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

[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 JRutledge

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.

Proof:

Almost all players will stand in their little shoulder width area on designated spot throwins. A large number of players probably don't know that the movement limits on a designated spot thrownin are actually more liberal than they believe. Seldom have I observed players taking the legal step to the left, or to the right, of the designated area, to avoid defensive pressure. I believe that the reason for this is that that have been told by parents, coaches, and officials, over the years, that during a throwin, other than a run the endline throwin, they most "not move", that, "Don't move" means, literally, that they must keep their feet in their little shoulder width area. We can even go back one generation, that those parents, as players, and those coaches, as players, heard the same, "Don't move", advice from some of those that officiated their games back in the day.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I know at least one (coach), the one that I had to sit down, who thought that, "Don't move", that he probably heard from other officials on my local board, either as a coach, or as a player, a few years ago, really meant "Don't move".

Originally Posted by JeffM

Player asks me to back the defender up to give him three feet. I told him no, but that he can back up as far as he would like. He points to a spot three feet behind him and asks if that is ok. I told him yes and he could back up all the way to the wall if he would like. The idea seemed foreign to him. I think very few players understand this rule. Otherwise, they would back up more frequently to have a clear passing lane.

I have also had dozens of experiences, like the situation that JeffM experienced (above), over the past thirty-two years, most with Catholic middle school players, but a few with high school varsity players. Yes, we can blame their parents, and coaches, for poor instruction, but those parents, and coaches, had to get the idea in their head that the players couldn't move backward from somewhere, in some cases, I'm sure, from officials stating, "Don't move".

In addition, some, not a lot, but some, players, coaches, and fans, may believe that the inbounder in a designated spot throwin situation, must maintain some type of pivot foot within that little shoulder width area. I believe that the reason for this is that they have been told that by parents, coaches, and maybe some really ignorant officials, over the years, who have probably, in turn, been influenced by officials, over the years, saying, "Don't move". After all, "Don't move", is what the coach of a second grader says to his player who has picked up his dribble and now must decide what to do next. After hearing, "Don't move", from parents, coaches, and officials, over several years, in different contexts, players will just decide to not move, literally, when advised to do so by an official, even when, by rule, they are allowed some movement to gain a legal advantage.

Proof:

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The occasional, incorrect, inbounding "travel" call, either from an ignorant official, or expected from an ignorant coach, or a fan. Maybe we've never observed it in person, but it's not a myth, it does exist, not often, but it really exists.

There are many misperceptions, misunderstandings, and myths, regarding the rules of basketball. Where do these come from? Multiple sources, including a few, probably only a very few, from officials themselves. Who's going to clear up these myths? Officials. Who else will do it? Will all these misperceptions, misunderstandings, and myths be cleared up in my lifetime? No, but I'm going to clear up as many as I can in the short time that I have remaining here on this planet. I feel that it's my duty as a basketball official, and as a guardian of the game.

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?

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

There is enough misinformation out there without us adding to it or confirming it. We should be seeking to correct it.

[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?