First "T" for this year
 

I was hoping to not have any.

I have partners that have NEVER called a "T" and I have partners that RARELY called a "T".

2 years ago, I called 20. I was told that was too many. I thought they were all good. But I have become more patient and last year I called 7.

This is my first this year after about 50 games.

Here's what happen- Player drives to the basket and deliberately avoids contact and adjusts his shot, he misses, then he yells at me "Come on Call the foul".

So, I did. A "T" for unsportsmanlike conduct. This happened in the 3rd Q about 1/2 way through the Quarter.

Good "T"? Or am I still too thinned skinned?

Of course his team was losing, but in the end, it was a 1 point game.

If its a true yell, sure why not?

Easy T, IMO.

Thanks. I just thought it was disrespectful. And he did yell, fans in the lower seats could hear him.

We had about 250 to 300 people there.

BTW
I work with more of these guys than you can shake a stick at.....true.

The player gave you an order. 'Nuff said.

I've had a few like that, too.

I had one very similar to this today. White 42 fouls Red 20 on a shot, I'm the T and I call it. It's W42's fifth foul. Before I get turned around to report, he yells "Call the over the back" and throws his hands up at me. Whack.

I should have gotten a kid in our first game as well for throwing his hands up and yelling "Come on!" after I called him for a foul. A warning and speaking to a captain for his team took care of it thankfully.

If the player yells at you, it's an obvious "T". If he just says it to you though without putting on a show, I'll give him a response such as "There was no foul on that play".

It doesn't bother me personally if they mutter a little as long as they don't say the wrong thing while doing so or make me look bad.

JMHO

FWIW, don't worry about the number of technicals as much of the quality or necessity of each. You have partners who have never called a T. How can an official work a number of years and never have a situation that deserves a T?

I always worry about officials who brag because they never call a T. If I'm their partner, chances I'll be the one to take care business because they won't. Conversely, I also worry about officials who seem to revel in calling technicals.

Treat technicals like any other foul or violations. Don't come off the floor after a game worrying about the number of travels you called, just hope that you got the ones that were needed.

What Would Jesus Do ???
 

First T's of the year for me yesterday. Prep school varsity game.

A1 gets fouled in the act, not a hard foul, ball doesn't go in, by B1. My partner heads to the table to report. I head to new lead to administer free throws. A1 sees me coming, and while turning his back to me, and to B1, tosses the ball over his shoulder to me, and the ball hits B1 squarely in the face. B1 becomes quite agitated, so I speak to him, and his teammates, trying to calm them down (I really do understand why they're upset), which I successfully accomplish. This happens a few feet from the fans, who start yelling at me that I'm talking to the wrong (and wronged) player, which further incites the players. One particular fan actually got out of his seat and came a few feet onto the court to complain.

No site director available, so I go over to the Team B home head coach and ask that this fan be ejected. His assistant coach stands and tells me that I can't do that. I tell the head coach to control his bench. Assistant coach continues to complain. First technical foul of the year. Fan is ejected.

My partner and I get the two head coaches, and all the captains, together to discuss the situation, with the emphasis being that this was a good game up until that point, the ball tossed into the face was totally accidental, and that the rest of the game was salvageable with the cooperation of all involved. They all agree and we head back to the court.

On the way back to the court I come within six feet of one of Team B captains yelling, "F*** you", to one of the substitutes on the Team B bench. I wish I had heard what was said previous to that, but I didn't, so, second technical foul of the year.

Team A, visiting team, shoots the two free throws for in the act, shoots two for the technical on the assistant coach, shoots two for the technical foul on the captain, and a Team B fan has been ejected. On the way home I report to my assignment commissioner and we decide that much of this could have been avoided if a site director had been available.

Here's the kicker. The home team is a Christan school, they all prayed together before the game, and from their website, "Every activity, from athletics to art, from theater to peer tutoring, from science labs to the dining hall, from music to mission trips, serves to reinforce the message that your child has been uniquely designed by God and has a unique call on his/her life. The school is proud to play a part in developing young students’ lifelong dedication to excellence, integrity and truth."

I guess that the assistant coaches aren't required to adhere to good Christan values? I guess that the parent/fans send their kids there so that their kids won't grow up to be like them? Not sure that's it's working.

In the heat of battle, slips happen...often repeatedly. Just come watch my church softball league.

I dont understand how someone has never called (and i have met a small handful of these guys) or rarely called a T. I dont think 20 is to much as it depends on what happened in your games. This year I think im around 15. 1 has been a direct to the coach 2 has been indirect plus ive had 1 administrative. About 5 have been for dead ball contact and the rest have been for players just acting the fool (slamming the ball, pulling out jersey's after a call, and just acting way out of line).

I think the more games you do you SHOULD eventually have a T as its a game of numbers and a T is just another call such as a block/charge. Its one that is earned and there is nothing to be proud of having the most or never having any at all.

Irish Temper ...
 

