Things Officials Should Probably Not Be Saying In A Game ...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by APG

Everyone knows what "over the back" means but we still don't want officials reporting fouls as "over the back" or even have it in their lexicon.

I am not so sure about that. People usually only complain about this when the "back" is involved and they often think their is something special about the back for a call to be made. I do not year someone complain when someone is out jumped while facing their opponent. And they often use that term when little or no contact took place.

Originally Posted by APG

I can also say that in my experience, officials that use "on the floor" are generally poor at applying continuous motion, and I wouldn't doubt that using this phrase somehow influences their thinking in that a player on the floor isn't in the act.

My experience as well. And most officials that use that term actually penalize the shooter for being on the floor or never getting off the floor during the foul when it is obvious they could not have been doing anything else but shooting the basketball. So that is one reason to not use the term IMO. And when you call a shooting foul while a player is on the floor or never is able to jump, the question you hear, "Ref wasn't he on the floor?" Those are much more compelling things to not say because the rule is completely misunderstood or applied improperly by those that use that term. I am not hearing anyone say an official misapplied a rule on a throw-in for what they might have said or did not say.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JeffM

I understand that saying "on the floor" is considered unacceptable so I stopped saying it.

However, I think it quickly conveys the essential information that the foul was before the shot.

So, I have said "spot" or "designated spot" instead. However, many players don't seem to understand what that means and I've been asked by players if it was a shooting foul.

I've also used "white ball" which seems to works better.

So, what is the best way to say it? I don't think that "before the shot" would be any more acceptable than "on the floor".

"before the shot" is just as easy to say as "on the floor" but is actually accurate in its meaning since it says that the foul occurred before the shot. A player could be shooting while still "on the floor" so a player could be getting 2 FTs having been on the floor. Why confuse thing when you don't need to?

"Spot" isn't used at the time of a foul but when administering the throwin on the backcourt endline mostly after a timeout.

[just another ref]

If one assumes that the use of "on the floor" means an official doesn't understand continuous motion, one could also assume that an official who says "don't move" doesn't understand the details of a spot throw-in.

One thing has nothing to do with the other.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by just another ref

If one assumes that the use of "on the floor" means an official doesn't understand continuous motion, one could also assume that an official who says "don't move" doesn't understand the details of a spot throw-in.

One thing has nothing to do with the other.

Yup. So many inconsistencies.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

"Can I move?" ... "Was he set", I might tell them "yes" and move on.

"Yes" was not on my list of things not to say.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And I have never had an argument over the issue as well.

Until this week.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do sometimes say "spot".

Sounds like a BillyMac disciple.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I never said a thrower could not move under the rules under and circumstances.

I never said that you did. I was just looking for some common ground. Common ground is usually a good thing, almost ranking right up there with peace.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And in #2 it is a fact that many more officials do not wear a belt on the court, but you do.

True, but I do not see that mentioned anywhere in #2. Maybe my monitor needs adjusting?

Originally Posted by JRutledge

You keep wearing a belt proudly.

I don't keep wearing it because I'm proud, I keep wearing it because I find it comfortable, because, according to IAABO guidelines, I can, and because belted pants are considered acceptable here in my little corner of Connecticut. I am certainly aware that a belt would be considered completely unacceptable in other parts of the country, maybe in all other parts of the country. What you are confusing for pride is actually me demonstrating what most of us already know regarding officiating, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." That's why I'm usually the one bringing up the belt, often making fun of myself.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

One of you never works 3 Person for varsity and does not work playoffs.

I've never worked a state tournament game. I'm not one of the best dozen, of so, officials in our board of 325 officials. I have worked conference, and league, playoffs, including, at least, one final. In regard to three person games, I can't help it if I live in The Land That Time Forgot.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

People will disagree with the content or the order.

Which is exactly why I only asked for additions to the list. Knowing how the Forum works, I purposely did not ask for deletions, nor did I ask for any priority order (although I do admit that the earring statement has a very local flavor to it). My request was quite successful, with three statements being added to my list.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I really don't want to get into a debate regarding whether, or not, we should be saying things like this in a game for the purpose of preventative officiating. Anything to add to the list?

[BillyMac]

After a few suggestions from Forum members, here's where I currently stand at this point. A reminder, this is a list of Things Officials Should Probably Not Be Saying In A Game, things that officials often, or sometimes, say during a game that do not have any basis in the rules.

"On the floor" (for fouls against players who are not in the act of shooting).
"Don't move" (before a designated spot throwin).
"Hold your spots" (before the jump ball).
"You can't stand behind him" (before a the jump ball, to a player who is directly behind an opponent, who are both ten feet off the circle).
"Everybody get behind the division line" (during a free throw for a technical, or intentional, foul).
"Let it hit the rim" (before a free throw).
"Over the back" (on a rebounding foul, it's probably a pushing foul).
"Reaching in" (on a foul against a ball handler, it's probably a holding foul, an illegal use of hands foul, or a hand check foul).
"Coach, you have one timeout left" (when, by rule, we should only be notifying head coaches when their team has been granted its final allowable timeout).
"Sit down" (to a coach who has not been charged with a technical foul).
"You have to take out your earrings" (instead of, "You can't play with earrings").

Any more additions?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Just wondering, with regard to instructions or lack thereof, the only time I say anything is when the throw-in is on the endline after a timeout. Is this the case for others?

Stupid IAABO mechanics have us signaling the type of throwin, with the proper verbiage, and signal, before every throwin. Our local interpreter has told us to only do this on backcourt endline throwins, all backcourt endline throwins, not just backcourt endline throwins after time outs.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JeffM

I understand that saying "on the floor" is considered unacceptable so I stopped saying it. So, what is the best way to say it?

"No shot", give the "no score" signal if the ball went in the basket, complete your at the site of the foul mechanics, including, "Possession White", and pointing to the designated spot, and then go and report the foul to the table. Easy peasey lemon squeezy.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Even if they don't know why it means what it means.

Cool sounding statement.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Why confuse things when you don't need to ...

... or don't have to? Thus, the purpose of my list.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

If one assumes that the use of "on the floor" means an official doesn't understand continuous motion, one could also assume that an official who says "don't move" doesn't understand the details of a spot throw-in.

One thing has nothing to do with the other.

Well when you find that person, let me know. I have yet to meet that person that has ever been confused by the other term. Or better yet, I have never met the person that does not move literally.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why would I care if a player thinks they cannot move?

Hmmmm? Let's see? Because they can move?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well when you find that person, let me know. I have yet to meet that person that has ever been confused by the other term.

Diogenes, is that you?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by JeffM

I understand that saying "on the floor" is considered unacceptable so I stopped saying it.

However, I think it quickly conveys the essential information that the foul was before the shot.

So, I have said "spot" or "designated spot" instead. However, many players don't seem to understand what that means and I've been asked by players if it was a shooting foul.

I've also used "white ball" which seems to works better.

So, what is the best way to say it? I don't think that "before the shot" would be any more acceptable than "on the floor".

"No ahot" or "before the shot" works if the ball is released. If it's not released then OOB or "endline" of "sideline" seems to work.

"Spot" or "designated spot" is used during / just before administering a throw-in, not at the time of the foul.

[7IronRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

If I get my interpreter to approve this article, and I'm pretty sure that he will, I guarantee you that, as the law of the land, these false statements will be banished, and that we won't be hearing these statements from all but just a few officials here in my little corner of Connecticut. I can see this being presented to new officials every year, so that they don't form any bad habits, as some of us old-timers have, unfortunately, already done.

Really? What a waste of time. Time would be better spent elsewhere.