Talking to players

[Raymond]

They are just better at talking to the players without making it look obvious.

[JRutledge]

No, most good varsity officials talk to players. They just pick their spots. And they say a lot in dead ball periods when hardly anyone knows they are talking to them. That is an art, not a science.

Peace

[deecee]

As a rule of personal thumb, I never talk to varsity players in obvious spots. It's a foul. Borderline stuff, yeah, quick 3-second reminder, yeah, but beyond that they know what to expect at that level, so talking to a player should be minimum the higher up.

On average in a varsity game I may talk a handful of times (single digits). The best advice is a whistle. I talk more when the ball is dead and to address a specific player or issue.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

No, most good varsity officials talk to players. They just pick their spots. And they say a lot in dead ball periods when hardly anyone knows they are talking to them. That is an art, not a science.

I have found free throws or throw-ins are the best time for this. If a player is setting a marginal screen I might get their attention and let them know. If they are using their hands perhaps you can yell "hands!" during play. I usually step onto the court a little bit to talk to post players -- it shows up on video and lets everyone watching know that I am on top of that play.

I'm still trying to figure things out too, so I would love to hear more from other guys.

[Coach Bill]

As a coach, I don't think it's right for refs to talk to players in ways that give them an advantage. For example, "watch the 3 seconds", "watch the handcheck", "keep still on that screen". Just call it. Why are you coaching/advising them? I like to think my team knows how to avoid 3 second calls, guard without handchecking, set proper screens, etc... Why is my opponent being aided?

I've sat courtside at many NCAA and NBA games, and I can't remember hearing an official saying a word to a player about what he is currently doing wrong. They just blow the whistle and call it.

Don't see why high school varsity should be any different.

[JetMetFan]

To follow up on Coach Bill's comment, I know at NCAAW's camps I've attended they're telling us to get out of the habit of talking to the players while the ball is live and I've carried the habit into HS games. I'll say "keep moving" to get players out of the lane but apart from that I don't say much. The feeling is the player has already committed a foul by the time we say "hands" or "get set on that screen" so you might as well call the foul. Also, if the opposing coach hears you (s)he will probably say, "Just call the foul!"

[PG_Ref]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

To follow up on Coach Bill's comment, I know at NCAAW's camps I've attended they're telling us to get out of the habit of talking to the players while the ball is live and I've carried the habit into HS games. I'll say "keep moving" to get players out of the lane but apart from that I don't say much. The feeling is the player has already committed a foul by the time we say "hands" or "get set on that screen" so you might as well call the foul. Also, if the opposing coach hears you (s)he will probably say, "Just call the foul!"

If i'm not mistaken, the last couple of years, IAABO has been emphasizing blowing the whistle and to stop talking to players ... at least that's what has filtered down through our organization.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

As a coach, I don't think it's right for refs to talk to players in ways that give them an advantage. ... Just call it.

This is exactly why we're discouraged from talking to the players.

[bob jenkins]

There's a difference, I think, between saying "That was a foul and if you do it again I'm going to call it" and "You're approaching the line so don't go any farther" or "That would have been a foul but .... (e.g., the ball was already dead, you tried to set an illegal screen but there wasn't any contact)"

Not that we would use any of those words.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

...
I've sat courtside at many NCAA and NBA games, and I can't remember hearing an official saying a word to a player about what he is currently doing wrong. They just blow the whistle and call it.

Don't see why high school varsity should be any different.

NCAA and NBA officials most definitely talk to player about such stuff, you just don't hear it, and that's not by accident.

[Rich]

I will talk, but it's always so generic that players just assume I'm talking to them.

My usual line is, "EASY!" and magically the banging stops and the knee comes farther out of the player's butt.

(I'll do this once on a matchup. If that doesn't fix things, the next time I'll simply call the foul. Three seconds? It's not worth a talking to, at least at the varsity level, cause it rarely becomes an issue that needs addressing. I'm not one of these officials who "won't call it" and I think I've called it four times all season.)

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

As a coach, I don't think it's right for refs to talk to players in ways that give them an advantage. For example, "watch the 3 seconds", "watch the handcheck", "keep still on that screen". Just call it. Why are you coaching/advising them?

I'm glad you asked! Here are our four objectives as officials:

1. Ensure player safety
2. Ensure games are played fairly, according to the rules
3. Help players develop skills and knowledge of the sport
4. Promote sportsmanship

If a player is setting a marginal screen I will pull them over and let them know that by rule they cannot be moving. We are not just enforcers of the rules, but teachers and communicators of it, especially at the development levels.

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

To follow up on Coach Bill's comment, I know at NCAAW's camps I've attended they're telling us to get out of the habit of talking to the players while the ball is live and I've carried the habit into HS games. I'll say "keep moving" to get players out of the lane but apart from that I don't say much. The feeling is the player has already committed a foul by the time we say "hands" or "get set on that screen" so you might as well call the foul. Also, if the opposing coach hears you (s)he will probably say, "Just call the foul!"

I would say that is exactly the college philosophy. HS may be different however.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I'm glad you asked! Here are our four objectives as officials:

1. Ensure player safety
2. Ensure games are played fairly, according to the rules
3. Help players develop skills and knowledge of the sport
4. Promote sportsmanship

Who do you mean by "our"?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich

Who do you mean by "our"?

I was thinking the same thing, but I was going to just let it go.

Peace

[APG]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I'm glad you asked! Here are our four objectives as officials:


3. Help players develop skills and knowledge of the sport

According to whom?