Gear for New Official

[bisonpitcher]

I have officiated baseball for over 10 years, and am getting into basketball this year. I want to dress sharply in basketball as I do in baseball. I have already got sansabelts and a Cliff Keen V-Neck shirt (no side panels), fox 40 whistle with a lanyard that hooks to the shirt. Already have black undershirts and socks from baseball. Also got all black new balance shoes. Is there anything else I should be concerned about or change? I will be doing about 2-3 MS and JV dates a week or so. How many shirts, etc. do you recommend. Also, any apparel do's and dont's would be appreciated. I don't want to look like the guy who has shin guards on the outside of his plate slacks in baseball. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Do basketball officials use hand signals to each other to communicate as much as baseball? I have seen officials point at their wrist when the clock is nearly expired, are there any others I should be aware of??

[bob jenkins]

I try not to do the laundry more than once per week. So I have >6 pants and >6 shirts (because I work in leagues with different shirt requirements, if I get more than a few games for any one league in a week, I have to do the laundry mid-week).

IF the shirt keeps coming out (some officials have trouble with this), get a flex belt or tuck the shirt into the compression shorts.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by bisonpitcher

Do basketball officials use hand signals to each other to communicate as much as baseball? I have seen officials point at their wrist when the clock is nearly expired, are there any others I should be aware of??

I don't think that's very common. However, watch for the pat on the top of the head when the clock shows one minute left in the period.

[BktBallRef]

Or an official holding up one finger. We don't pat our head, it looks stupid.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

We don't pat our head, it looks stupid.

Agree.

YouTube - pat your head and rub your belly

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Or an official holding up one finger. We don't pat our head, it looks stupid.

NYUK! NYUK! NYUK! [what he said]

[bisonpitcher]

So about the gear, do I seem set at least to start? Anything you guys would change/add?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by bisonpitcher

So about the gear, do I seem set at least to start? Anything you guys would change/add?

You seem ready to go...basketball is one of the least equipment intensive sports for officials. The basic clothing plus a whistle and that's it.

We don't need any protective gear nor any bags, brushes, flags, beanbags, hats, etc.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I don't think that's very common. However, watch for the pat on the top of the head when the clock shows one minute left in the period.

That's the shot-clock violation signal.

If under 5 (or 10 or 30 depending on the area) seconds are left, the official responsible for the last-second shot will so indicate -- usually one pat of the chest.

There's the signal to tell your partners that one team (or both) is in the bonus -- to be sure we get the shooter on the next foul.

[Back In The Saddle]

A couple small additions to the gear already listed that I've found occasionally indispensable over the years:
* Extra whistle on a noose-style lanyard tucked in your back pocket.
* Small sewing kit (kept in your equipment bag)

[Indianaref]

Also, carry a needle.

[curlingrocks]

No belt

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Small sewing kit (kept in your equipment bag)

Originally Posted by Indianaref

Carry a needle.

I'm sure that there's one in the sewing kit.