Thoughts from a coach

[Terrapins Fan]

Originally Posted by bainsey

The following was posted on our state basketball's message board, thread entitled "Stop Officiating the Scoreboard!" I'll just post the OP (there are some interesting replies) for now...
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Why do some official [sic] believe that they have a right to try and even the playing surface by adjusting the play calling for the inferior opponent?

In four different games this season I was informed by 4 different officials that they were not going to make on obvious foul or travel call because, “Look at the score board!”

Do the rules of the game change just because of the number of points up on the score board?

Is this reason to allow for excessive contact by an inferior defender?

At what point does an official decide they have the right to change the rules of a game?

What this really comes down to is, why do some officials believe that they are bigger than the game?

All I want to say is I watched a game this year where the officals did NOT do any of the above and the final score was 79-10. The winning team put on a FULL court press from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

I would say that is a reason why SOME officials might do what you have posted above. I'm just sayin.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

All I want to say is I watched a game this year where the officals did NOT do any of the above and the final score was 79-10. The winning team put on a FULL court press from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

I would say that is a reason why SOME officials might do what you have posted above. I'm just sayin.

What does the way any team decides to play defense have to do with the way we should officiate a game?

The coaches' coach. The players' play. And we react to what they do.

[jeffpea]

i think too many officials simply dismiss the opinions of coaches and fans without ever thinking about whether the comments have any merit....sometimes they are correct.

officials do "officiate the scoreboard" (it's human nature). coaches and fans want every call to go their way (it's human nature). officials get calls wrong (we're not perfect). coaches and fans let their emotions led to crazy assumptions (i.e. "star treatment", team favoritism, etc).

it would serve ALL officials well to take a second and determine if there is any validity to the criticism they receive...

the person who ALWAYS thinks they're right is often wrong and will rarely improve their officiating.

[TheOracle]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

i think too many officials simply dismiss the opinions of coaches and fans without ever thinking about whether the comments have any merit....sometimes they are correct.

officials do "officiate the scoreboard" (it's human nature). coaches and fans want every call to go their way (it's human nature). officials get calls wrong (we're not perfect). coaches and fans let their emotions led to crazy assumptions (i.e. "star treatment", team favoritism, etc).

it would serve ALL officials well to take a second and determine if there is any validity to the criticism they receive...

the person who ALWAYS thinks they're right is often wrong and will rarely improve their officiating.

Dead on. To parse words and state that I advocate calling a game to placate fans and coaches is beyond stupid, and a desperate attempt to avoid the fact that we are part of the game, nothing more. I have never, ever heard criticisms of my top-rated officials that they are bigger than the game, and I get feedback from everyone, including fans who have played college basketball and others who don't have a clue. Feedback can be accepted or discarded, but when you disagree with 95% of the feedback, you most likely have an issue--it all areas of life, not just officiating.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

Dead on. To parse words and state that I advocate calling a game to placate fans and coaches is beyond stupid, and a desperate attempt to avoid the fact that we are part of the game, nothing more. I have never, ever heard criticisms of my top-rated officials that they are bigger than the game, and I get feedback from everyone, including fans who have played college basketball and others who don't have a clue. Feedback can be accepted or discarded, but when you disagree with 95% of the feedback, you most likely have an issue--it all areas of life, not just officiating.

Y'all keep getting feedback from the fans. Be sure to incorporate all of that great feedback from the fans into your training also. And good luck to you. And good luck to any official that you train also. They'll need it.

'Nuff said.

[Adam]

Maybe I'll poll the fans for my next block/charge call to make sure I get it right. It'll take a little bit longer, sure, but hey, "get the call right" should be my goal, right?

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Maybe I'll poll the fans for my next block/charge call to make sure I get it right. It'll take a little bit longer, sure, but hey, "get the call right" should be my goal, right?

How about just blowing whiste and asking nearer coach, "whatcha got?"

[jeffpea]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Maybe I'll poll the fans for my next block/charge call to make sure I get it right. It'll take a little bit longer, sure, but hey, "get the call right" should be my goal, right?

you simply don't get it, do you?

best of luck....

[jeffpea]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Y'all keep getting feedback from the fans. Be sure to incorporate all of that great feedback from the fans into your training also. And good luck to you. And good luck to any official that you train also. They'll need it.

'Nuff said.

did you know:
- that each official selected to work the NBA playoffs graded out at approx 95% during the regular season? (which means that 15% of the crews' calls are incorrect each game)
- the officials who worked the NCAA Championship game (Duke vs Butler) were 78% accurate during that game?

clearly the BEST officials in America are wrong a surprisingly high percentage of the time...since we're NOT in the NBA or Final Four, we are incorrect a larger percentage of the time....

an official who wants to get better will listen to comments/feedback/criticism, decide if it applies or is valid, and apply it/disregard it....

what is so terrible about that?

[chartrusepengui]

95 + 15 = 100

[tref]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

what is so terrible about that?

I know what you're getting at, but fans arent the most reliable source for us improving as officials.
After most of my games, the winning teams fans smiles at you & the losing teams fans roll their eyes at you.

The only time I take what they say to heart is when the losing teams fans/coaches/players say, "good job tonight."

[tref]

Originally Posted by chartrusepengui

95 + 15 = 100

Originally Posted by jeffpea

did you know:
- that each official selected to work the NBA playoffs graded out at approx 95% during the regular season? (which means that 15% of the crews' calls are incorrect each game)

3 NBA playoff officials rated at 95% accuracy = 15% ICCs

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

an official who wants to get better will listen to comments/feedback/criticism, decide if it applies or is valid, and apply it/disregard it....

what is so terrible about that?

There's absolutely nothing the matter with that UNLESS the comments/feedback/criticism comes from freaking fans. That's just plain ridiculous.

If you really think the average fan is knowledgeable and competent enough to offer constructive criticism to officials, well, good luck to you too. I sincerely hope that you and the oracle follow their great feedback. You both deserve it.

Maybe you both can have a poll when you blow your whistle.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

Feedback can be accepted or discarded, but when you disagree with 95% of the feedback, you most likely have an issue--it all areas of life, not just officiating.

+1

To give a blanket statement that coaches have nothing to offer goes way too far.

Anytime you get feedback, you have to consider the source. Mind you, consider does not mean disregard. It means to consider their accuracy and motivation.

Certainly, we hear a lot of crud based on ignorance and/or selfish motivation from coaches. That doesn't mean that all of it is worthless. You just have to use your best judgment and consider what they're saying.

That goes for fellow officials, too. I received some good feedback from my partners their year, and I heed their words. I also received some crap from other officials too (like the guy who followed me into the locker room to firmly state I don't call a foul with :01 left in a 20-point game), and I can dismiss those words.

Either way, it's considering.