Baseball Ump crossover

[williebfree]

Last night, I worked some MS games with an official who is a long-time baseball umpire (He has worked State Tourney games, numerous times). This is his 3rd yr in Basketball. His game management skills were solid. He had a "presence." However, his use of the "foul tip" signal for shots that the defender may have had contact on the ball caused minor frustration for me.

In one case, the action was in my primary and I had the angle on it... SO, I am whistling a slap on the shooter's wrists while my P is motioning "foul tip" (from the lead, far side of the lane). During the first dead ball break after this occurance, I mentioned this minor annoyance and he openly acknowledged that he had been told the same by other veterans.

I explained that in all the camps that I have attended, they suggested the the only time to use of the "foul tip" signal is in a case to show that the opposing team touched the ball before it went OOB.

Do other multi-sport officials struggle with this?