Situational Officiating

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by bainsey

One of the biggest myths (and the biggest in my book) is, "you don't make that call at that point in the game." This sounds like the advice Rook was given, and I think it's wrong.

While that may be mostly true (I don't agree with it being the biggest myth), it doesn't mean the call was correct - we'd need to see video to know if he should have made that call or not. The advice, however, was horrible. If the observer had said something to the affect of he shouldn't have made the call because it didn't disadvantage the dribbler, that I could understand.

[Duffman]

I think it's better let the game be decided in regulation than OT. If the foul occured with :30 seconds left the other team had plenty of time and opporutnity to score and in the game in regulation. The game was decided by the fact that THEY couldn't get it done, not because YOU blew a whistle with 30 seconds to go.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Duffman

I think it's better let the game be decided in regulation than OT.

I don't think this is relevant.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I don't think this is relevant.

I simply meant that officials are under no obligation to make sure close games go to, and are decided in overtime.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Duffman

I simply meant that officials are under no obligation to make sure close games go to, and are decided in overtime.

I agree with that.

[Duffman]

My HS coach once taught me that if the game was decided late by an officials decision it was my own damn fault for letting the game be that close to begin with. I wish more coaches would teach that lesson.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Duffman

My HS coach once taught me that if the game was decided late by an officials decision it was my own damn fault for letting the game be that close to begin with.

He's partially correct.

Your coach's message is spot on, in that, if you score more points, a late call doesn't affect your goal of winning as much. A game is always decided by the totality of play -- 32 minutes (overtime notwithstanding).

A game is never decided by one call or one play. Everything that happened prior to a late call affects the outcome just as much as that call. Our brains can only take in so much, so naturally, everything gets magnified in the last few minutes. In reality, though, when a game is close, something you kicked in the first quarter could affect the outcome just as much as the end. The big difference is, few people will remember the beginning, and are far more likely to get caught up in the drama at the end.

[Texas Aggie]

I've made those sorts of calls, so I know where you are coming from, but the closer you get to the end of a very close game, you have to resist the urge to call fouls far from the basket. Absolute rule? Hell no. Its just a guide -- someone gets dusted and you make the call even if in the parking lot. But in general, the viewpoint of advantage/disadvantage CAN and DOES change as the game moves on and you want to keep what you do out of it as much as you can. When you are needed, you step in and make the call. Otherwise, don't.

What you called in the first half may or may not have a bearing on what you call later. Did you miss the earlier call? Were you attempting to clean something up (which never works below quality girls varsity, in my view)? You can't make an absolute saying that if you called it early you must call it late with 2 seconds left in a tie game.