Lopsided Foul Counts

Originally Posted by RichMSN

He wanted one, had one coming, and you just facilitated it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Personally, I'm more in the camp of "The fouls are 9-3 because the fouls are 9-3. Period." And unless the coach is asking a question, I'm just ignoring it until I have to either deliver a warning (he's too loud about it, out of the box, or otherwise being a douchebag) or a technical.

I called two in a varsity girls game last week (first USC technicals in 2 years) on the losing team with a 4-point margin and a minute left. Girl acted up after we didn't call a violation (I was the C, it was a backcourt violation they wanted, and the T was straddling the line) and got whacked. I reported the T and it was the girl's fifth foul. Since I was there reporting the foul and technical, I told the coach it was 5 fouls and started the clock.

He asked for a timeout. I told him I needed a sub first. He told me he wasn't giving me one and that he wanted a timeout. I repeated, "by rule, I need a sub before the timeout." He came back with, "you're not getting one and I want a timeout" and he turned his back to me. During this time the horns went off in the background. I whacked him.

Could I have avoided the technical by granting him the timeout? Sure. And I know many would've done that. But the easy way isn't always the right way.

Along this line, I hate it when coaches want me to grant the timeout before I report a foul. When I have a request, I always let them know I acknowledge their request but need to report the foul first. Usually, they're pretty good but I had one that kept saying "I want a timeout!" As I was reporting the foul, that coach's players started going to him to huddle up while the other team waited. After the report, I turned and asked him which timeout he wanted, a 30 or full. He went off, saying he already asked for a full and he was already in the huddle and not to interrupt him. I whacked him, reported the T, and then the timeout. The other team then proceeded to their bench. Coach had his girls back on the court before the other team, and was asking why the horn was taking so long. He didn't know he'd been whacked till the other team came out of the huddle and my partner asked for a shooter for the free throws. Coach started on my partner asking what was going on, then he came flying down the sideline screaming at me. Lucky for me, partner T'd him for being out of the box and ejected him. There's some idiocy out there indeedy.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by shishstripes

We have all had games where foul counts get lopsided and there are many reasons why:
Defense is more aggressive
Team in general is a step slower
Parity in ability, etc.

One team is playing zone, the other an aggressive man to man.
One tam is shooting jump shots, the other is driving to the basket and passing the ball to the low post.
One team is playing defense with their hands, the other is moving their feet.
One team is pressing in the BC, the other is running back to the other end.

[pizanno]

For younger officials:

Don't try a snappy or smart response. Nothing good can come of it.
Don't try to explain the foul count, no matter how obvious.
Ask the coach if there's a question, or a specific play to discuss, or ignore if it's a statement.
"I am aware of the foul count" works well for me.

Calling the foul count to your attention seems to be part of the "working the officials 101" handbook when you don't have a specific play to question. Come to expect it.