Things I Learned Tonight
 

Competitive 8th grade varsity game.

1. Contact on a shot is an automatic foul.
2. A player doesn't "get two steps" on a layup.
3. Calling an intentional foul on a two-handed shove in the chest is "a bad call."
4. A player may not reach over the back of an opponent who has "position".

I love this game.

Sounds like Snaqs got an education. Fans?? Coaches??

Coaches

So glad you learned them before you got too far into the season. :D

I just learned from Dickie V. (in the Kansas/Kentucky game) that continuation "doesn't really exist at the college level".

This is great. I am glad to learn so much before the start of the year.

I heard that during the Texas/Rhode Island game earlier today too. The TV guy said that it doesn't exist but he wishes it did like in the NBA.

That was Jeff Van Gundy who was a former NBA coach and been an NBA color analyst for awhile...along side with Mike Breen who's also an NBA play-by-play guy.

I learned in my 8th grade girls game that because A1 was dribbling when B1 knocked the ball away, A1 couldn't go get the ball and begin dribbling again. Had she been holding the ball when it was knocked away then she would have been able to dribble again.

This was exacerbated because I gave A two free throws when B1 fouled A1 when attempting to knock the ball away again. That's not the rule, ref.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is 8th grade varsity?

Eight Grade varsity
 

17 year olds that have failed a few times?

I am looking forward to my big Junior High game where I will be working with about a month from now. Yeppieeeee!!!!!!!

Peace

I was poking a bit at Billy with that.

Last night was my second and final JH night of the year.

I'm good with that.

As a baseball coach and basketball official this bums me out on several levels. I will admit to not knowing all the ins/outs of all baseball rules, but I make sure not to comment on it if I don't have the rule locked down (or comment much at all - I'm suppose to coach, not officiate). If I'm unsure about a rule I will, shocker, look it up or post a question on the baseball official's forum.

The saddest part of your situation is you know that coach isn't teaching the kids what they need to know in order to play the game within the rules and control what they can control (hint - officials aren't one of them).

Please Poke Away ...
 

A team that consists of average, and above average, usually older, middle school basketball players who play on one of a school's boys, or girls, basketball teams. The junior varsity team probably consists of average, or below average, usually younger, middle school basketball players who play on the other one of a school's boys, or girls, basketball teams.

If you don't believe me, then check out the American Heritage Dictionary: Varsity: The principal team representing a university, college, or school in sports, games, or other competitions.

We have a few Catholic schools around my little corner of Connecticut that have varsity A, varsity B, junior varsity A, junior varsity B, and junior varsity C teams. Any student that wants to play, plays, on a team at the appropriate skill, and age level.

Is this also one of those leagues that doesn't keep score and gives every kid a trophy at the end of the season?

Hallelujah, Praise The Lord, And Make That Free Throw ...
 

Actually, this is a pretty serious basketball league, perhaps too serous. The only "kid friendly" component of the league is that, with the exception of the "varsity" teams, all the players must play in every game.

They keep score. Standings are kept. There's a seeded tournament at the end of the season for "varsity", and "junior varsity A" teams. League champions, and runnerups, move onto the state championship, and the state champion moves on to the New England championship.

And they like to have competent officials work their games, and are willing to pay for such officials. About $40.00 a game for seven minute period "varsity" games, and about $30.00 a game for six minute period "junior varsity" games.

We Catholics take our basketball very seriously, almost as seriously as bingo.

I learned in my 8th grade boys basketball game that the defensive player is NOT allowed to strike the backboard when attempting to block a shot. And that it should be a technical foul.

It's On The List ...
 

Well, it could be worse. Most myths regarding this play interpret this as basket interference, or goaltending, which includes awarding the basket if the ball doesn't go in.

I learned that in a varsity game a few years ago.

:D to save keystrokes (for seemingly every post), I think you should change your name to "BillyMac...In my little corner of Connecticut" :D

One or both?

It was a mix.

Nice. I can't say that I've heard #4 before. What were the circumstances of #2?

Long strides, player caught the ball at the top of the key on the run.

Got it. I had one a few years ago where the player thought she "only took two steps." She did, but she had a foot in the air when she caught the ball. That non-pivot foot came down (one), then the pivot foot went up and came down (two) before the ball was released.

He caught it just after alighting from his left, giving him quite a bit of legal distance. The other coach had questioned a non call earlier on a perfect jump stop setting up a last second three.

what I learned last night
 

A Double Foul results in an AP throw in. Biggest problem was that I learned it from my partner. :eek:

Fotunately he was easily persuaded otherwise.

I had that same situation four or so years ago.

Loose ball. A-1 secures the ball, then bumps off B-2. Easy player control for me, but my partner had the foul on B-2. No biggie, double foul, A's ball. My partner went as far as putting his hands on my shoulders and looking me square in the eyes that we go to the arrow. I held firm, and my partner checked the rule book after the game.

If I had to do it again, I would have explained to Coach B what just happened. We moved along a bit too erratically, which can cause those around you to lose faith easily.

He would have been correct just a few short years ago.

I'm Just A Sweet Transvestite From Transexual, Transylvania ...
 

The Grand Poobahs on my local board have encouraged all officials who wish to post on social media sites to remain anonymous. They based this on advice given to them at an international convention. I went undercover about the same time that Chuck Elias went under, the day the music died.

Now, if you really want to know what part of Connecticut I'm from, then I'll send it to you in a private message, but then, I'll have to kill you.

Let me clarify my sarcasm: you mention "...my little corner of Connecticut..." so often, it may save you some keystrokes to just make it part of your username. ;) Get it? Never mind. :D

Pick A Town, Any Town, There Are Only 169 ...
 

And I'm not being sarcastic. I will have to kill you. I don't have a license to kill, but I have a learner's permit.

Yep, probably 6 or 7 years ago. That's just last year in a dog's life. :)

My partner that night is a good ref, a friend and even older than me. I think he referred to it as a brain fart! we've all had 'em.