Talking to players

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AremRed

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.

Rarely go out of my way to talk to a kid. I agree that is a good time, but it is still rare. Usually a kid comes to me before I say anything to them on my own.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Early in the game, I don't like players putting me in positions where I have to make tough decisions on borderline (advantage/disadvantage) calls, so I give them some preventative advice. A player gets lost in the lane, not really gaining any advantage (oh, oh, now I've done it), so it's easy to say, "Get out of the lane". A player extends an elbow while setting a screen, without making any contact, I don't need to see that, with contact, later in the game, so I say, "Hey watch the elbows on the screen". A player runs slightly out of bounds, running around a screen, on a set play, I don't want to see that again in the game, more out of bounds, and gaining more of an advantage (damn, I've got to stop doing that), so I yell, "Hey stay inbounds on that play". Player moves in a little early on the first of a one-and-one, that goes in, I don't want to see that again, so I remind everyone (not just that player), "Let it hit".

I just want to let all the players know that I'm keeping an eye on them. Just a friendly reminder that I'm out there, that I know what how to do my job, and that I have a whistle and I'm not afraid to use it. Preventive warnings are just one of the many tools that we have on our black toolbelts (oh, oh, that may have been poorly worded, now I've done it again) to insure that we have a smooth game, no surprises, not ticky tack calls, etc.