If I could change one rule, it would be....
 

[fill in the blank}

Don't make me the fashion police

I don't care what the rules are. I just call'em based on what the FED decides.

hmmmm
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:gpNe2Uv_JaazEM:

All games would be five minute running time quarters.

Snaqs
 

This has nothing to do with the OP but I just noticed Snaqs new tag line. Honestly, I am in tears. :D :D :D :D

+1

Also, for NFHS, allow players to enter the lane on a free throw after the release.

Did you mean three throw or free frow? :D

Shut up. :D

Fixed... :o

The current rule does make the rule about not faking the free throw attempt a bit redundant doesn't it?

:D Gotta mix it up a bit.

Not gonna happen.

With entering on the release, there's too much unnecessary contact and jockeying for position on MADE free throws. They've gone to great lengths over the past 10 years to cut down on such play. Changing the rule would be a complete change in philosophy.

Coaches calling timeouts while play is live on the court.

I would say no timeouts even if the ball is dead if the clock is running.

No warm-ups before game or during halftime.

Change the rule on remaining OOB after the throwin is released to be a violation instead of a T...and just give it a time limit of 3 seconds after the release that they have to be inbounds. It doesn't matter if they run across the court in that time, just as long as they get in.

1) Get rid of AP and start using Jump Balls again.

2) Get rid of Point of Interupption.

3) Stop being the fashion police except of keeping a players shorts up.

I know just one rule but I thought I could be the Basketball Czar for a day.



BUT, seriously, I would like to see the Closely Guarded rule changed to three feet instead of six feet and only while holding the ball. This is the rule in FIBA and NCAA Women's.

MTD, Sr.

Whoa, you may want to re-think that one, chseagle. The idea of a warm-up is to warm up. It's not only to get into game mode but it's a safety factor. That's why officials warm-up before a game also.

The First Rule Of The Forum ...
 

Change the rule that allows Mark Padgett to post on the Forum.

Wait, the officials are supposed to warm up? ... oh, you mean the floor officials! Well, that makes more sense...

1) -1
2) -1
3) +1
4) +1

Huh?

1) Drop 30s and fulls and go with five 45s

2) Go to two 16-min halves

+1
+1

+1

I like both of those but I think two 18 minutes halves such as what Minnesota does might be better.

+1

Compression sleeves. Make 'em legal and have them fall under the headband color requirements or make 'em illegal, because we all know they are not used for medical reasons.

Not grant a HC's time out request unless the ball is dead and the clock is stopped. I'd settle for unless the ball is dead, but would prefer both dead ball and stopped clock.

Are they going to raise our game fees 12.5%?

I ref FIBA so its a different kettle of fish. The rules I would like to see go on our side are the rules we have for some things that are automatically unsportsmanlike. I would prefer the discretion to call it when the intent was to make a non basketball play or an excessively physical one.

These would include:

- Automatic unsportsmanlike on any foul will the ball is at the disposal of the inbounder but has not yet entered the playing area during the last 2 minutes.
-Automatic unsportsmanlike on any foul from the side or behind when the there are no other defenders back between the rim and ball (clear path).

I like this one Camron.

Simplify the backcourt violation rules

What? He says no coach timeouts while the ball is live. I say it should also include when the ball is dead if the clock is running. What do you not understand?

+10

How?

Get rid of that stupid BC interp. I'd be satisfied with that.

I like both of those.

Other than on a made basket for the purposes of the correctable errors, when is that? You will never get coaches to agree with that one because they need those TOs to extend the game.

Me, too. Perhaps a change in the team control aspect.

I don't get it. You mean you want coaches to be able to call timeouts now?

Ok how about instead of 20 minute warm-ups, make the warm-up period 10 minutes (9 minutes to warm-up with the 1 minute to huddle)? With during halftime, the teams getting 5 minutes to talk (in locker room) & 4 minutes to warm-up (With the 1 minute still to huddle).

Anytime exercise is involved a person is supposed to do warm-ups to help the body prepare. I actually do some finger stretching & other arm movements beforehand.

You mean before dates?

Well, half-time is already 10 minutes; the coach just gets to make the decision on how to break it down.

As for pre-game warm-ups, there's no rule I'm aware of that even deals with its timing. Why do you feel the need to regulate those things? Or are you making jokes again?

