First Tech

[Ignats75]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

My anecdotal experience is that it's better if the sign is given fairly close to the official's body. That is, keep the upper arm close to the chest -- the elbow perhaps 2-3" away from the chest and extend just the forearm. Also, keep the hand sort of relaxed / curled. That's interpreted as "okay, i've heard you, we need to move on one way or another."

If the whole arm is extended and the hand is tense, it's interpreted as "STFU."

I think the former also helps calm the official, while the latter just gets you primed to jump on the next comment.

That's how I use it and it works for me more times than not. And Snaq is right, I was taught to use it because it shows up on tape and that eliminates the "He was gunnin for me and T'd me for no reason" defense.

The times it doesn't work are when the whack was inevitable. But do NOT use it if you are afraid to pull the trigger or think giving a T reflects poorly on you. Then it'll just get you in trouble and/or make you look foolish.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It's better if the sign is given fairly close to the official's body. That is, keep the upper arm close to the chest, the elbow perhaps 2-3" away from the chest and extend just the forearm. Keep the hand sort of relaxed/curled. That's interpreted as "okay, i've heard you, we need to move on one way or another." If the whole arm is extended and the hand is tense, it's interpreted as "STFU."

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

My failed use of it involved a full arm extension.

Perhaps this will show up on the NFHS Signal Chart next season?

[jdub]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

My anecdotal experience is that it's better if the sign is given fairly close to the official's body. That is, keep the upper arm close to the chest -- the elbow perhaps 2-3" away from the chest and extend just the forearm. Also, keep the hand sort of relaxed / curled. That's interpreted as "okay, i've heard you, we need to move on one way or another."

If the whole arm is extended and the hand is tense, it's interpreted as "STFU."

I think the former also helps calm the official, while the latter just gets you primed to jump on the next comment.

I really like this idea of not extending the arm. Simple but it changes it completely. I called a technical in a Girls 7th/8th grade game (why oh why did I let myself do MS) this past week and the stop sign was more a formality.

I was Lead, tableside, nearest the later ejected coach. He took exception to a traveling call on his player and came onto the court, nearby me on the endline to complain. I gave him the stop sign and told him "You need to go back to your bench." He said "If you missed that call, you don't deserve to be an official." Whack.

Partner then ejected him as we were administering free throws, when he came out of his seat and to the scorers table to continue to yell, after partner told him to be seated calm down.

Middle school......

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by jdub

Middle school......

"Competitive" Middle School though, right?

[chartrusepengui]

Got my first 2 this weekend. Partner calls foul on A5 and goes to reporting area. A5 picks up ball and throws it across the court - away from all players and myself, narrowly missing partner. WHACK! Then, the brain surgeon turns to me and, in his own defense says, "I didn't say a f---ing thing" WHACK! Coach looks at me and just nods his head. After game he tells me that this kid has a real problem with language but his mom insists he doesn't even know "those words".

[bbcof83]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

My experience with it has been limited. I noted in another post, but I used it once in Iowa and had to follow very quickly with a T (he ran the stop sign). I've had much better success with verbal communication followed by just putting the ball in play.

I try to think of how I would respond to it, and I can't find the right word to describe it. It comes across as dismissive, I think.

I understand, though, that some use it effectively, and it's likely just another personality thing. I've just found that talking to them is much easier.

Agreed. I used to give the stop sign but felt like it increased the animosity and tension in the situation because they felt I was dismissing their complaints. I now take the stern but respectful approach. I will give kind of a both palms down gesture and say "that's enough, coach" or "I heard you and we're moving on".