Our pastor used to come to our games. Guess who yelled at the umpire the most?

I have a guy I worked with, he reffed for near 40 years. Did more than 100 games a year each year and NEVER called a "T".

I am with you guys, it's part of the game. Oh, I had one who saw a PRE game dunk in warm ups and I said, " You "T"ing him up for that?" He said, "No, I am just going to tell him not to do it again".....

And No, I'm Not Apologizing To Bill Clinton ...
 

It depends on what the meaning of the word dunk is.

I've never handed out a lot of T's. In my early days though, I did adhere to the advice that certain acts were automatic T's. In retrospect though, many of them were not really necessary. Eg. When a player commits a foul, then slams the ball against the floor and catches it because he's angry at himself, it's probably not a T'able offense in my book. A few words with that player to make sure he's back in the right frame of mind will go further toward game control than calling a technical foul. It's hard to imagine any referee going through too many seasons without issuing a single "T", but if they're a routine part of nearly every game, we may want to re-evaluate our criteria for calling them.

While I'm not as concerned with whether a technical foul works to control the game, I agree that in some situations (ball slammed and caught immediately) call for either a quick chat or nothing.

Maybe this discussion should morph into "the purpose of technical fouls".

The "T" was placed into the rule book as a tool to maintain order and sportsmanship. It shouldn't be viewed as a weapon.

I never said I saw it as a weapon. It's a rule to be enforced. You're right about why, but too many officials try to judge a technical foul after the fact by asking if it made the game better. The answer to that question is irrelevant in determining whether it was a good T or not.

Calling the T when it's needed (due to the behavior) will generally make the game better; but if it doesn't, that doesn't mean it wasn't a good T.

I passed on T'ing up a kid this year for doing the same thing and I kick myself for having done so. I did at least get in his ear and advised him that conducting himself in such a manner would not be beneficial for him. He got the message but I still think I should have stuck him.

I haven't worked a lot this year but I don't have many Ts. Only two, one for a player mouthing off after a call (in the same game as the one I passed on) and one for a push after a foul. Players and coaches have been pretty well behaved otherwise.

I've said it many times before, I regret the T's I don't give more than the T's I do.....as I don't regret them at all.

Interestingly enough, I have a game this week with a team where I regret not giving the JV coach a T last yr. While he certainly starts with a clean slate this game, I haven't forgotten........

Does that sound too much like like Padgett? :eek:

I've called 4 in 33 games this season. Two head coaches, two players (one because of an incident with another player -- partner got the technical on the other player -- and one just Friday night on someone who demonstrated a bit too much on a foul called by one of my partners). I don't get too caught up with the numbers, although I do look back at situations to see if I think I handled them properly.

I think that this could have been a 'talk to", a warning, or a technical foul. It is one where you have to be there to see and hear how the player said what he said.

Without looking at all the other replies, I would have passed.

Edit: Re-read the OP. Missed the yelled at me part.
I would call it.

If he yells this in your face you really have no choice but to whack'em!

It's interesting to read/see the different tolerances of different officials...weather reading scenarios here or actually watching officials in real live games.

Since we are presently talking about handing out Ts (or not)...here is a scenario to consider:

Your partner calls a shooting foul. While s/he is going to report the foul...you go to Lead to administer the FT. A player is holding the ball, but as you approach...the player either places the ball on the floor or simply rolls it away.

What do you do?

If you want some rule guidance (or not)...10-3-5b

I have only called one T this year. There were probably times I could have whacked a player or coach but I choose to talk with them instead. I think it serves the same purpose in many ways. I have no problem issuing a T if after a verbal warning, the situation continues. Of course there are those situations that warrant a T immediately. I look at each situation individually. basketball is a competitive sport and this emotions run high - sometimes a warning will put those emotions in check and sometimes it won't.

In the case of the OP, while I like to verbally warn first, if a player yells at me, this is an automatic T. My verbal warning is then that a second T will result in ejection

I gave out 4 T's last week! That's more than I usually have in a season...3 on Coaches: 1) Freshman Boys coach 8 feet out on the court screaming at my partner on an over-and-back call...2)Varsity Boys coach "You three should be ashamed at how badly you are screwing us"...3)Varsity Girls coach chasing my partner down the sideline giving him the big wave-off behind his back. 1 on a player for shoving opponent after the whistle as partner is going to table to report foul.

Weird week...

I haven't given a T in years but in soccer I hand out yellow cards like candy on Halloween. I wonder how much the other sports you work effect your tolerance. I've only told a coach to knock it off once all season in basketball. Could it be that the level of complaining I receive in soccer has made me too insensitive for basketball?

what does this mean? i'm in my 3rd year, new to the forum...i don't want to become "that guy."

/thanks

Welcome to the forum. That particular comment was directed towards the guy who, as R, draws the captains meeting out into some sort of a rules clinic. The kids are barely paying attention anyway, just enough to be able to hear you say they're done.

