What would you do?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

What better instruction than calling a violation? I am sure they would learn not to do that again.

That would certainly be one way of instructing these twelve year old players, and I would not have any problem with anybody handling it that way. But like I said, first game of the season, first period, confused players, I'm not ignoring the play, I'm sounding my whistle, telling them the right way to do it, and giving them do-over. Keep in mind that this is a league in which officials can use their judgment if some of the younger players on the "junior varsity" team go over the free throw line because they can't reach the basket from fifteen feet. That's the way we roll here in our Catholic middle school league, but I can certainly see where others may handle their seventh grade games differently.

Wait a minute. Do we have two Forum members posting under the name AremRed?

Originally Posted by AremRed

At that level you could either blow the whistle and point to the player to properly inbound the ball ... depending on how generous and/or teachable you are feeling.

[OKREF]

Elementary, and Junior High, I am stopping play and bringing them back for a proper throw in, once, and explaining the correct thing to do. After that I am calling a violation. All other levels no warning, it's a violation.

[Bad Zebra]

This:

Originally Posted by OKREF

Elementary, and Junior High, I am stopping play and bringing them back for a proper throw in, once, and explaining the correct thing to do. After that I am calling a violation. All other levels no warning, it's a violation.

Seems like common sense to me. Falls into the same category as getting them lined up for free throws properly...certainly not by the book, but I'm looking to help teach the game at this level.

[KevinP]

It's 7th grade basketball. Blow the whistle as soon as they grab ball and tell the player what to do. IMO we are not only enforcing the rules but coaching a little bit in the younger grades. I've never had an opposing coach get upset for helping out on a play like that.

[APG]

Originally Posted by KevinP

It's 7th grade basketball. Blow the whistle as soon as they grab ball and tell the player what to do. IMO we are not only enforcing the rules but coaching a little bit in the younger grades. I've never had an opposing coach get upset for helping out on a play like that.

Not that I would get on anyone either way, but the players would get just as much out of you calling a violation or doing it your way.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by KevinP

It's 7th grade basketball. Blow the whistle as soon as they grab ball and tell the player what to do. IMO we are not only enforcing the rules but coaching a little bit in the younger grades. I've never had an opposing coach get upset for helping out on a play like that.

Originally Posted by APG

Not that I would get on anyone either way, but the players would get just as much out of you calling a violation or doing it your way.

I agree, and I probably approach this the way Billy does. To be honest, I'm more likely to just call it in 7th grade. If I'm doing some younger stuff, I'll be more likely to coach. I am not, however, there to coach. That's why they have coaches. I'll work with the kids a bit, but honestly, in most 7th grade games in my area, the players are not in their first year of basketball.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by APG

Not that I would get on anyone either way, but the players would get just as much out of you calling a violation or doing it your way.

Can't argue with that, especially with a casebook play to back you up. Once again, its a matter of "When in Rome ...".

Does this, "When in Rome ...", stuff work in other sports like it seems to work in basketball?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Does this, "When in Rome ...", stuff work in other sports like it seems to work in basketball?

Yes, except in Rome.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by KevinP

It's 7th grade basketball. Blow the whistle as soon as they grab ball and tell the player what to do. IMO we are not only enforcing the rules but coaching a little bit in the younger grades. I've never had an opposing coach get upset for helping out on a play like that.

I have never had a coach go nuts when you call a violation (against the other team). Most coaches are yelling for something anyway and like it when you call things. After all, they think it is the NBA and everything that takes place must be called.

Peace

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have never had a coach go nuts when you call a violation (against the other team).

I had a coach yell at me last week because I called a back court violation ... on the opposing team.

A1 is in her front court and decides to make an uncontested drive to the wrong basket. As soon as she crossed half court, I whistled the violation but nobody stopped. I blew the whistle again more emphatically and that's when Coach B voiced her displeasure.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I had a coach yell at me last week because I called a back court violation ... on the opposing team.

A1 is in her front court and decides to make an uncontested drive to the wrong basket. As soon as she crossed half court, I whistled the violation but nobody stopped. I blew the whistle again more emphatically and that's when Coach B voiced her displeasure.

Boy would that be a quick discussion, probably egged on by a sideways look from me. Or, if I'm feeling particularly annoyed, "So, you want me to ignore an obvious violation so you can gain two cheap points?"

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Wait a minute. Do we have two Forum members posting under the name AremRed?

Nope, just one. I agreed it is a teachable moment at that level, I simply pointed out they could learn from the violation being called, or the play being whistled back to try again. No inconsistency here.