3 seconds....THREE SECONDS!!!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by muxbule

This was a game stopper that I was told early on to avoid so you tell them to clear the lane or get out.

Every time we blow our whistle, it's a "game stopper". Are you suggesting that we should never call anything?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Every time we blow our whistle, it's a "game stopper". Are you suggesting that we should never call anything?

More diplomatic than me, I see.

The phrase "game interrupter" or "game stopper" has morphed from its original intention (passing on contact that doesn't cause an advantage/disadvantage) to "don't call anything." I've even heard people say not to call traveling cause it's a game interrupter.

Of course it interrupts the game!

The higher the level you work, the fewer times you'll have 3-second violations. I went almost 3 years without one and I wasn't not calling them on purpose.

And we can work on preventing them, but at the varsity level, I gotta admit I don't spend much time talking people in and out of the lane -- if you don't get it by then, there's not much helping you. I will talk at post play early -- "Straight up!" -- that kind of thing, mainly to let them know I'm watching them off ball -- but 3-seconds? If it gets to the point I've called the violation, they should've known better.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

More diplomatic than me, I see.

The phrase "game interrupter" or "game stopper" has morphed from its original intention (passing on contact that doesn't cause an advantage/disadvantage) to "don't call anything." I've even heard people say not to call traveling cause it's a game interrupter.

Of course it interrupts the game!

The higher the level you work, the fewer times you'll have 3-second violations. I went almost 3 years without one and I wasn't not calling them on purpose.

And we can work on preventing them, but at the varsity level, I gotta admit I don't spend much time talking people in and out of the lane -- if you don't get it by then, there's not much helping you. I will talk at post play early -- "Straight up!" -- that kind of thing, mainly to let them know I'm watching them off ball -- but 3-seconds? If it gets to the point I've called the violation, they should've known better.

I've been working on that 'diplomatic' thingy, Rich. Not sure that I've got the hang of it yet.

And we share the exact same thoughts on the dreaded "game interrupters". The concept wasn't bad, but the interpretation in a some cases leaves a lot to be desired. Originally it was just another way of saying incidental contact.

And I also agree on the 3-seconds call. It's just another call. Call it when you feel it's warranted..and if you feel it's not warranted, then don't call it. But if you do have to call it, it doesn't make you a failure as an official.

[26 Year Gap]

I call it more frequently...maybe once every 5-6 games. But if the kids are moving through and getting out when "asked" it doesn't really make sense to whistle it. If a kid just stands in there and makes no effort to move out or gains an advantage by receiving an entry pass for an easy 2, then it gets called.

I will add that my first year, that was my favorite 'gotcha' call.

[muxbule]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Every time we blow our whistle, it's a "game stopper". Are you suggesting that we should never call anything?

I'm pretty sure you know what I am talking about and that is not what I am suggesting. back at you.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by muxbule

I'm pretty sure you know what I am talking about and that is not what I am suggesting. back at you.

JR was using some hyperbole to make a point. Every time we blow our whistles, it stops the game. Some refer to certain calls as "game interrupters" and others call them "game stoppers," and JR's point is "WTF makes one violation a game interrupter and another acceptable?"

It seems pretty arbitrary, to be honest; especially when I hear it applied to travels and palming and 3 seconds. You never see it applied to OOB calls, or 5 second counts. Why not? The game is stopped for just as long and for the same reason; to give the ball to the erstwhile defenders.

His main point, however, that you didn't address, is that the term originally applied to incidental contact that gets called a foul by the officials. Contact that may look illegal but in actuality creates no advantage, so it should be ignored. That's a game interrupter, IMO.

[Jurassic Referee]

A "game interrupter" is any call made that the official using the term might happen to disagree with.

The only true game interrupters are bad calls.... a la calling a foul for incidental contact.....or in the case of 3-seconds, calling it strictly by rule instead of by standard practice. And note that even then standard practice may vary from area to area.

Why not just say "don't make bad calls"?

Muxbule, I wasn't questioning you per se. I was just questioning the general use of that particular term; it kinda turns my crank every time that I see it. Rich and Snaqs knew the point that I was trying to make and both gave a very good explanation of it imo.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Why not just say "don't make bad calls"?

Muxbule, I wasn't questioning you per se. I was just questioning the general use of that particular term; it kinda turns my crank every time that I see it. Rich and Snaqs knew the point that I was trying to make and both gave a very good explanation of it imo.

You know people have terms for everything. I do not have a problem with the term. I only have problem when people call certain plays game interrupters just because you disagree with a call. But I have no problem calling 3 seconds either, but most of the time it is not there at least at the varsity level. Other levels the players usually just do not know yet how to get out of the lane.

Peace

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

But I have no problem calling 3 seconds either, but most of the time it is not there at least at the varsity level. Other levels the players usually just do not know yet how to get out of the lane.

Late last yr I called a 3-sec in a JV game. While my P and I were doing our post-game, a V official who watched our game asked me "Why do you need to bring that "junk" into the game?" Uhm, because it was there and blatant?!

Your point that 3-secs seldom happens at the V level is my experience too.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

You know people have terms for everything. I do not have a problem with the term.

I actually like Jurassic's point. The fact that a term exists is not by itself a reason to continue using it. The term 'witch' exists, but I don't think we should start a new round of witch hunts. Same with racial and ethnic slurs.

The term 'game interrupter' is used by some officials to mask the claim that they think a type of call is bad (3 seconds, 5 seconds, whatever). Rather than discuss whether the particular call was in fact good, they use a slur.

Hadn't thought of it like that before. Thanks, Jurassic!

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I actually like Jurassic's point. The fact that a term exists is not by itself a reason to continue using it. The term 'witch' exists, but I don't think we should start a new round of witch hunts. Same with racial and ethnic slurs.

The term 'game interrupter' is used by some officials to mask the claim that they think a type of call is bad (3 seconds, 5 seconds, whatever). Rather than discuss whether the particular call was in fact good, they use a slur.

Hadn't thought of it like that before. Thanks, Jurassic!

I had a close game a couple seasons ago where I was T and situated in front of the offensive team's coach. A1 tries to get by B1 with a few seconds left and is held by B1 and I blow the whistle for the foul. My partner after the game says did you yell at her to get her hands off? I was no more than 5 ft from the coach and no I did not yell. Why reward poor defense?

This is the same guy who when a player picked up her dribble in the lane and was trapped by 2 defenders and I called 3 seconds because no attempt was made to try a pass or shot. He asked "Did you yell at her to get out of the lane"? As my other partner had his jaw gaping, I asked him how she would get out without a double dribble or travel. Why penalize good defense?