The Infamous One Person Game ...
 

The only time that this technique could be used is in a one person game, and if you officiate long enough, you will eventually work a one person game. Most of the time the kids are pretty honest and the game is better without a bunch of extra alternating possession situations.

Hi Bob...

I have experienced being questioned often OOB calls from middle school games to JV level and summer rec too. Especially when its under the basket and goes out on the endline in tight quarters.

That was off white's shoe or black touched it last..etc

Use Judiciaously and Sparingly . . .
 

Don't do this all the time. In fact, don't do this if you don't have to. Shucks, don't even do it.
At the risk of getting thoroughly lambasted, for which I'm ready, consider this . . .
Oftentimes the players themselves know who knocked the ball OOB. Just a brief pause to allow a slight, furtive glance at the players' reactions can give away what the correct call would be.
Note well: I'm not saying do this. But it seems to hold true the very few times I experimented with it. Or, I mean, I read about it somewhere. Or, I mean, BillyMac told me he did this all the time. :D

Whose coaching box?? :D

:)

I knew someone would say something, I only used "his" to indicate which box I was in.

If you are consistently getting comments about your OOB calls then I would say it may have something to do with the confidence you exude during these calls. You can't be hesitant with your whistle, it stills need to be immediate even if you still have information to process. When you do finally yell out a color there needs to be authority in your voice.

And finally, make it clear you are not entertaining any comments on the call. Get the ball immediately back into play.

Yep.

I tell new guys, "It's not his box. It's MY box. I let him use it if he behaves."

I always refer to it as "the coaching box" for the same reason.

I've gotten in the habit of saying "off red, white ball", my last few games I decided I was just going to say "white ball", but I fell back into my old habit. Does it matter as long as you are definitive with the call and signal?

IMO, Yes.

Too often, people won't hear the first word "off" and it will then sound like you are changing you mind.

Plus, if it's white's ball, then it must have been "off red'. So, it's just redundant. Saying less is saying more.

I had a habit of this also. The last camp I went to, I was told to just say red ball and point in the direction.

More is less.

Give the colour and the direction. If clarification is needed then offer it.

Yes it makes a difference....what is the purpose of saying "off red", isn't "white ball" telling us the same information?

Say "white ball" first, if further info is needed THEN say "off red 32/"hit red's foot/etc".

I don't say "ball", just "red" or "white" and point.