Summer Ball
 

What do you guys like to focus on during summer ball? Mechanics? Beginning to get back in shape? Judgement?

D). All of the above.

I try to treat every game the same and give them what they pay for - no matter how much they pay. Seriously.

That being said, I like to work on things my evaluators have told me I need to improve on. And for me, currently, that is - slow down, use crisp mechanics, and watch the game interupters.

seeing more plays
mechanics
patient whistle
game interrupters
communication with partner
watching my area only

I don't have to watch anything!
 

In a tournament last weekend I had four games with a particular partner during which I didn't need to watch anything. We had two whistles on every on-ball call in my primary. It was fantastic. :eek:

For me, I find working on mechanics fairly difficult during the summer because of the nature of the games and my partners. Generally less formal. So I tend to focus on other things to challenge myself.

1. Sprinting hard (even though my partner may not) to keep myself in reasonable shape.
2. Good time to try something new or work to improve mechanics that don't depend on your partner like signals etc...
3. Focus on keeping track of arrow in your head so you won't need to peek at the table
4. Keep track of team fouls so you will know when the bonus is in effect before the table tells you.

Hot moms in shorts. :)

good ones

Clock awareness is a good one to work on. With different leagues having different timing rules it is a good habit to make sure the clock is running when it should be and stopped when it should be. It is just a good habit to get into, especially if you work with a shot clock during your season. It is never a bad idea to know what time is on the clock when whistling a play dead or resuming play
Also, you can spot the hot mom's in shorts while looking at the clock

clock...

score (not like THAT, but I make sure team who scored gets the right points..learned early on in summer league that you can NOT trust the table, even with THIS)...

when I started, i was taught after every basket, to glance at the scoreboard for time purposes, correct oints, etc. leanred this summer to pay even MORE attention with 16 yr olds at the table texting/chatting on their phones instead of working!!

off hand mechanics...

'communicating' with coaches :eek:

still watching my primary, being more aware of secondary and being aware of what my partners are calling without watching THEIR area too...

What is a "game interrupter"? :confused:

A ball bounding over from an adjacent court.

Also known as a career-stopper.

OK, I'll Play - Seriously
 

I know we have talked about this before.......

Sometimes I get critiqued for stopping the game when I shouldn't - a quick whistle if you will or a game interrupter as told to me (maybe better game management, patient whistle, discretion, or experience are better terms).

An example of one I have done several times and need to be better at (as told to me by my evaluators). A1 has the ball in his backcourt and is defended by B1. A1 does a crossover dribble and goes by B1. B1 fouls A1 by bumping him off his mark on the way by changing A1's speed, rhtyhm, and direction. But, after a second or so, A1 has "played through" the contact and is going down court. Me - TWEEET! :mad:

As asked to me - "why?" I have "interrupted the game" or penalized A's ability to play through the contact (even though at the time B's contact caused B an advantage) and now I have brought the ball back to the spot to inbound, therefore taking away A's advantage.

I've gotta be more patient!

See grunewar's definition above. However, when I used the term, I was thinking something completely different. i.e. paying closer attention to who and where ball will be inbounded as a result of a time out. Game re-set stuff.

All of the above and more.

But most of all it is an opportunity to see plays over and over and over again. And when the regular season starts you are not surprised completely by things that may happen. Then again it takes years to see certain plays enough, but summer can add to your experience.

Peace