just a little note- travel and coaches
 

reminder... because it happens :) darn power of suggestion

So you hear coaches sometimes yelling travel, watch the travel (etc etc)
But sometimes I see that but then refs are too eager to call a travel soon after. Maybe they did miss a travel the first time. I don't know. But they get it in their heads to watch for a travel and when you start watching things that coaches want you to notice you start to see violations that aren't there.
Too often I see travels called after coaches start yelping about it and too often players make good moves and travels are called. Especially on pump/head fakes one way then a move to the other. I know they can be tough to call at times, we all make mistakes with those calls, but just be mindful on how they are called.

This might be true of brand new officials but not anyone who has worked a number of games.

Any official who lets the coach in their head is in for a very long night

Yes, I'm guilty of it. I call a travel on the coach's team :D

on the other hand.....
 

Seen it happen more than once.....:eek:

Most of the time you see it because a) he traveled or b) she traveled.

Just as I'm not going to let the coach tell me when to call a travel, I'm not going to avoid calling it just because he asked me to.

I will, however, tell him to knock it off after about 2 times.

Me: "that means I'll be looking at your team just as hard"

Back in the days when I did little kids rec ball, I once worked a 10u girls game with one of those coaches. Every time the opponents had the ball, he's start yelling "that's a travel! You gotta call the travel!".

Keep in mind that this was a league that was 98% made up of players who had probably never played basketball previously... and the traveling and double-dribble rules were enforced in a fairly relaxed manner.

Told the coach to knock it off a couple of times... which worked, for about 2 trips up and down the court, before he'd start in again. Finally I turned to him and said "You want me to call every single travel, coach?" "Yes." "Ok then".

His team's next 6 possessions ended via traveling violations.

"Did I make my point, coach?" "Yes" "Ok then"

Didn't say a word to me the rest of the game.

Call it both ways, Ref! As a coach be *very* careful what you ask for!

JV boys coach last year asks me to watch the pushing down low. What's the next thing I see? His player giving a nice two-hander to a player about to catch the ball. Next thing I hear from the bench "not on us, ref!!"

I've been known to use that theory. I like it.

If he's gonna be a jerk about it, his team will definitely get the first call. IF the behavior persists, I'll let the coach know that if he's going to call it, I'm not. :)

Most experience officials will nail that coach's team first. Coaches also learn the officials tendencies just like officials know the coaches. If they have been around a while they know if an official tends to call somethings tight or likes to try to talk the players out of violations and fouls early in the game. They also know who they can successfully "work". Some coaches rarely say anything...so when they do if usually means something.

A good example was one of my last games before the health "vacation". I warned both teams a couple of times about 3 second violations (keep in mind, I count slow so when I get to 3 they should have already moved). I finally called a violation and the coach yelled at his player "If either of these guys are calling you for 3 seconds you have been in there for a week. Move your butt." I almost spit my whistle across the floor.

yeah... the "Now you call it!, what about the last one"


I've done it and I've seen experienced refs do it as well. I've seen calls that are 100% not a violation. It may appear to be but you are getting in your head because of what the coaches are saying so you aren't viewing it objectively. They have their games to play too. Just try to watch out for it is what I'd tell fellow refs.

+1

I just go by a saying I was taught as a younger ref..

"Answer comments... ignore statements."

Of course, that line has one more part...

"penalize insanity"

Answer questions, acknowledge requests, ignore comments.