This is all that I'll do. Anything else isn't supported by rule or case.

Sure it's the coach's job, but I am curious if there is a situation in which this could come back to haunt an official reiterating it?

Adam, that's my only caveat. I had that for the first time last month. There's no way that guard was going to pick up #5 unless he really, really, earned it. That was just preserving the sanity of everyone involved.

If you think it's OK not to call a foul on a "star" player in any situation just because they are a "star" player, then why don't you credit that "star" with a basket every time they shoot - even if it's an air ball? Same principle. Besides, if you call the foul on the "wrong" player, you're penalizing that player unfairly. And if you don't call a foul at all when the "star" commits one, you're penalizing the player who actually got fouled and also their team.

Remember - we don't commit fouls, we just point them out when they occur. If we don't - we're not doing our job.

In our local kids rec league, we've had some players who were the kids of NBA players and some of those kids were much better than most of the other players. We never gave them "a break" or showed favoritism. Every once in a while, someone would ask us about it and we were adamant that every kid gets treated the same.

My main caveat is if I have a situation where I could give the foul to either one of the players realistically. In other words I would call a multple foul or both player contacted the player good enough I could call a foul on either one. I have sometimes given the foul to the player with fewer fouls. I have also given the fouls to the "jerk" if I can as well in this situation. But if one clearly happens before the other, then I just call the first foul. Just like your situation, not very common to even have this situation in the first place.

Peace

I have had instances where I credit a foul to A2 as opposed to A1 as long as both were in the area of the foul...BUT...it has never had anything to do with A1 being a star player, I do it for every player equally, and I only do it on the 5th foul if I do it at all, and only in situations where it is so close that the fould could go to either person. I never not call a foul because someone has 4, and I never call it on someone away from the play just to save some kids ***. I know I know, none of this makes it right but, its what I do.

I don't have a problem with that conversation. I've had it myself and will continue to. The problem is the other official misapplied what was said. If the player bumped another player and caused them to fall then they definitely earned the foul.

This can definitely get you in trouble if misapplied so maybe less experienced officials shouldnt think too much about it.

But I have seen too many instances where officials call very marginal contact that end up being the 4th or 5th foul on key players and IMO that shouldnt happen.

If a player commits a clear foul, regardless of who they are or how many they have, call it. But there are situations where better discretion is prudent.

ETA- I would not remind a player about their foul trouble because then what happens when someone hears the conversation and you don't do it for another player on the other team.

That's Five On Him Coach, We Need A Subsitute ...
 

I've heard these many times over thirty-two years, even from my local IAABO interpreter. I just don't subscribe to this concept. I never guess on a foul. I always try to be sure, no matter who the fouler is.

I officiate and calls fouls where and when needed. I also agree with Adam as to the caveat. I thirdly don't coach. I don't "remind" players how many fouls they have, coaches how many time outs they have, and I certainly don't keep a running tally of who on the court has how many fouls. My job is to be impartial. Plain and simple.

I've heard evaluators say this and IMO they lose credibility. On one hand they are teaching us to be better impartial judges of a game and on the other they are coaching us to manipulate the real outcome of the game.

The way I look at it, most nights half the gym thinks we did a horrible job. The nights where the whole gym thinks we did a bad job are the good games IMO. Rules were gotten right and both teams an even playing field.