Lessons learned

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Had a tight game last evening and learned a couple very important lessons.

As lead on the table side of the court, I called a player control foul where the defender had very good solid position but turned at the last second to protect herself from the impending crash. The offensive coach, who's 25 feet away, went nuts. MY PARTNER, from the other side of the court, was there with the coach disucssing the call and emphasizing that it was the correct call IN LESS THAN A SECOND. Absolutely amazing! Fantastic job partner. I will strive to do the same for my partners in future games.

Second lesson learned was a mistake I made. Early in the game both teams had messed with the ball after they had made a basket (only slight stuff). So in my preventive officiating manner I felt I should talk with the players; during a freethrow situation, in the 1st quarter, while my partner is reporting the foul, I stated to all the players that both teams have done this and from here on out, just leave the ball alone after you make a shot. Don't touch it. Let the other team collect the ball on their own without your help. No problems.

Guess what in the 4th quarter, 2 point game, 2 minutes left, visiting team catches the ball as it comes out of the net and pushes it out of bounds (very minor). Partner blows his whistle. I'm not sure whether he was going to warn one team or just stop the clock so the oter team could get the ball but the home team coach immediately recognizes "You gotta give em a T. (pointing at me) He's already talked to them. That's a T." Visting coach not to be out done says "No way. You've got tell me. You can't T us because you haven't told me they were doing it."

Partner comes to me. "Yes, I talked with them.... but I didn't put it in the book. I talked to both teams at the same time during a free throw but didn't come over to the table and put a record of the warnings in the book." After a short discussion we decided that we cannot impose a T. I now place a warning for both teams in the scorebook - like it was going to make a difference now.

My mistake. I didn't inform my partner of my discussion and I didn't put my warning in the book. Could have been a disaster. Home team won by 5 without the assitance of a T.

A good lesson and a don't-make-the-same-mistake-that-I-did lesson.

Hope this helps you too. Tony