Pages 83-85 of the NFHS Basketball Officials' Manual

[chseagle]

Since someone on here mentioned I had the time to type out Appendix 4 of the NFHS Basketball Officials' Manual dealing with the Duties of Game Management, here it is for you.

4.0 DUTIES OF GAME MANAGEMENT
4.0.1 Relationship of Game Management to Officials:
A. General:
Most officials continue in the work because it is an avocation that provides the opportunity to maintain contact with the game & with those who administer the contests. If responsible & highly respected people are to be kept in the field, they should be accorded the cordial & businesslike treatment they expect in professions & in other vocations. They are requested to render decisions in rather technical matters & in an atmosphere charged with prejudice & emotion. No effort should be spared in providing conditions that will be conducive to efficiency & pleasant associations. Each contest administrator owes this to the official who is a guest & to the school that must depend on the work being of such a nature as to attract men & women who are in the habit of being treated with respect.
B. Reminders:
1. Notify the officials at least one week before each game giving the exact time & place of the game & the location of the officials’ dressing room.
2. Inform each official who they will be working with. Perhaps a ride can be shared.
3. Secure the visiting-school’s approval of the officials several weeks before the game & confirm the approval as soon as possible.
4. If parking facilities are a problem, provide a place for the officials.
5. Designate a capable student manager to act as host to the officials. The host should meet them at the door, escort them to the dressing room(s) & see that they are provided with towels & soap. The host may also accompany the officials to the floor & will take care of their jackets & be responsible for the game ball between halves. The host management should provide personnel to wipe the floor & maintain proper floor conditions as requested by the officials.
6. The official’s check should be handed to the official privately before the game or mailed if payment is by league or association.
7. Provide a clean, private dressing room with shower or nearby shower stall. Before & after a game, & at halftime, the officials room(s) should be “out of bounds” for everyone except the few who have a definite assignment there.
8. Insist that coaches instruct their players to be courteous & respectful to all officials. Players should be instructed to address officials as “Mr., Ms. or Mrs. Referee” or “Mr., Ms. or Mrs. Harvey,” not as “Ref.,” or “Sandra or Al.” A time-out should be requested if questions are to be directed to the officials, & the privilege of asking questions should be delegated to the captain only. Questions should be limited to those dealing with rules interpretation or game procedure. Nothing is ever gained by questioning an official’s judgment, & it may lead to a penalty. A public expression of dissent from an official’s judgment decision merely excites the fans & often results in a penalty.
9. Keep your crowd under control. A continuing program of education & training will work wonders. Police protection should be available & in evidence.
10. Do not permit any type of artificial noisemakers. Bands & other music may only be played during pregame, time-outs, intermission & post-game.
11. Insist that coaches set good examples for your crowd & players. Remain seated on the bench. Do not shout at players or officials. The coach, more than any other person, sets the pattern for the attitude of the fans.
12. Do not permit coaches to argue or visit with the official during a game or during an intermission. Criticizing an official in front of fans or players invites trouble. Avoid the officials’ dressing room(s) unless, just before their departure, you wish to visit briefly. If you have a grievance, stay away. See him, her or them later. That will be soon enough. Better yet, write a letter after three or more days.
13. You either hired or approved the officials. Take your share of the blame if you are not pleased. The chances are about 100 to 1 or less that your team lost the game because of the officiating.
14. Emotions need to be controlled. Modern basketball calls for coaches & players who have poise & coolness under fire. Team directors must demonstrate the same qualities.
C. Facility Conditions:
Gymnasium conditions have a great influence in administration of a game. A slippery floor or one with a layer of accumulated dust is a source of trouble & dissatisfaction. An inadequately lighted court detracts from efficiency & has a depressing effect on everyone. Unclean backboards, basket rings that are not level or basket nets that are either ragged or tight so as to cause delays, are conditions that contribute to an unsatisfactory event. For many school patrons, the athletic contest provides the only opportunity for seeing the school in action. Their impression ought to be one of good organization & businesslike efficiency.
D. Time Management:
Starting a game later than scheduled and having unduly long athletic contests are evidence of faulty administration. They are an imposition on the visiting team, the students, the fans & the officials.
E. Choosing Personnel:
Properly administering a contest is an exacting task. Many coworkers are involved. Each member of this team of student managers & faculty assistants has delegated responsibilities. It is important to conduct practice for this team in the fundamentals of good management. The school that is fortunate enough to have such a team with pride in its work will have a minimum of “athletic headaches” because they provide conditions that keep players & followers in a frame of mind to look for enjoyable occurrences & to be tolerant in passing judgment on decisions & playing strategy.
4.0.2 Selection of Scorer and Timer:
A. Adults:
A high school student or one of last year’s graduates will have the interest & enthusiasm but may lack poise, impartiality and judgment.
B. Experience:
Choose someone who has had some playing, coaching or officiating experience.
C. Faculty:
If faculty men or women are available for these jobs, they usually do the best work, although it is not a guarantee.
D. Reliable:
Choose men or women who can & will be present at every home game. It may be an honor to act as timer or scorer, but it’s not an honor that should be passed around with each game.
E. Good Judgment:
Above all, choose someone with plenty of poise, good judgment, a sense of impartiality & one who you are sure will be able to forget the score & concentrate instead on the job.
4.0.3 Training the Table Officials:
A. Preseason:
Before the opening of the season, provide the table officials with a rules book, case book & other basketball rules material available through the state office. This should be done regardless of the number of years they may have served in this capacity. There are frequent rules changes that affect the tasks of these officials. It might be well to mark or otherwise call attention to those sections of the rules that directly or indirectly refer to their duties. Insist on a careful study of the “Instructions to the Scorer” & “Instructions to the Timer.”
B. Rules Meetings:
Insist that your timer and scorer attend one of the state-sponsored rules interpretation meetings &, if possible, an occasional meeting of a local officials’ group.
C. Practice Games:
Before the first game, arrange for several intrasquad scrimmages conducted under actual game conditions with your timer & scorer at the bench. Plan to set up unusual situations involving timing & scoring. Check carefully on the work done in these scrimmages & make comments and criticisms.
D. Observe & Evaluate:
Observe the work of these officials during games & make suggestions for improvement.
E. Crew Respect:
See that your timer & scorer are accorded the same courtesy & respect as that due the floor officials. Their work is important, & it should be done with dignity & pride in good performance.