What's going on in Kentucky?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Still have guys I work with who will go out of their way to chase down the ball.

I hope that you set them straight.

[grunewar]

The story was also on the NBC Evening News w/ Brian Williams.......I thought of you guys and knew it would be a discussion topic here. How sad is that?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I hope that you set them straight.

Guys who have worked longer than I, so not my place.

[BktBallRef]

My pregame includes, "Do not chase the ball. We can't play without the ball. Someone will get the ball. When the game is over, we don't need the ball."

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

My pregame includes, "Do not chase the ball. We can't play without the ball. Someone will get the ball. When the game is over, we don't need the ball."

With all the other useful things that can be covered in a pre-game, this seems like a waste of time. Can't believe there are officials that actually chase down the ball at ANY point in a game.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

With all the other useful things that can be covered in a pre-game, this seems like a waste of time. Can't believe there are officials that actually chase down the ball at ANY point in a game.

It should be a waste of time, but I've found it to be a valuable use of 10 seconds; it saves us 30 seconds at the end of the game.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

With all the other useful things that can be covered in a pre-game, this seems like a waste of time. Can't believe there are officials that actually chase down the ball at ANY point in a game.

You must work with a very rarefied group of officials if you don't see someone chase a ball that has gone oob at some point in the game. Or chase the ball at the end of the game to take it back to the table for some reason. Not even once in a season?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

You must work with a very rarefied group of officials if you don't see someone chase a ball that has gone oob at some point in the game. Or chase the ball at the end of the game to take it back to the table for some reason. Not even once in a season?

I certainly do not see that at the varsity level. I cannot think of the last time I have seen it at that level. You see it more often at the lower levels, but that is not that common either because this is taught to not do this. I am sure it is happening somewhere, but that is what associations are for and what camps are for to teach the proper way to do things.

And when I read this site, my area works so different then other areas. We do not have 100 guys assigned to all the games by one assignor. We have probably a couple thousand spread out amongst many associations and more than 15 assignors or so and I do not see this as a common issue that I can see. I am sure someone does this, but not for very long.

Peace

[Adam]

We've got long time vets who do this, but for the most part, it's the new guys. Some of them are stubborn about it, though.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I certainly do not see that at the varsity level. I cannot think of the last time I have seen it at that level.

I call BS...not one single time has one of your partners (or you) turned their back on the court to go retrieve a ball bouncing along the wall while players are lining up to shoot free throws?

No way.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... is taught to not do this.

... and boom goes the dynamite.

Which is why I tend to believe this:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I certainly do not see that at the varsity level. I cannot think of the last time I have seen it at that level.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

... Or chase the ball at the end of the game to take it back to the table for some reason.

Drives me NUTS!

Of course you are going to have "that guy" do that...maybe once or twice a season. It's usually a newer official...or one that just can't stand to leave a good game behind.

They hear about it, with some good natured ribbing, sometimes even before we get to the locker room.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

You must work with a very rarefied group of officials if you don't see someone chase a ball that has gone oob at some point in the game. Or chase the ball at the end of the game to take it back to the table for some reason. Not even once in a season?

Can't recall any in the last few years...but I seldon work sub-varsity any more. I imagine it goes on there more frequently.

The group I work with tend toward the other extreme...they won't usually bend over to pick it up unless it hits them in the feet (even though quite a few would benefit from the additional effort).

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Can't recall any in the last few years...but I seldon work sub-varsity any more. I imagine it goes on there more frequently.

The group I work with tend toward the other extreme...they won't usually bend over to pick it up unless it hits them in the feet (even though quite a few would benefit from the additional effort).

I know here, there is at least one varsity official who insists on retrieving the ball after the game and then shaking hands at the table.

I also know that it's done often enough (not in my games) that some ADs are almost expecting us to give it to them after the game is over as they walk us to the locker room.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

With all the other useful things that can be covered in a pre-game, this seems like a waste of time. Can't believe there are officials that actually chase down the ball at ANY point in a game.

The newer guys, and yes -- some vets -- do this and need to be corrected. Which is why, around here, this is one of the things we teach at scrimmages and suggest -- however briefly -- for pregames:

DON'T GIVE IN TO "L.G.B.T." . . . that is,
When the ball goes out-of-bounds, resist the inclination to:
LOOK AT THE BALL
GO AFTER THE BALL
BECKON FOR THE BALL
TURN TOWARD THE BALL.
Go to the spot of the subsequent throw-in or free throw, keep all eyes on the players, and the ball will come to you.

And it always does.