Ok, here's an easy question for your seasoned vets....

[Adam]

Originally Posted by johnny d

Wow, you guys have really detailed pre-games. My usually consist of four words: don't **** it up. If it is an important game, I might lengthen that to: make sure you don't **** it up.

Sounds like a summer game pregame when your partners shows up 30 seconds before tip off. I don't know a single official, high school or college, who would actually do this.

[CountTheBasket]

Originally Posted by Adam

Sounds like a summer game pregame when your partners shows up 30 seconds before tip off. I don't know a single official, high school or college, who would actually do this.

Yea different areas work different ways I suppose but I've always been a part of detailed pre-games as well consisting of everything from specifics about that nights game to discussions on various players similar to what takes place in here.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Adam

Sounds like a summer game pregame when your partners shows up 30 seconds before tip off. I don't know a single official, high school or college, who would actually do this.

I have a set 3-person crew for quite a few games. Sometimes our pregames resemble this.

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by Adam

Sounds like a summer game pregame when your partners shows up 30 seconds before tip off. I don't know a single official, high school or college, who would actually do this.

I don't do, nor have I ever done MS games, so I couldn't tell you what the expectations are at that level.

You haven't worked with me, or you would have had such a pregame. Seriously, using some of the information in this post as an example, why do I need to have you tell me when you are going to rotate or when you expect me to rotate? I am going to rotate when I feel it is necessary, regardless of what your expectations are. I wont remember what you told me about your philosophy on rotations and I have been doing this long enough to realize that you have rotated out there on the court and that I need to move from C to T or from T to C. Most of this stuff is redundant and the people working the games, at least at the college level, know what the expectations are and don't need to go over it before every game. Neither I nor most of my colleagues need to be reminded that in an NCAA-M game the L is going to get first crack at block/charge plays in the paint involving secondary defenders. Now if you want to discuss team, player, or coach tendencies for that nights game. I am more than willing to do so. That has the potential to at least have some impact on the game. But that is usually limited in scope as well.

[BatteryPowered]

I always cover the basic stuff...making sure we both know the floor coverage, going over double whistles, pass and crash responsibilities, trusting your partner, what to do in the event of a T, things that may be different than NFHS for our area, etc,

I also like to know/discuss things about the teams and the gym. How many clocks and their location, proximity to the spectators, unusual bench locations, if one of us has called one of the teams that season...any problems with the coach (are they typically calm or antimated), do they like to run, do they swing the ball back and forth a lot (especially for 3-man), and special players (ie. exceptionally fast, big, like to bang, No. X tends to use their hands). That is not so we can go into a game with preconcieved things, but it helps to prepare us (at least me) for the game by forcing us to think about basketball.

Now...after introductions when we are ready to move to our spots we usually shake/fist bump and say "Don't screw up."

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Rich

I don't worry much about the location of the ball or whether it settles there, anymore.

I said the same thing, I just used fewer words.

I don't rotate to a side just because a pass goes to the C's side of the floor.

More times than not, if the ball settles below the FT line extended,
1- the C will probably have a closely guarded matchup
2- the C will have more matchups than he can handle
3- I'm probably looking to that side.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by johnny d

I don't do, nor have I ever done MS games, so I couldn't tell you what the expectations are at that level.

You haven't worked with me, or you would have had such a pregame. Seriously, using some of the information in this post as an example, why do I need to have you tell me when you are going to rotate or when you expect me to rotate? I am going to rotate when I feel it is necessary, regardless of what your expectations are. I wont remember what you told me about your philosophy on rotations and I have been doing this long enough to realize that you have rotated out there on the court and that I need to move from C to T or from T to C. Most of this stuff is redundant and the people working the games, at least at the college level, know what the expectations are and don't need to go over it before every game. Neither I nor most of my colleagues need to be reminded that in an NCAA-M game the L is going to get first crack at block/charge plays in the paint involving secondary defenders. Now if you want to discuss team, player, or coach tendencies for that nights game. I am more than willing to do so. That has the potential to at least have some impact on the game. But that is usually limited in scope as well.

So you just assume everyone knows what they're supposed to do.

Unfortunately, not all of us have that luxury.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

I said the same thing, I just used fewer words.

I don't rotate to a side just because a pass goes to the C's side of the floor.

More times than not, if the ball settles below the FT line extended,
1- the C will probably have a closely guarded matchup
2- the C will have more matchups than he can handle
3- I'm probably looking to that side.

I'll rotate just as much if the ball settles above the FT line extended, though, as post players tend to set up on that side. It's just not a line that means a whole lot to me.

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

So you just assume everyone knows what they're supposed to do.

Unfortunately, not all of us have that luxury.

At the college level, yes, I assume everyone knows what they are supposed to do or they would not be on the game.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Rich

I'll rotate just as much if the ball settles above the FT line extended, though, as post players tend to set up on that side. It's just not a line that means a whole lot to me.

It was just a reference point to help the newbie who asked for laymen's terms. While you have a great feel for when to rotate, he doesn't.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

It was just a reference point to help the newbie who asked for laymen's terms. While you have a great feel for when to rotate, he doesn't.

And as I said, others of us aren't that fortunate. Therefore, it's important to talk about things during pregame. That may be rotations, switches or any of a number of other things. Not all of us are so big time that we can afford to do nothing but say "Don't **** up," which by the way, doesn't accomplish a thing.

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

And as I said, others of us aren't that fortunate. Therefore, it's important to talk about things during pregame. That may be rotations, switches or any of a number of other things. Not all of us are so big time that we can afford to do nothing but say "Don't **** up," which by the way, doesn't accomplish a thing.

Do you really think that the 1-2 minutes you might spend discussing each of these topics (rotations, switches, and other very basic things) is going to make a difference in an officials performance in the game that night? If the guy really needs to discuss things that basic, you are in for a lot bigger problems than whether or not they catch all the rotations. Are there things that could be useful to talk about in a pregame, sure, but going into this level of basics is a waste of time and doesn't accomplish anything either.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

And as I said, others of us aren't that fortunate. Therefore, it's important to talk about things during pregame. That may be rotations, switches or any of a number of other things. Not all of us are so big time that we can afford to do nothing but say "Don't **** up," which by the way, doesn't accomplish a thing.

I do not think I have ever talked about rotations in years. The only way I can think of that topic comes up is when an official is brand new to the varsity level. But talking about switches or rotations almost never comes up.

My pre-games are more about the players, the teams and coaches that we will be dealing with. I might talk about a couple of philosophy things, but that is about it.

Peace

If the OP is still looking for advice, I haven't seen this posted yet:

Take a look at the defense. You will probably not rotate as much with a zone defense, because the offense will probably swing the ball from wing to wing. Under man-to-man defense I would suggest rotating whenever the ball moves to the other side of the lane, even above FTLE.