Pre-Game With Captains
 

I am a fairly new Official (3 years) doing JV and Frosh games this year. The more experienced officials I have worked with have not done a captains meeting prior to the game. Should there be a captains meeting at this level? If I were to initiate the meeting what is the common things that are covered? I think I have a good idea but would like to hear from the more experienced.

Depends on your area -- and it sounds like the answer might be "no."

Ask the captains if they have any questions. They won't.

Follow whatever state-mandated "legally equipped" and "sportsmanship" protocol exists in your state.

Tell them to have fun.

Total time: <30 seconds.

I am surprised that a captains meeting is not done with your JV games. Basically, find out who your speaking captain is, let the captains know they are responsible for their teammate's behavior, emphasize sportsmanship and respect for each other and have fun. Nothing to long, they don't listen anyways.

I do Captain's Meetings (and Coaches Meetings) at every level to include Rec Ball......even in my 12U League. I find it gets everyone, including me and my P's in a good mind set.

Agree with others - Be Brief, Be Bright, Be gone.

Basic - Gentlemen/Ladies - introduce yourselves (hand shakes), I'm Mr. G, this is Mr. U1 and Mr. U2, we'll be your official's today. Sportsmanship at all times. (speaking captains if I must at F/JV/V). Shirts in/pants up. Questions? Good luck have fun.

I'll elaborate at certain levels/leagues/gyms a bit - jewelry (if I've already caught a bunch of players during warmups), dealing with short out of bounds areas and giving room for inbound play, or weird table locations and reporting to enter the game.

Overall though - 30 seconds tops.

At the high school level, we always have them. Its a red flag that I have a lazy partner if I get any push back about having one. I rarely get that though.

This is my spiel:

Mendy Rudolf's Top Ten . . .
 

:D
TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO SAY AT A CAPTAINS' MEETING:
10) "OK, tonight we're gonna play the black line all the way around." (other nights we play the wall as OOB, but not tonight)
9) "Which of your players wear contacts?"
8) "Girls, be sure not to hang on the rim when you dunk"
7) "Your jersey color is interesting. Can we call you "Aquamarine" tonight?"
6) "Are you guys really as lousy as your record suggests?"
5) "Which of you are the 'speaking captains'?" (there ain't no such thing; there are two captains--the others are merely ceremonial and ornamental; any player may speak to you if done politely)
4) "Play defense straight up and don't be reaching in tonight." (what other coaching tips would you like to waste time giving in a pregame?)
3) "This partner of mine is new to this level of basketball; go easy on him today, okay?"
2) "I like your coach. Could you get her phone number for me?"
1) (THIS RESPONSE RESERVED FOR PADGETT OR BILLYMAC)

[QUOTE=bob jenkins;655837]

Ask the captains if they have any questions. They won't.

QUOTE]

I've been having an ongoing conversation with my high school crew about asking for questions. I'm not a fan. One time, working a lower level game, I asked for questions and some coach, don't remember the level, wants to ask about a ruling on a play from the night before. Made for an uncomfortable conversation because it took too long and I was obviously only getting a one sided description of the play. 99.999999% of the time you aren't going to get a question, but to me, the one time they might have something for you, the pregame isn't the place for a rules meeting. Anyway, just my $.02.

[QUOTE=doubleringer;655879]"Coach, I meant questions about tonight's game."

Still working on mine, but here's how it went last night...

Introduce yourselves.

Coaches are your players properly equipped? Yes

We expect good sportsmanship. White you talk to white, blue you talk to blue.

Coaches when you request timeout let us know 30 or full so we don't have to interrupt your huddle.

Questions? No

Good luck!

[QUOTE=bob jenkins;655894]Good answer. I like it.

When In New Jersey, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Or Florida ...
 

The National High School Federation and your state association require officials to enforce sportsmanship rules. High school athletics emphasize positive values. All of us have worked hard to create a sense of teamwork, respect, responsibility and perspective. We remind you that we expect good behavior and will quickly penalize misconduct. We encourage and appreciate your help. Let the competition reflect mutual respect among participants and officials. Coaches please certify that your players are legally equipped and uniformed according the NFHS rules. Good luck and have a great contest! (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, Kentucky High School Athletic Association)

"PIAA requires all registered sports' officials to enforce the sportsmanship rules for coaches and contestants. Actions meant to demean opposing players, team, spectators and officials are not in the highest ideals of interscholastic education and will not be tolerated. Let today's contest reflect mutual respect. Coaches please certify to the umpire that your players are legally equipped and uniformed according to NFHS rules. Good luck in today's contest." (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association)

To captains: The FHSAA requires officials to enforce all rules regarding unsportsmanlike conduct by players and coaches. Violators will be ejected. It is strongly suggested that you remind your teammates and coaches
of this policy. Additionally, this is a simple reminder that jewelry is not allowed, and jerseys must be tucked in during play if they are designed to be worn in. To coaches: Coaches, do you certify that your players are properly equipped and will demonstrate sportsmanlike behavior during today’s contest? (Florida High School Activities Association)

Coaches and captains meeting at 5:00: Players properly equipped, Players wearing uniforms properly, Practice good sportsmanship, Adhere to the restrictions, as well as the privileges, of the coaching box. (BillyMac)

I've never not had a meeting at the hs level, and they vary from "black lines wha wha wha blah blah...." to "put the ball in the hole and let's play ball." But that's my area. If your area doesn't expect it, it's up to you.

It could be one of two things:
1. It's not expected and the powers that be aren't concerned about it.
2. This is one of the reasons these folks are still working F/JV in your area.

Ladies or Gentlemen.

"This MY court, MY game! You will speak ONLY when you are spoken to. (hitch up my pants)....You WILL NOT argue calls. You WILL stop when you hear the whistle! There is no place for whining on this court. Do you have any questions?....(silence)....I CAN'T HEAR YOU !......(no questions)..... OK, let's play basketball ! ":)

I've stopped asking for speaking captains at the captain's meeting for about a week or so now. I've gotten several funny looks, a head coach asking if we need to know who the speaking captains are, and players pulling their shooting shirts up to show me their numbers without me even asking.

To the OP: We just "Got Toh-oh-ode" at our association meeting on Monday night, that we MUST have captains' meetings, and coaches' meetings at every level of game. We were told that if we are the U, and the R doesn't do it, we should.

I think it helps my partner and me as much as anyone, to have an attitude of taking the game seriously, and giving my best. In some ways it may seem meaningless, but there is a place for ritual in human society, and I think this is a good one.