I'm Back

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Why is allowing athleticism and competition determine the first possession of the game so bad?

Just a pet peeve of mine. I don't go all the way back to when there were jump balls after each basket, you'll have to ask Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. about those days, but I do go back to before the alternating possession arrow, when we had jump balls to start each period, for each held ball situation, and even for closely guarded situations, at three different circles on the court, with a lot of different players involved. Back then, because we had so many jump balls, coaches actually had jump ball plays, depending on which circle, and the probability of winning, or losing the tap. These coaches knew the various rules regarding jump balls, and taught these rules to their players. Officials, again, because there were so many jump balls, knew all the jump ball rules like the back of their hand, and good officials actually spent time practicing tosses by tossing the ball up through a basket and net.

Now that we have only one jump ball a game, plus overtimes, coaches don't really know the rules, and since they don't know the rules, their players don't know the rules. And likewise with officials. In my opinion, officials, myself included, don't know the various jump ball rules as well now as they did before the advent of the alternating possession. And these rules aren't easy. Jumpers, players on the circle, players off the circle. Official ready to toss, official tosses, ball is tapped. Open spots on the circle, filled spots on the circle. Moving onto the circle, moving off of the circle. Years ago I often heard our interpreter remind us to practice tossing up through a basket, now I can't remember the last time an interpreter gave us that suggestion.

Today, it seems like the two tallest kids get to jump, a few shorter kids match up on the circle, and a few more match up off the circle. The official throws up the toss, not with the same skill that I saw many years ago, and the other official stands back and hopes that nothing "odd", or "weird", happens, that is, "odd" enough, or "weird" enough, to be recognized as a violation, and I mean immediately recognized as a violation, not after a long tap is made, and a layup is made, in other words, a violation called by hesitant official, with a slow whistle.

We went from jump balls after every basket; to jump balls to start each period, for each held ball situation, and for closely guarded situations, at three different circles on the court; to a single jump ball at the center circle to start the game and an alternating possession after that. I think that the next logical progression is to start the game with a coin toss, like they do in soccer, football, and probably a few other sports. Or let the visitors get to go on offense first, like in baseball, or softball.

Again, just my opinion. I will certainly be pleased to listen to opposing views.