Not the two-syllable color call!:eek::eek:

My understanding is that it's the proper mechanic to tell them, regardless of location.

Sounds similar to these:

"Okay, fellas, we have two shots, so just relax on the first one."
Rather than "Two".

"Okay, fellas, one shot. Wait till it hits the rim."

Instead of "One".

You're better with words than I am, because that's pretty much what I was getting at.

I was told not to say "right here" or "right there" by a camp clinician years ago. He said to say "spot" instead.

I still find myself occasionally saying "right there" for some reason...;)

I never say "relax"...I just say "two"...

but, I do say "let it hit something" as I am backing out...after I say "one".

No one has ever told me not to say it but that doesn't mean I shouldn't ;)

My theory is - say what best relays what you mean. "Spot" in a varsity game may be fine but a MS player may think you are calling your dog :D IMHO, what you say is not near as important as ensuring you put it in at the correct spot. I really have no problem with anything folks here say they use if they do the job.

If it works for you, hey, fine with me. I've already said that. But thinking that's it also an "out" is a non-starter imo. We don't need to have an out. Our "out" is that it's the coach's job to teach their player how to throw the ball in legally. It's not our job to coach players and it never has been. I don't have a problem with any official reminding players so they don't have to call a violation. But if we do have to call the violation without reminding the player, then there is nowayinhell any coach can blame us for his failure to properly coach his kids. Well, maybe he can try. :)

"Well, coach, it's your job to coach your players, not mine. I certainly don't want to interfere with your coaching." End of conversation, leave it between player and coach now.

That was my point.

I've gotten into the habit of saying "You can move back, but not side to side".

It's not quite 100% accurate, but it lets the kid know that he's not literally on one spot.

Do I Have The Line ..
 

When I was on the dark side, coaching middle school kids, I would tell them ,"If you're not sure, ask."

Keep in mind that these were middle school games. On the road, we would often get rookie officials, so the question was as much for the officials, as it was for my players.

His Interpretation Seems Reasonable ...
 

Correct. That was a change in the IAABO mechanics manual last year. I questioned it, and my interpreter told me that it was only for endline throwins in the backcourt. That was his interpretation, maybe not for the whole state, and certainly not by the IAABO manual.

Can Also Hit The Backboard ...
 

Whether you say it, or not, the statement is wrong. At the beginning of the season, with little Catholic school kids, I will say, "Let it hit".

Yep...

In fact some might say you are giving the other team an advantage in doing so. OK...maybe that is a stretch, but check out the following story I heard this week.

Tuesday night my buddy told me about an "incident" in a GV game right before his BV game.

Visiting team down by 2 with less than a minute to go in the game. If they win they get a spot in the district playoffs. If they lose...they are out.

Visiting Coach puts in a little used sub...and somehow this girl (V1) ends up with the ball and takes a 3 pt. shot with under a second to go in the game. V1 player MAKES THE SHOT and gets fouled with .3 seconds left!

Visiting Coach tells all of the players, except the shooter V1, to not even line up...and to go to the other end of the court. Game Over...right? WRONG!

V1 attempts her first FT...and misses. The ball hits the rim and on the rebound V1, somehow or for some reason decided to get her own rebound.

You guessed it...V1 stumbled or fell into the Home team girl (H1), on the rebound, and she FOULED HER right before the horn sounded. 0 seconds now on clock.

H1 gets a bonus FT...makes the first to tie the game...misses the second...they go to OT and the Home Team wins in OT. Visitors miss the playoffs.

But, wait! The Visiting Team Coach PROTESTS THE GAME! (not sure when he protested...after his teams' FT and foul or after the game)

He states that the officials do not know what they are doing...they should have chopped the clock when the BALL HIT THE RIM on the FT.:rolleyes:

Anyway...I guess if the official that was administering the first FT with .3 seconds left, had done the Coach's job and COACHED the girl to NOT MOVE on her attempt...maybe they would have made the playoffs.:rolleyes:

Feel bad for the girl...from Hero to Goat...in a matter of seconds.

If only the Coach WOULD HAVE COACHED her, maybe she would have actually listened...maybe.;)