Old school

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Freddy

BIRDDOG: (archaic) The action of a basketball official whereby s/he, with one closed fist thrust skyward as far as it will go without detaching from her/his body, positions the other hand perpendicular to the vertical line of her/his body to the extend that it will reach with downward facing open hand or single finger or index and middle fingers pointing at or about the person who committed a foul. More difficult to execute in cases of a double foul, unless said official was born with three arms.

I did a game with a rookie official earlier this year who gave the bird dog simultaneously with putting his fist in the air. There was also a little hop involved. It made him look extremely eager to call fouls.