My meetings are short.
1. 10 seconds for the players to introduce themselves. Half the time, they already know each other.
2. 5-10 seconds on sportsmanship
3. 3 seconds on jewelry
4. 2 seconds to ask my partner(s) if there's anything to add.
5. 1 second for them to say no.

That gives me a 4 second cushion to be gone in thirty seconds.

Some guys will also ask for speaking captains, another 10 seconds at most.

many thanks...

If you're referring to Snaqwell's signature, then "that guy" refers to the official who spends the captains meeting telling the captains useless information that he/she is either not listening to or will forget by the time he/she gets back to their team.

There are times when some of that info is good to mention.

At some club tournaments that I work, the players often play at one gym, only to play at another gym for the semi-finals and/or finals.

Gyms they're moving to have possibly confusing markings, such as two types of rectangular keys, two three-point lines, etc. One gym even has a very thick OB line around the court, but in actuality, the OB line is just inside that thick black "line", being a 2" wide white line. The rest of the court marking are in the white as well.

So if I believe that the players are experiencing "this gym" for the first time, I do mention it to the captains. I also mention it to the coaches as well.

It's an ounce of prevention instead of a pound of complaining when I whistle an unexpected OB (or other) call.

...that's mine...except I introduce my partner(s) and myself when R...and minus #3.;)

Well, since nobody...yet...wants to answer my question...I will.

If a player sets the ball down or rolls it away...I give them a chance to go get it. I don't think I have ever had a player not do what I instructed them to do.

I did, however, have to whack a player the other night.

My partner had called a shooting foul on a player. As I was approaching L to administer the FT...said player looked at me and rolled the ball away. I smiply said, "go get it"...I then turned to the players, on the line, and advised them "to give the ball to the official". As I turned around the player underhand threw the ball to me with...let us say, with some considerable force.
I guess I was feeling extra nice this night...because I was only going to let this H.S. kid off with a warning on how to give the ball to an official. As I started to inform the boy...he interupted and said, "I didn't do nothin'". Again, I was being extra nice (for me);)...and started to speak, he said "I didn't do nothin'". I calmly dropped the ball...picked up my whistle...and WHACK! As I approached the table the Coach looked at me and said, "I have a player replacing him."

The coach didn't put the "whacked" player in the rest of the 1st half.

At halftime...the AD let us in the lockeroom...and I said to him, smiling, "hey, I'm not really being grouchy tonight." He said, "this kid is like that all the time in school, he back talks the teachers ALOT, he has an attitude problem."

The coach did not put this player in the rest of the game. His team did win the game...but, it was with no help from this player.

After the game...the coach was walking through our "dressing room" and I just said, "Hey Coach, you didn't really have to keep that kid out the whole game, unless you just wanted to." He said, "Yeah, but that kid needs some discipline...I knew you were going to get him and I had a player going to the table when he threw that ball to you." He thanked me and away we went.

I later heard that this kid is the starting QB and is mouthy in football as well.

Hopefully, this will turn out to be a positive learning experience for him...we can only hope.

Last season (I think), right after a TO call in a JVB game, A1 decides to take a three point shot rather than give the ball to my partner, who was asking for the ball. He launches the shot, then heads for his bench. My partner gave him two chances to get the ball, which he ignored.

T

This falls under the, "know your animal" category.

At this point in the HS/NCAA season my captains & coaches meeting is the same.
Me: "Questions, comments, concerns?"
Captains/coaches: No
Me: "Ok best wishes!"

Many seasons ago I handed out a T for this very thing. Called a travel on A1, the 'star' point guard. She rolled her eyes and turned to head up the court, me standing 5 feet away hands out for the ball. She tossed it across the gym. Whack. Coach asked why and when told nodded her head. At the same time, had one this year looking right at me and dropped the ball to the floor. Told him to get it, he did, no T.

As to the general discussion: I am not T happy. This year, one to a player, one to a HC both for unsporting behavior. In my area we are CONSTANTLY told by the state, our assignor, and our area supervisor that we don't penalize unsporting behavior nearly enough. I bet I hand out TEN for every ONE that is given by a partner. In the last five years, I have seen ONE that I didn't give out myself. I don't see how people get by without dealing with behavior problems. Lack of nuts is how I view the problem. I don't see what the big deal is. Someone acts like a clown, I penalize the behavior, we move on. I won't come across the floor to give one when my partner is standing right there, but sometimes it's hard! I see situations where I swear the coach is trying to get a T to fire their team up or whatever it is howler monkeys do. Nothing happens. Official lets coach stand ten feet out onto the court yell, scream, stomp, nothing happens. Crazy.

I would have obliged him just as you did. Good call.

This year after the end of the first quarter (about a second or two) horn a player launches a full court shot and then proceeds to his bench which is on the side of the gym where he launched his shot from. I walked past him and told him either he gets the ball or I get his coach to go get it. Had the ball in my hands before I could finish my next step.