I thought married people never had dates

Why are you talking about correctable errors? What does that have to do with coaches requesting timeouts?

Some leagues do have specific timing rules for pre-game. Here now we are doing 15-minute pre-game instead of 20.

Initially I was going to say 5 minute pre-game.

For the halftime breakdown, I've seen it too many times where a team stays in the locker room till the minute/less than minute mark where they have no chance to warm-up.

1) What 20 minute warm-up? The warm-up period is whatever the coach wants it to be in his opinion to adequately prepare his team for the game. Sometimes his choices might be limited by a previous game that was played though. If there was no previous game, a team could warm-up for 14 hours if they wanted to. All we referees have to worry about is what happens during our jurisdiction, not during the warm-up. And our jurisdiction is when we come out on the floor, with the coda that it should be at least 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time.

2) Me too, but it's to prepare for those post-game brownpop curls. Gotta stay in shape.

Again, why would you want the NFHS to regulate this?

As for the half-time breakdown, same question. Why do you want to tell a coach how to use his 10 minutes?

Let it go, it ain't broke.

Why is game management told to notify the officials 3 minutes before the end of halftime?

To regulate the time used during halftime would allow both teams equal time to warm-up.

Here's another rule I'd like to see change: Only one scorebook allowed at the table.

No, you're told to notify them so they know how much time is left. You're not regulating how they use it in any way.

Why in the world would you want to remove the visitors' book from the table?

Why? :confused: People make mistakes, believe it or not. And believe it or not, that even includes scorekeepers. And I hate to say it , but I have heard tales of home scorekeepers actually doing sumthin' to their scorebook to help out the home team. :eek:

Having a second book there is a check and balance, and an aid to accurate and fair scorekeeping.

Now you're just talking crazy.

We are required in WI to be on the court when the clock starts (with 20 minutes on it). That's the time set after the JV game completes and we are expected to be on the floor for all of it.

In a boys game, we have to watch for dunking. Fine, I'll buy that, although I don't necessarily think the officials need to enforce this. Every team is at home for 50% of the games and no coach/AD wants their equipment damaged. This could be managed by game management easily enough. We don't watch for dunking the other 23 hours, 40 minutes of the day.

In a girls game, we should come out at 15, have the captains meeting at 12, check the books at 10, and then head back in for some stretching until 2 minutes on the clock. Nope, instead we have to stand out there for the entire 20 minutes.

That's what I'd change, at least where I live.

Don't you mean 6.25%? There would be two minutes gone that now exists between the 1st & 2nd qtr and the 3rd & 4th qtr.;)

Almost forgot this one...Delay of Game warning for tying shoe[s] on FT lane line as shooter is prepared to receive ball from administering official . :rolleyes:

Nope, those aren't working times. Just a simple 36:32 calculation for me. I'm willing to bet we'd get paid exactly the same and we'd be told to pound sand.

I don't get why everyone wants to add playing time. Just do 2 16-minute halves and give each team an extra 30 second timeout. Easy enough.

I agree. I am not the fashion police.

Yes, we are. We may not desire to be, but that is immaterial.

Allow a team to "decline" any penalty -- usually a free throw, but could be shots and the ball -- for a throw in at the place of their choosing. OK, leave out the choosing part and stay at nearest spot, if you like.

I hope this isn't leading to a coach throwing a red flag...

Just My Opinion ...
 

Hot, single, moms sit in the front row of the bleachers.

You need to discuss that with crowd control.

Including the ones that holler "3 seconds"?

No Little Blue Pill For Me ...
 

They must have talked to my ex.

He said three seconds not three ... Nevermind.

Change the backcourt rule such that frontcourt status is not established and no violation can occur when an airborne player establishes team control....that an airborne player who established team control and always make a normal landing even if someone else touches the ball first (i.e., ends the throwin).

Hockeyfied BB
 

I'd probably change it to where instead of a 2nd OT, go to a shootout, best of 5 like Hockey. :D

I'd actually like to experiment with this rule: two/three shots OR the ball. I don't know if it will discourage late-game fouls, but it's worth trying.

I disagree. I like the rule as it is. In a game where the trailing team tries to foul to catch up, how many fouls do you typically see for this purpose? Two, three, four at most? Note, I'm not asking for the worst case scenario, just the typical situation. I don't think it's broken.

And if we (me included) would call the intentional when it's warranted, it would also reduce it.

