Use of or lack of use of voice.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Toren

What kind of talking is useful?

At camp I generally talk a lot more than I do in a normal game.

Although in a normal game, I usually try to talk people out of the lane with a whistle in my mouth I yell "lane, lane". If I'm the non-calling official I get players lined up so when my partner returns to his spot we are ready to shoot free throws. If we have a trouble player, I communicate that loudly to my partner/s

In camp, I also add the occasional, "good call" to my partner. But this feels forced to me.

But since I get the same feedback, "try to use your voice more", I know I gotta continue to do more. But when else is an appropriate time to talk more?

When a player is on the border of doing something they don't need to do and it doesn't need a foul....No-hands (usually on the perimeter), Straight up (rebounding, post play), etc.

When a player helps someone up displaying good sportsmanship...thanks, nice job.

When they get the ball for you on a dead ball...thank you.

When they're pushing the limits on entering the lane to rebound a FT....guys, wait til it hits (in addition to the "normal 1 shot").

You can't talk the whole game with this sort of stuff but if you let the players hear you and let them know you're paying attention, it can do two things. 1...it can keep them from committing a cheap foul. 2....it lets them know you're watching and, if they're the "victim", it keeps them from getting frustrated wondering if you're blind....helping control the game.