Horrific Partner!
 

Okay, I know this has been on the threads before (at least I imagine it has, and no I'm not going to search. Afterall, this is what this website is for, no?) but when, if at all, do you decide to "help" your partner out?

I did a girls JV game last night and right off the bat my partner started complaining about being sore after ONE game. As we go over pregame he informes that he is always wrong since he's been divorced twice now (what that has to do with basketball, I'll never know.)Then he leaves he jacket at home and has to walk out with his basball umpire jacket on.

When we get out on the floor he doesn't blow his whistle loud enough for anyone to hear it. When he blows his whistle (5x the entire game, including out of bounds) he'd run to me and whisper to me what he had.

At halftime he tells me how he "black out for the last five or so minutes" and didn't know what was going on! At each timeout and end of quarters I'd talk to him about things we both could improve on, but it was like it went in one ear and out the other.

There were no handcounts when he called a 5-second closely guarded violation. His signals were all off. I could go on and on...

I finally decided to take over and call more things in his area. Was I wrong in doing this? I know I'm not perfect, but c'mon.

What is the best way to deal with a partner that is just not confident (this is his 6th year) when he is out on the floor?

Get in, get done, get out.

Maybe call your assignor for an FYI.

Some of this I would just write off as an annoying patner to work with. The off court commentary is one thing, but you describe someone that really has no business officiating. My hunch is that everyone in the gym knows it but him, so you just "get in, get done, get out".

Regarding his umpire jacket, you could have told him not to wear it along with your jacket, at least you'd be in sync on that level.

... or at least told him not to squeeze the strike zone so you could get in and out a little quicker.

But, seriously, GIGDGO really does apply here. Reach as you must to prevent the absurd from taking place. And definitely give your an assignor a tap on the shoulder on this one. (S)he'll appreciate it. Or at least find the "block partners" tab on your assigning software, if you have it.

I think you mean widen the zone:D

OK, this has become a popular saying here. So, you follow this as opposed to?

I am waiting for Bob Jenkins to come in and tell his side of the story.

lol !!! :d

Two observations.

First, there is a big difference between six years officiating, and having six first years of officiating.

Second, reaching and helping is a contentious issue. We should be able to trust our partners and watch our area. But on a rare occasion where you get a partner who simply does not belong on the floor, I think you have to consider extending some. The best advice I've been given on this is that the farther you have to reach, the bigger it needs to be.

Nice!!!

Exactly. Everything has its time and place.

If you're asking what the alternative policy is, perhaps it's trying to fix every screwed up call and to tutor an official exhibiting invincible ignorance.

Or, as we say in the baseball forum: there's a difference between six years' experience and one year's experience six times. (Copyright Jim Evans)

I asked because this is what I do every game. I can't be Captain Save A...:D

If you know what I mean, you know what I mean!