What's hockey?

Oh yeah, it's soccre on ice skates.

Soccer has legal bodychecking?

Now that was funny.....

I've heard indoor soccre can be brutal.

I asked you...when is the clock running and the ball is dead?

My point was...and correct me if I am wrong....when the ball checks through the net on a field goal, it becomes dead and then instantly alive for the purposes of the correctable error rules.

Maybe my caffeine hasn't kicked in yet but I don't know any other time that the ball is dead while the clock is moving.

Anyone??

Have non participants announced at the 4 minute mark in warm ups.

The ball doesn't come "instantly" alive. It becomes alive only when it's at the other team's disposal.

I think someone's point (but I could be wrong) is that they would (or wouldn't) allow a coach to request a TO even after a made basket.

While all this is a nice "fantasy", it will never happen -- the coaches like the rule as it is and won't give up the ability to request TO.

If I could change one rule, it would be....
 

illegal to play with one contact lense.

Shaq would HATE that.

Or make it a technical.

Not to nit pick but, are you saying that a foul committed in the interim between "checking the net" and "at the disposal" is technical? (dead ball contact)

I agree, I think he meant to suggest no time outs after a made basket. I agree with you, that will never happen.

I'm not sure I agree with this statement. For all rule purposes, the ball does not become live instantly. It becomes live once it's "at the disposal" even for CE purposes. Am I missing something?

If it's a foul (that is, if it's intentional or flagrant), yes, it's a T.

If it's not intentional or flagrant (nor committed on or by an airborne shooter), then the contact is ignored (meaning no foul; the official might want to note / address it).

I stand corrected....

6-7-1 - dead when a goal is made
6-1-2b - live at the disposal

In a sense, yes. They're called "legal fair charges."

I don't know about the reduction, but at least it would teach the kids that, if you're going to foul, at least make an effort to steal!

For the record, the ball is always either dead or live....but never ALIVE. :D

I called a Technical on kid during this timeframe this season. A1 makes a shot and then turns and shoots an elbow to B1's chest.

The problem is that there are 3 point field goals now but the number of free throws has not been adjusted. Back in the day you could make as many points on free throws after a foul as the other team could get with a field goal.

There should be a third free throw call the "extra bonus" or something. It is only awarded after 12 or 13 fouls and only if the first 2 free throws are successful. I guess that would be that a player fouled while shooting would also have to be awarded the extra bonus if he made the first two also.

This makes sense to me. I'm not sure the adjustment would need to be made to the shooting foul, though.

Get rid of AP
 

Go to a jump ball.

If I'm a defensive player and I've legally created a jump ball situation why do I get penalized for making a smart play based on an arrow?

If I'm an offensive player and I've not protected the ball sufficently than I deserve whatever result comes from the jump.

I think that player has earned the right to contest for the ball as part of competing.

I know some of us are concerned about throwing a good jump ball in a close contest, but I think that skill would improve as more jumps are administered.

If the defensive player had done a good enough job, they would have taken the ball from the offense. They didn't, so they don't deserve anything.

And, by the same reasoning, the offense didn't do a perfect job either.

This will not be popular!!
 

I would like to get rid of the jump ball to start the game. Give the first (start of game) possession to the V. Then alternate at each quarter regardless of AP arrow. Reset AP with possession at each quarter.

Kind of like "first bats" and "last bats" in baseball. Given the AP it will still awlays be within one of being even. And, Home team will have possession to start the 4th quarter.

Will You Marry Me ???
 

Now here's a gal with a really intelligent suggestion. She's a keeper.

I have no problem with that.

I don't think a marriage between us is recognized in my State. Can't speak for your State but my wife might struggle with it! :p

Okay, so what about overtime periods?

Ok here's another idea, especially since just went through a 2 OT game, since OT is considered an extension of the 4th quarter (2nd half in college), have OT start like the resumption of play after halftime.

I like the idea of 16 minute halves instead or 8 minute quarters. That would take away 2 1-minute official TOs & could make the game go a bit faster.

We have games (mostly girls games) around here that last entirely too long as it is, partly because there are so many held balls. This would extend them even longer. I don't like it.

You obviously did not officiate before the gap.

No Way In The World ...
 

Been there. Done that. Pre-1985. No way I'm going back.

Why complicate it? Give the ball to V to start the game and use the AP for the balance of the game including OT.