Returning the ball to the scorer's table
 

Why do some officials insist on doing this after a heated contest where T's have been given out? This has happened to me on several occasions over the past couple of years. I give out a T to a coach towards the end of the game, and he is still hot and bothered by it when the buzzer sounds. I am wanting to get off the floor and into the locker room before he can confront me about it, but my partner is lollygagging, trying to track down the ball and return it to the scorer's table and thank the nice ladies for what a great job they've done.

I don't want to abandon my partner out there, seeing as though the coach could just as easily confront him on his way to the locker room, and then he's all alone, but I absolutely hate having to stand around waiting for my partner to gather up the stinking ball and open myself up for a needless post-game confrontation.

Thoughts?

I agree, and it's not just heated contests. There is no reason to retrieve the ball. And if you want to thank the nice folks at the table, do it during the last couple of minutes during a timeout or something. I'll be waiting near whatever door we're using by the time my partner even grabs the ball; and I'm looking straight at him and not the players.

That's not something I consider my duty. We don't do it. If a player gets the ball to me, I will roll it towards the home team bench on my way off the court. I don't chase after balls during the game and I certainly don't do it when time has expired.

If you hate it...
 

... prevent it. You know, in your pre-game, or better, at half time, or when you came together to discuss late-game fouls/time outs etc.

Pre-Game
 

I pre-game this, and if it is a heated contest, also do a reminder during halftime and/or near the end of the game.

Sounds simple because it is simple! If you haven't talked about it, your partner won't know what you want to do! Some states (MA?) require officials to stay and observe the post-game handshake. Others don't. Just as important as who will call the last shot, is how you will leave the floor.

Exactly! I NEVER go get the ball and take it to the table. If it is near me when the final horn goes I'll roll it towards the home team huddle but I will NOT take it to the the table. Some guys just carry it off the court with them and hand it to game management as they're escorting us to the lockerroom.

As I leave the court, if I go past the table, I'll usually just say "Nice job", then point at one of them at random and say, "Not you". :D

I'm not even rolling the ball....somebody steps on it and turns an ankle then what do you have to contend with?

One less player next time you have that team?

Along similar lines, had a BV game a couple weeks ago where there were some less than friendly things being lobbed at us from the V section, where we would literally have to walk through (within 3 feet of fans) to get to locker room. With about a minute to play we had a TO and I called partners together and said why don't we go out that other exit over there, which would also get us to the locker room (unfortunately no members of security gave us other directions). His response was basically that we have nothing to be ashamed of so we are walking right through them. Now I have a lot of respect for this guy and he is a solid official, but my thought is why invite a problem even if you have done nothing wrong? I don't consider that being ashamed or afraid, just seemed like the smart thing to do!

Knowing the paranoia around here it will be "he did it on purpose, he has it out for that kid". :cool:

I'm with your partner. I'll let security deal with any knuckleheads.

My Apologies To Our Colleagues In the Commonwealth Of Massachusetts ...
 

Agree. If you're going to retrieve the ball, then you might as well hang around and watch the post game handshakes as well.

Quite simply, they probably don't know any better.

I have yet to be blamed because some fan stole the game ball after the game. Straight to the locker room for me.