Can We Please Try This Again ???
 

I contacted my local interpreter, and he has encouraged me to write the "Things Officials Should Probably Not Be Saying In A Game" article, things that officials often, or sometimes, say during a game that do not have any basis in the rules.

Here's the list, so far:

“He wasn't set” (to a coach who is questioning a blocking foul on his player).
"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 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").

He has already approved this list, so I'm not asking for any input regarding whether or not, these are things officials should probably not be saying in a game (I really don't want to go through that again), because according to him, officials should not be saying these things in games here in our little corner of Connecticut.

What I am asking for, from my fellow Forum members, is if anyone can think of anything that should be added to the list, again, these are things that officials often, or sometimes, say during a game that do not have any basis in the rules.

I would not mind debating any additional suggested items to the list (although the moderators might disagree with me).

Thanks.

Good lord, that's a fantastic list. Great stuff. I'd bet good money 90% of state playoff officials use two or more of these a game around here. Only way to change that culture of myth/misapplication/misunderstanding is by calling it out at meetings and in locker rooms. Good stuff.

Just To Be Clear ...
 

“He wasn't set” (to a coach who is questioning a blocking foul on his player), is a recent addition to the list that I came up with since last weekend, so, in my opinion, maybe not the moderators, it's open to debate, as is any new item that one may suggest be added to the list.

For the record, I deleted the original thread because it had devolved into a debate about the debate, and was simply no longer serving a useful purpose. I've got no problem with a new attempt; and I"ll probably watch it more closely this time. My rabbit ears are up now.

Now, if you guys are going to debate the issues, or even the list, have at it. But let's not debate the merits of the debate. Back to the topic.

Thanks, I Was Getting Mentally Exhausted Replying ...
 

Agree. I had no problem with the moderator's decision, it was just that I was disappointed that it was shut down because I wanted a few more days to get some additional items for the list.

Interestingly enough, this phrase is actually permitted in NCAAW. My eyes almost fell out when I read it in last season's CCA manual. Hopefully it will be gone this season.

W ??? Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It ...
 

What's the rationale?

Much Better ...
 

I thought that basketball officials weren't supposed to have rabbit ears.

Here's One Of My Many Fans ...
 

... as a college friend of mine, Scott Hunter, said to the class as we walked into the Historical Geology laboratory and he spotted a large Hunter brand pedestal fan (no air conditioning) in the corner. I wonder how many times he used that joke?

Thanks, but don't go overboard. This is hair splitting to the extreme. There are thousands of much more important things to think about while officiating a basketball game. It's summer. It's the off season. I haven't officiated a game since March. I'm bored. So let's talk about things that we probably shouldn't be saying.

It's been in there for several years.

There Is Nothin' You Can Name, That Is Anythin' Like A Dame ...
 

What's the rationale behind why it's permitted on the women's side? Most officials frown at the use of, "On the floor", especially since the phrase doesn't really match the rule; especially with girls, and women, who seem to like the old fashioned set shot, especially when taken from behind the three point line.

Billy why do you think someone will know the rationale of why a phrase is used in the CCA manual? Maybe they just like the wording.

They know it will confuse you.

Don't Play One On Television ...
 

Because most, but not all, officials that I know, especially almost all the best officials on my local board, many of whom happen to be college officials, frown upon such language ("On the floor"). I am not at all familiar with college mechanics. I am familiar with high school rules, and mechanics, and know that while coaches have the most input into the rules, officials have the most input into mechanics. I am only familiar with a subset of high school mechanics, i.e., IAABO, and when a mechanics change is made, we are given a reason for the change. The same thing was true several years ago when IAABO officials used NFHS mechanics, we were always presented with a rationale for any mechanics change. I guess that that's not the case with college mechanics? I've never even seen a CCA manual, don't know who is responsible for making changes in the manual, and have no idea what the initialism, CCA, stands for. That gives you an idea of how much I know about college mechanics, and thus my curiosity.

Most changes (and content emphases) are discussed at regional NCAA meetings, and some through postings on the Arbiter, and I'd postulate that many juco and DIII officials (and DII officials who aren't mandated to attend) at least know one or more D1 or DII officials who have attended those meetings (or run into them at camps with the opportunity of asking them questions), so posing that question would have a pretty reasonable chance at getting a first , second, or third-hand response on it, in my opinion.