Talking to players

[Coach Bill]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

There is something called preventative officiating. I tell players a lot of things if is going to prevent me from making a call that interrupts the game. And you only talk when you see someone do something borderline or it might not have actually created an advantage or was not clearly a violation. And players nowadays come to us often (at least in my experience) about things they get called for. So yes, we are going to talk to them and we have the right to talk to them.

I cannot speak for the NBA, but I know at the NCAA level, many officials talk to players when they can. And at least on the Men's side, they often want us to talk to players when we can. And I have seen many NBA official talk to players and the NBA made many videos public that officials talked directly to players. Not every conversation is going to be out in the open or where most even know what is said, but it is part of what we do in officiating in all sports and all levels.

Peace

Absolutely, I agree with this. And, I encourage my players if they're unsure what they did wrong to respectfully talk to the official. If done properly at a dead ball, most officials don't mind. On the NCAA level, each year the officials come in before the season and talk to the players/coaches about new rules and things they're emphasizing, and they'll officiate scrimmages/exhibition games to get the kids/coaches used to it. It's a good practice. I'm guessing they probably do it in the NBA, too.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

On the NCAA level, each year the officials come in before the season and talk to the players/coaches about new rules and things they're emphasizing, and they'll officiate scrimmages/exhibition games to get the kids/coaches used to it. It's a good practice. I'm guessing they probably do it in the NBA, too.

Are you saying it's not done at the HS level? Because it is, here.

[Rooster]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Are you saying it's not done at the HS level? Because it is, here.

Here too.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Are you saying it's not done at the HS level? Because it is, here.

Here, too. See above.

[Coach Bill]

Here - the HS coaches go to a pre-season meeting, with the assumption the info is trickled down. I don't know if it happens at all NCAA schools, but at UMD, officials came to the gym, went through demonstrations, situations, and interpretations, and the players and coaches got to ask questions. It was excellent.

[Nevadaref]

There is a major change going on with how basketball games are called. We have seen it with the NCAA enforcement of handchecking, two-hands on a ball handler, armbars, etc. The instruction that has been coming out in the past couple of years is to blow the whistle and let the players and coaches adjust. This is replacing the previous method of talking to players early in the game about their hands or other transgressions. The philosophy that is coming down the pipeline now is to call the offense the first time that it happens without any warning.
People who have been officiating for 15-20 years will have to decide whether to get on board with this or continue to work as they always have. What those in charge in their areas desire will determine the impact of this choice.

I know that things are not as organized and there is far less oversight at the HS level than for NCAA. So some HS areas will likely continue as they always have, while others will proceed in a manner more closely resembling the current NCAA instruction. What one has to do depends upon one's local area.

[JRutledge]

I talk to players before they even do stuff. Even in many cases I say things so they can hear me. And when I do call a foul they are aware I was watching them. My talking is never a substitute for calling a foul. I do not think the two things are mutually exclusive. You talk to players when you have the opportunity to talk to them. You call the foul when something obvious takes place. And many times talking to players is after a foul or violation is called. I do not know how many times I have called a travel on a kid and had them ask, "What did I do?" Or when you call a foul the player says, "Well he pushed me first." Then my answer is often clarifying what I saw or letting them know "I saw exactly what you did......" and they react accordingly as if they know I saw what they did. And they are going to continue to talk to us when they see their pro counterparts do the same at that level when they watch TV. You can name any NBA player and when they disagree they are talking to an official. You have to learn how to navigate those interactions whether it is with a T or talking them out of other bad behavior. I do not think you have to be a robot and only call things when players and teams play differently and approach us differently.

Peace