the stare down

[fullor30]

State playoff time in Illinois and I was out watching a few first round games.

I saw something last night that on the scale of things is minor but yet I never like to see. Calling official has a foul and gives the hard, 3-4 second glare "I gotcha" look to the player as if he was caught shoplifting. Not a big fan of this. I can understand selling a call involving a scrum on the floor that may require bird dogging or closing in that you saw it, but the pedestrian, block, shooting foul etc. that warrants the stare and scowl looks silly to me.

[bas2456]

I agree. I think that's an effort by the official to show up the player, and I think that's unnecessary.

[Juulie Downs]

"The Look" can be used effectively when the infraction is very borderline, there's no A/D involved, kid knows he did it, and demonstrates remorse after receiving The Look. Once the foul (or violation) is called it's too late. THEN it's just power-trippin'.

[SmokeEater]

I'm sorry to have to disagree with you Juulie. If it works for you that's great but I personally don't think that there is ever a need for an official (especially if your an adult) to stare down a player. It is an intimidating appearance and is that the impression that needs to be delivered.

Again that is my opinion and your welcome to it, Free of Charge.

[GoodwillRef]

This officials favorite men's college basketball official must be Ed Hightower!

[JRutledge]

Three of four seconds is not a very long period of time. And if you are looking at them, you are looking at them to see what they are doing next.

This is not tidily winks we are talking about here. If a player is jumping up and down throwing their arms around, they are going to have me looking at them. Next move is a T if they do not stop or if they keep up their little antics.

The question that needs to be asked, what did the player do and what did his teammates do after this incident? But to say that we cannot look at players is silly. One of the most affective ways from my parents to get a point across was not without a single word being said. This works for officials too.

Peace

[refguy]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

This officials favorite men's college basketball official must be Ed Hightower!

LOL! You beat me to the punch with that one.

[dahoopref]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

This officials favorite men's college basketball official must be Ed Hightower!

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by SmokeEater

I'm sorry to have to disagree with you Juulie. If it works for you that's great but I personally don't think that there is ever a need for an official (especially if your an adult) to stare down a player. It is an intimidating appearance and is that the impression that needs to be delivered.

Again that is my opinion and your welcome to it, Free of Charge.

Yea, free advice is worth what you pay for it...

I'm not talking about staring them down. I'm talking about the look your mom gives you when you're onstage singing in the choir, and you are holding up the "rabbit ears' behind the person next to you; or you're waving to someone. It says, "I'm not gonna do anything yet, but don't push me". It only takes a second, and it doesn't requre the kid to break the eye contact, you can do that yourself. You put up one eyebrow, tilt chin slightly downward, and just glower for a second. Then put face back to normal and go on about business. Yup, it works for me, and it might work for others.

[SmokeEater]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

Yea, free advice is worth what you pay for it...

I'm not talking about staring them down. I'm talking about the look your mom gives you when you're onstage singing in the choir, and you are holding up the "rabbit ears' behind the person next to you; or you're waving to someone. It says, "I'm not gonna do anything yet, but don't push me". It only takes a second, and it doesn't requre the kid to break the eye contact, you can do that yourself. You put up one eyebrow, tilt chin slightly downward, and just glower for a second. Then put face back to normal and go on about business. Yup, it works for me, and it might work for others.

Yes I understood that you said it was "The Look". And I get its a look that really a mother has perfected. My reference is like you say to stare down a player in a fashion that is just daring them to "go ahead try anythign and I'm a gonna ring ya up". Those stares are teh intimidating ones that have no place in our game. Thanks for clearing it all up.