Watching a mistake being made
 

I have a situation that I would like some feedback on. My partner & I were waiting for the Freshmen Boys game to end by standing in the doorway to the gym. It was very crowded and there was a lot of people between us and the court. The game went into to OT, so we stood there to watch the other officials. When the ball went up for the OT tip, we realized that the officials had switched the direction of the players for the OT. (We all should know that the OT is an extension of the 4th Q and the teams should shoot at the same basket in OT as they did in the 4th Q). One of the school administrators came up to us and said, "Aren't they shooting at the wrong baskets", which we acknowledged as true.

If the situation would have been different and we could have gotten the attention of the officials as they were lining up for the tip, should we have stepped in to correct this. Should we have said something after the first dead ball?

I don't believe you should do this, unless you were quite nearby and the method is very discreet. You could hide the communication by going to the table about another non-existent issue.

My point is to let it appear that the game officials discovered the error themselves.

I think it looks damaging to have to have the "next officials" correct a mistake like that.

It's HTBT, but I might try to get a message through the table (for example, have the school administrator who came to you go to the table and have them sound the horn when the clock next stops)

I'm wondering, did the school administrator go to the table to have the table officials inform the floor officials?

No. I'd stay out of this one entirely unless they (the officials) directly asked.

It is quite unlikely to have any effect on the game and both teams are similarly effected.

Id stay out and just let them know after the game. Both sides of the court are the same so no true impact in the game.

In my neck of the woods officials are not to be in the gym (and dressed) while the prior game in be played for just this reason.

Going the wrong direction is embarrassing, for the officials, but little impact on the game. I would do nothing.

Eye Black ...
 

Sunlight glare from windows during a day game?

Running your offense on your end of the court.

Let em be and let them learn at that level....... It's one of those things once you do it you should never do again.

We hide here to as well. We will watch most of the first half and some of the second from the stands in plain clothes then go back to change and pregame. When the JV guys come in we know it's our turn to go out. Saves from any awkward appearances and conversations.

I would stay completely out of it. It would be something I might talk to them afterwards but not directly intervene in the game.

Peace

If I were in the freshmen officials' shoes, I'd want to know about it right away.

The officials should know this very basic rule to begin with. But that being said it might be hard to do without completely undermining their authority on the court. If you correct this, you will be asked about other situations and might have the officials looking over their shoulder on other situations. Tell them after the game will not only avoid unnecessary embarrassment, it will let them learn the rule for future games.

Peace

There's an exception, I think. If they put the wrong time on the clock for the OT period, I'm probably getting word to the table. Other than that, I'm just a spectator.

We can't save everything. I am at enough games where mistakes are made. Let these guys make their mistakes. If it was a camp setting, then that is different. But during the regular season, unless they ask me, I am staying in the cut and doing nothing. Because even being an official sitting not waiting for a game, I have had coaches turn around and "Jeff, fix this" or "Was that the right call?" That is all I need to be seen as the guy that can come in and fix everything. I would not want anyone doing that to me so I am not going to do that to them.

Peace

Indeed, they should know the rule. However, it isn't undermining to offer information (which I might give to the table). It's undermining to tell them to switch sides. Just like working with a partner, offer the information, and let them decide what to do. Besides, if they're embarassed, it's because they didn't switch, not because someone cared enough to point it out. We've all been embarrassed a little on the court, and we'll be embarrassed again. That's how we learn. We can't be so thin-skinned that a little embarassment would break us.

Most importantly, though, it's a pet peeve of mine when someone withholds information. I would much prefer someone be up front with me, so I can fix the issue right away, then rather be told about it later, or worse, not told at all, yet get dinged in the ratings, without being told why.

Playing the wrong time in a period is serious enough for me to say something. But keep in mind, I'm probably getting the AD and having *him* go to the table. I'm not personally addressing the table or the officials.

We had someone give 4 FTs in OT in a JV game earlier this season on a flagrant foul (2 for the flagrant and 2 cause the team was in the bonus). The home varsity coach wanted me to fix it -- we were in the corner waiting for the JV game to *finally* end. No, sorry. Up to the JV coach to say something, which he didn't.