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

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Adam

You never see a thrower keep his pivot foot as if his life depended on it?

Ok.

They can do that without us saying anything to them. You think they listen to us that deep and only go by what we tell them?

Just like another comment Billy likes to suggest we cannot say. If you tell a player they cannot wear jewelry, I have never seen a player really think that that means nothing more than their playing eligibility for the moment. I have never had a player think that because we address a jewelry issue that means at all times they cannot wear that item. But if guys on here have, that would be a first for me.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

They can do that without us saying anything to them. You think they listen to us that deep and only go by what we tell them?

Just like another comment Billy likes to suggest we cannot say. If you tell a player they cannot wear jewelry, I have never seen a player really think that that means nothing more than their playing eligibility for the moment. I have never had a player think that because we address a jewelry issue that means at all times they cannot wear that item. But if guys on here have, that would be a first for me.

Peace

They do lots of things without us telling them anything; but I'm not convinced it didn't start long before my game, because a coach or official told them they couldn't move or called them for traveling during a throw in.

I've never seen Billy (or anyone) indicate players would get that misperception, but ok.

I have seen a silly distinction between telling a player they have to take his jewelry off and telling him he can't play with it in. Nothing to do with the player's perceptions of his jewelry capabilities post game, more of a legalese distinction without a real difference.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Just like another comment Billy likes to suggest we cannot say. If you tell a player they cannot wear jewelry, I have never seen a player really think that that means nothing more than their playing eligibility for the moment. I have never had a player think that because we address a jewelry issue that means at all times they cannot wear that item. But if guys on here have, that would be a first for me.

And for me, too. Please don't twist my words. I've already stated that this (jewelry) is a local issue. It has been a custom, on our local board, advice given to us by two different interpreters, over more than thirty years, that as a liability issue, we don't tell players to remove jewelry, but rather, we inform them that they can't play while wearing jewelry. Now they have an option. What they do after that is no concern of ours, but we won't let them play while they are wearing jewelry. Pretty much the same end, just different means. Hair splitting? Certainly, but it's just local, not for general use.

It's pretty far fetched. We tell a player to remove their new earrings that the doctor told them not to remove for a few weeks. They somehow get an infection. The parent blames us, because we didn't give them any options, like the option of keeping the earrings in, and not playing in that night's game. Far fetched? Yes. Could this create some type of liability? Probably not, but anybody can sue anybody, for practically any reason. Would the parent win? Probably not, but the official would still need an attorney, and have to take time away from their day job to attend meetings, depositions, court proceedings, etc. Will this ever happen real life? No, but why chance it when a simple, "You can't play with earrings", will take care of the business?

And I believe that I have heard this suggested on the Forum, by Forum members outside my local area, so it's probably not just in my little corner of Connecticut.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

They can do that without us saying anything to them.

Largely because they've heard it before from officials who are misstating the restrictions...and some that even call it wrong. I've seen it called wrong a few times in the last few years in NCAA D1 games even....perpetuating the myth to millions at a time. With every official who confirms it by saying "don't move", that is one more player that believes the wrong thing. And then, some of them become officials and call it that way because they believe it to be that way.

Why insist on doing something incorrect when it is just as easy to do it right? Why be party to the proliferation of a fallacy when you can accomplish all you need and be accurate without any more effort than just admitting that 'don't move' is simply not accurate or correct and changing to "spot throw" or something like that which doesn't imply restrictions that don't exist?

It is hard to for whoever is responsible for the teaching of the players to do it right when they have people in positions of authority directing their players incorrectly.

[JRutledge]

So once again you think all myths and misconceptions are based off of what officials tell them? Yeah right.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

So once again you think all myths and misconceptions are based off of what officials tell them? Yeah right.

Peace

Maybe not the only source but why insist on being part of the problem when you can be part of the solution?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Maybe not the only source but why insist on being part of the problem when you can be part of the solution?

I am not insisting on anything but that no one really cares that much what we say. They have plenty influences other than us. Once again, it really does not matter what we say, they do not take us that literally as you and others are trying to make it.

And I just came from an NCAA Football meeting where if you would listen to the media, you would think hard hits are illegal in the game all because they listened to the media. Not true, but that is what players and coaches and fans think are the rules outlaw.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am not insisting on anything but that no one really cares that much what we say. They have plenty influences other than us. Once again, it really does not matter what we say, they do not take us that literally as you and others are trying to make it.

And I just came from an NCAA Football meeting where if you would listen to the media, you would think hard hits are illegal in the game all because they listened to the media. Not true, but that is what players and coaches and fans think are the rules outlaw.

Peace

You just made my point. There is enough misinformation out there without us adding to it or confirming it. We should be seeking to correct it.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

You just made my point. There is enough misinformation out there without us adding to it or confirming it. We should be seeking to correct it.

Well then say what you feel (as I have stated before). I will continue to say what I feel and I think this is an either/or kind of statement. And you certainly have not proven to me but in some paranoid mindset that someone actually believes "Don't move" means only that they cannot move literally.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Largely because they've heard it before from officials who are misstating the restrictions, and some that even call it wrong. With every official who confirms it by saying "don't move", that is one more player that believes the wrong thing. And then, some of them become officials and call it that way because they believe it to be that way. Why insist on doing something incorrect when it is just as easy to do it right? Why be party to the proliferation of a fallacy when you can accomplish all you need and be accurate without any more effort than just admitting that 'don't move' is simply not accurate or correct and changing to "spot throw" or something like that which doesn't imply restrictions that don't exist? It is hard to for whoever is responsible for the teaching of the players to do it right when they have people in positions of authority directing their players incorrectly.

Camron Rust: Where do I send the check?