You call yourself a Referee, but You never played varsity hoop?
 

I played HS varsity and small college hoop. This gives me insight on what players go through during a game, for example I can see how they get annoyed by pesky defenders which causes them to commit violations, how they experience stress of waning time and being down by 1 or 2 pts and the urgency that envelopes them, and also I know how they feign fouls--like initiating contact on drives when defender has LGP and they are looking to exploit the "gray areas" of the call. (i.e., 'flopping'). Also, there are just some aspects of hoop that I cannot verbalize but I can sense during a game--simply because I've been in the same situation that the players have been in. I know that my hoop playing experience gives me unique insight and I use it in the execution of my officiating practice. I don't mean to sound erudite, but officials who have not played competitive hoop are more prone to be duped by players who are prone to deceptive feigning.
I'm sorry to say this and will likey recieve feedback from the posters here. Yet, it also begs the question: can a coach who has never played varsity actually be an excellent varsity level coach? Can a ref who has never played in the nba be a good nba ref? But that is not really the point here.

Huge disparity here. How many high school coaches didn't play high school ball? Very few, I imagine. How many NBA refs didn't play in the NBA? Practically all of them.

Many wreck league players are former HS players. Does that make them capable referees?

As long as we are asking hypothetical questions, can a former player pass a rules or mechanics test?

No doubt, being a former player gives one perspective as a referee, but most everyone in the gym (fans and players included) have played the game at some point. It is not the top credential for a referee by any means.

You are entitled to have any opinion that you want to have, no matter how ludicrous it might be.

New refs always have misconceptions to shed, such as giving too much advantage against pesky but legal defenders.

The higher level the newer official played, the harder those misconceptions are to shed.

And to be a poor writer, even when trying to use big words to make yourself sound intelligent. (I am not talking about you, Rich)

I never played past 7th grade and I like to think I'm pretty capable on the court.

I don't think they have anything to do with each other. Experience is the key factor...if you're seeing plays over and over...you're more prone to not to get fooled by the player. Now does playing experience help with the learning curve? It can. But I also don't think, for example, Leon Wood's ( current NBA official) former experience as an NBA player somehow gives him an upper hand on Joe Crawford.

Everything you've alluded to can be learned by experience aka seeing plays (and something that experience comes the hard way) and if you're fortunate enough, through watching film.

What is the point, man?

Just one: Leon Wood (#40 in your program).

MTD, Sr.

According to Travelling Man's logic, airplane pilots should be selected based on how many times they've been a passenger. :eek:

1) You need to get a proof reader who will help you break your posts into readable paragraphs.

2) Your posts always read like a "fanboy's" posts.

3) Come on, you are a fellow Jayhawker, unless you are a dreaded K-Stater, :p.

4) Much to the consternation of officials who only officiate soccer and no other sport, any competent H.S. basketball official can become a competent H.S. soccer officials in four to six weeks. Which nullifies your premise. Officiating soccer is easier than officiating basketball.

MTD, Sr.

Is Haywood Workman still on the NBA staff?

:eek:, me bad! Yes he is, #66 in your program; this was his fifth year in the NBA. And lets not forget the retired Bernie Fryer.

MTD, Sr.

"You call yourself a Referee, but You never played varsity hoop?"

No, I don't call myself a referee, I am a referee (or more technically, an official).

Having never really played competitive basketball, it was a higher learning curve in some aspects to learn the game. One nice thing is that I had few misconceptions about the rules and got to build the foundation from an official's perspective.

If one has the opportunity to play competetive ball and then takes up officiating then I can see the point that Travelling Man is making.

IMO, all that playing experience does is reduces the amount of time or the steepness of the learning curve.

Anyone can become a very competent official given enough time.