Officials' Authorthy (2.6)

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by ILMalti

What is this rule about? and does it mean that when the calling official is adamant about his/her call, the other official/s cannot overrule?

With very few exceptions (and those exceptions are clearly identified in the rules with language like "the referee shall...") both or all three partners are equals. My partner is specifically prohibited by rule from "overruling" any of my calls.

But there are appropriate times when one partner may help another "get it right." For example, if you know with absolute certainty that white tipped the ball before it went OOB over my line, and I indicated that it is white's ball, you should hold up play and immediately bring that information to me. If I'm about to misapply a rule, and you know what the correct ruling is, you'd should be on your way over pronto to help me out. But in any such case, it's my call and my ruling and I will make the change.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

With very few exceptions (and those exceptions are clearly identified in the rules with language like "the referee shall...") both or all three partners are equals. My partner is specifically prohibited by rule from "overruling" any of my calls. Now if he has information to give me which may lead me to change my own call, that is a different matter. But a call is different than a rule. If I'm about to misapply a rule, and you know what we're supposed to do, you'd better be on your way over pronto to help me out. But even then, it's my ruling, and you cannot simply "overrule" me.

Back In The Saddle makes some excellent points. Below you will find two parts of my pregame that I always go over with my partner, no exceptions:

On double whistles, let’s both hold our preliminary signal and not give a block or player control signal. Make eye contact with each other. Give the call to whoever has the primary coverage, most often the lead official, unless you definitely have something different that happened first, in which case we’ll talk about it.

For out-of-bounds help, let's get it right. Come together for a change if needed. If I have no idea and I look to you for help, just give a directional signal. No need to come to me. Just point. If you don't know, give me a jump ball signal. If I signal but I get it wrong then blow the whistle and come to me. Tell me what you saw and let me decide if I’m going to change it.

[ILMalti]

Comments have been helpful and noted. thanks,

[Mark Padgett]

Had a situation on this topic come up twice in a recent HS girls spring league tournament game I worked. I was trail both times. A1 bent over to pick up the ball and her knee hit the court while she was holding it, then she immediately jumped up. A split second later, B1 tied her up. We had a double whistle because they had just crossed into my area from my partner's (two person). A1's back was toward my partner so he couldn't see the travel first, which I saw clearly both times. He signals jump and I signal travel.

He immediately waved off his call and we went with the travel. I thought it was because it happened first, but at halftime he said it was because he felt I was the "senior official" (I'm at least 100 years older than him). I went over protocol on situations like this and explained it didn't matter who was "senior" but who was correct. He got it.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I went over protocol on situations like this and explained it didn't matter who was "senior" but who was correct.

Well said.