Use of or lack of use of voice.
 

We are about in a month of the summer camp season for high school ball. And I have noticed something while being a clinician or even working games with fellow officials that seems a little disturbing.

Very few officials use their voice in any meaningful way. They do not talk to their partners or tell the players much of anything with their voice. I am just wondering if this is common around the country or something that I am just seeing. It was said by another fellow official who is participating at camps that about 90% of the officials he sees could use their voice more. Either they are keeping the whistle in their mouth or they are as quite as a mouse.

Peace

I got that feedback - individually and in a group - at a camp I attended this week. I'm quiet by nature so it's been an issue off and on.

I think part of it is the nerves of being at a camp. I know for myself once I'm told/reminded about it, I change back to "season" mode and talk more.

It probably has something to do with the notion that, as campers, we are emphatically told to keep quiet and listen.

I see a lot of newer officials that don't communicate well. This normally applies to 1st and 2nd year folks, however.

Well we do not tell them this at all. So if that is the case they did not hear that from me or the people I work with in any way, shape or form. And I am talking about on the court, not when the clinicians or assignors are talking to them.

Peace

I'm talking about in general. Every camp I've ever been to, it was pretty much understood that "you have two ears and one mouth...use them in that ratio". Of course, these were instructional camps, not college exposure camps. As such, that doesn't really create an environmemt that encourages any individual participant to want to get real vocal anywhwere. Just my impression.

I cannot speak for every camp and certainly cannot speak for every camp in this area, but usually we do not tell anyone that sort of thing. I really cannot even think of any college camps that says that kind of thing either. Of course when you have a camper or two that tend to "ya but" clinicians or not listen to them or interrupt them when talking to several campers at once, then yes I can see that being the case. But not the case in the situations I am talking about. And I am talking about what they are doing on the court, not communicating in a teaching session between games or during a timeout. I am strictly talking about why an officials seems to have a problem communicating basic stuff with their voice like where the ball is out of bounds after a stop clock, communicating that a sub cannot come into the game or instead of a basket counting they have a team control foul. Just kind of taken confused why even veterans do not do this even in situations that they know them not speaking up can be a problem.

Peace

As an evaluator at several camps each summer, I probably tell officials to use their voice more at least 95% of the time. Totally agree with Jeff's original post.

Personally I find that being vocal in the first 2 min. or so of the game allows for alot less whistles through the course of the game. Expecially as L with the post play. Your voice helps set the tone and it helps to remind the players that we're there and were aware of whats going on.
That being said I sometimes see just the opposite, guys being too vocal. In the 3rd and 4th qtr talking about the same things they were talking about in the 1st. At some point they need to bang the kid so he realizes that the offensive action needs to stop.

It wouldn't surprise me if that were a common problem (lack of voice). My voice is one of things that has been a positive in my career and I get complimented on consistently.

Thoughts on this
 

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.

I am not referring to talking to kids or players to prevent fouls. I am talking about talking to partners to tell them what you just called or where to put the ball on a foul or violation. Even something has simple as using voice when reporting the foul. You are talking about something totally different than what I was referring to.

Peace

Definitely something I see with newer officials; normally accompanied by a soft whistle and fuzzy signals. Occasionally, a veteran will forget to let me know if we're doing FTs or a throw in, however.

Oh ok. Sorry I must have misread the op. I find alot of newer guys struggle with communication. Thats something that I try to stress in the pre-game. Spot for throwins, shooting or floor foul, number of shooter, number of shots. All important things that guys should communicate about all game long.

No, I could have been more specific. I can see how you would be thinking one thing and I am thinking something else. Either way I just see a lot of officials that do not say anything when their voice would be welcomed or necessary.

Peace

Shut Up ...
 

So when your partner makes a call, and this is one of those occasional times when you don't say "good call" to your partner, and the coach disagrees with your partner's call, and then the coach, who has heard you say "good call" to your partner a few times earlier in the game, notes that you haven't said "good call" to your partner on this particular controversial call ...

Do you see where this bedtime story is going? I'll give you a hint. They all don't live happily ever after.

I'm not worry about the bedtime story. My partner makes a tough call and he starts getting flak then there is a good chance he'll get a "Good Call!" from me so that the chirper hears it.

I agree. I don't say it for those very reasons.

The only time I might do that is with a very junior partner who needs the vote of confidence....and it shouldn't be frequent.

That's pretty ridiculous...toren says he gives "an occasional" good call comment, and you decide he is doing it all the time, except for once and that gives the coach ammunition. Ridiculous...

And for you and Camron - are there other things you are afraid to do or say on the court because of what a coach might think or say?:rolleyes:

Like BNR said - you make an awesome call on the court with me, I will tell you it was an awesome call.

And to get back to Jeff's original post...I find that using or not using voice is quite often a matter of comfort level on the court. As the official gets more confident and comfortable on the court, they will begin using their voice more - which will lead to more confidence and more comfort.

Honestly, I could give a damn what a coach things if I say this. I will say good call as well and say it when I think the call is really a tough or disputed call. If a coach wants to make something out of me not saying it later, that is their problem. The only reason I say it is when I see the action or have an idea what was called. I also say it no matter if the coach hears me or not. I think people are too worried about what a coach thinks at the end of the day.

Peace

Not at all. I say things all the time they don't like and that I know they will not like. I just see no benefit in telling a partner "good call" and only see it as an opportunity to cause unnecessary trouble. Why invite trouble?

I also see it as a bit demeaning to my partner to give my approval of his/her calls on the court. I trust that they know it was a good call. If I have something to say to them about it, it will usually be in the locker room.

I would take issue that it invites trouble. And since everything said is not for the coach's benefit, I am not so sure what trouble it brings.

This is one of those, "What works for you might not work for someone else."

Again this might be that way depending on the kind of official you are working for or with. I know some officials look to certain experienced partners to give them some kind of approval and just like anything you have to know your partners. But having worked with some very experienced officials and some very inexperienced officials as well, never had anyone react to me badly for saying "good call." Then again I do not keep track of how many times I say this or even if I say it on a regular basis. We are a team and I would hope that we can share some stuff with a partner without egos being so damaged.

Peace

Occasionally Is The Problem ...
 

Actually, I never decided that he's doing it all the time. That's my point. He doesn't. He said that he only did it occasionally. When? Easy calls? Tough calls? Correct tough calls? Incorrect tough calls? Anybody who works with me will get his "props", and some criticism, if needed, during private moments, usually in the privacy of the dressing room, maybe on the court during timeouts, or between periods, but still private.

Getting Sleepy Now ???
 

+1. This is what I was talking about. Voice during dead balls is SOOOO underutilized.

Agree as well.

There are so many different types of talking....to partners, coaches, players. This type is too often underused.

Had partner last night, who is a fantastic official in every regard, not use his voice a time or two. It was summer league and some things were a bit casual (e.g., no need to do a full report since they were not tracking player fouls). But, on a couple of occasions, I had no idea what kind of FTs I was to be administering...1+1 (not shooting) or 2 (shooting)....the play was such that it could have been either one. I had to ask him what we had. Even if it seems obvious to you, your partners may or may not know all that they need to know about what you had...better to overdo it rather than put your partners in a bind.