At our local deaf school they have a huge drum that they bang for every point....EVERY POINT!

The first time is a shocker but after that you expect it.

Overall, it's always a good experience.

Learn how to say the jersey colors in sign language, they will tell you if you ask. You only need 2 colors white and the visitors.

Don't we already do that? It is called "pointing in direction of play" ;)

It's more needed for reporting fouls.

OK, I could see that. As I said, never called a game with deaf players so have no idea what to expect

Use your best Ed Hightower theatrical moves. Oh boy are you in for a treat. Did a tourney years ago with some very good players, in their twenties and the game was above the rim. It was chaos!!!

I Look forward To My Deaf Games (At Least The Boys Games)
 

And have fun. With both teams deaf, there will be a lot of second whistles. If one team is hearing, it will be almost like any other game that you do.

Bang The Drum Slowly ...
 

Same here.

The Bird Is The Word ...
 

I already know a few of these, in fact, we all know them.

I mentioned a team with a deaf girl earlier this thread. I've had this team twice, a few weeks apart.

In the first game, I was the more experienced of the two officials. The coach informed us of the ASL interpreter on the bench. We informed the coach that the interpreter had to remain seated, as per rule.

In the second game, I worked with a more experienced official, who preferred to "let it go" if the interpreter wanted to stand. I sometimes defer to experience (unless it's blatantly wrong), so I chose not to battle about this one.

Thoughts?

I would enforce the bench rule. There is no need for the interpreter to stand except during a TO anyway IMHO.

I created a thread for this same thing back in November for my first game of the year. The deaf team was the visiting team in my game and other than a few minor adjustments it was typical "not so good" girls basketball for me.

Someone from the deaf team did give us the signs for white and blue. It helps with coming out of timeouts and a couple of other things. A few times they played a little after the whistle but you just have to have a little patience.

I was kind of worried about doing this game leading up to it but it turned out to be no big deal. As I said, my game was typical, not so good girls basketball. Nothing more, nothing less.

The western states have a Deaf School Tournament that rotates around between the State schools in CA, OR, WA ID, NV, and MT (I think). Several years ago, the school here hosted and we had a bunch of games. I worked the game between the school from Oregon and the school from Nevada. At one point one of the players from Nevada turned to me and let fly with a series of signs - I had no clue, but his own coach jumped off the bench and called me over and said "You need to call a Technical on him, right now"...I asked the Coach "Why?" and his response was "What he just said about your mother deserves a T."

So I reported the T, Coach took the kid out, and away we went!