the endline make it impossible for the officials to get properly positioned - I nearly tripped and fell a few times and players crashed into objects at great speed and peril sometimes (or so I thought).

Captains and Coaches meeting was serious business this night. Players were given great latitude along the sidelines inbounding the ball. One boy tried to inbound the ball and keep his feet out of bounds and practically fell onto the court he was so off balance. When the players and parents started arriving for the second game, the corners of the gym were barely playable with so many people in attendance.

My least favorite moment. I'm on the sidelines and call a violation. When I put my hand up - it went up and into a chain net hanging from one of the side basket that was just off the floor. Chain net in an indoor gym? :eek:

Only good part was I wasn't tired at the end of the night from too much running......

If I never call a game in that gym again it'll be too soon.

If you all watch the movie "Boys Town" made back in the 1930's with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, you'll see a big room in which Mickey is celebrated as the newly-elected Mayor of Boys Town. That room is now the middle school gym, which has a carpet floor and not much room like grunewar described in his posting.