Small Mechanics tips

[BillyMac]

If you're a rookie official, and don't know where to stand during a timeout, or intermission, then just find a line somewhere, and stand on it, don't wander around.

And then after the game, find out where you're supposed to be standing, and do it right the next game.

[BillyMac]

Don't chase after balls that go out of bounds, or bounce away after a foul, or violation is called, going deep into corners, under bleachers, far away, as in field houses, etc. The kid's can't play without a ball. It will always come back to you. Keep your eyes on the players, not on the bouncing ball.

(This works in theory, but, sometimes, not so in practice. Sometimes you just have to politely ask a player to please go and get the ball.)

[BillyMac]

On the opening jump ball (not overtime), as the referee, or the tosser, point to the bench on your left, and say silently, or aloud, the color of the team on that bench. Then point to the jumper on the left side of the jump ball circle, he should be the same color as the players on the left bench. Then point to the right, the direction that that team is going, and say, aloud, the color of that team while pointing to the right. (For example, "White. White. White goes this way.")

Now point to the bench on your right, and say silently, or aloud, the color of the team on that bench. Then point to the jumper on the right side of the jump ball circle, he should be the same color as the players on the right bench. Then point to the left, the direction that that team is going, and say, aloud, the color of that team while pointing to the left. (For example, "Blue. Blue. Blue goes this way.")

Obviously, this will not work for overtime jump balls (Remember last year's Marquette-UConn overtime toss?).

It seems tedious. and elementary, but if you do this you will never start the game by going the wrong way (involving an error by the officials). I've been doing this for thirty-three years, and I've never started the kids going the wrong way, from fifth, and sixth, graders, all the way up to high school varsity, games.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It seems tedious. and elementary, but if you do this you will never start the game by going the wrong way (involving an error by the officials). I've been doing this for thirty-three years, and I've never started the kids going the wrong way, from fifth, and sixth, graders, all the way up to high school varsity, games.

Do you really think that is because you go through that routine or is it because you look at them as they set up and make sure they are going the wrong way? I do the same thing you do, but that is not when I notice how the players a lined up. And many times in games I have had to switch players around without having did all the pointing that I do before the jump. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the routine, but not sure that is the reason we stay out of trouble in this area.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Do you really think that is because you go through that routine or is it because you look at them as they set up and make sure they are going the wrong way?

I do this routine every time. In high school games, I've only had to switch them around a few times over more than thirty years. On the other hand, in my Catholic middle school games, this routine has helped me to avoid mistakes a least two, or three times, each, and every, season, especially with the "junior varsity" kids (fifth, and sixth graders), especially at the beginning of the season.

For high school games ("White. White. White goes this way."), my first two "Whites" are usually silent, to myself.

For Catholic middle school games, I will actually announce, in it's entirety, "White. White. White goes this way".

I know that it sometimes makes me look like a silly traffic cop, but I'd rather look like a silly traffic cop than like an idiot referee who starts the kids the wrong way.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I do this routine every time. In high school games, I've only had to switch them around a few times over more than thirty years. On the other hand, in my Catholic middle school games, this routine has helped me to avoid mistakes a least two, or there times, each, and every, season, especially with the "junior varsity" kids (fifth, and sixth graders), especially at the beginning of the season.

I was not asking you if you did the routine every time. I am saying do you really think that is the "reason" you have avoided teams going the wrong way. And partly I say this because you do not do that during quarter breaks or halftime and don't they go the right way then? I'm just asking.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I say this because you do not do that during quarter breaks or halftime and don't they go the right way then?

I've got my whistle in my pocket, and I look at the team color on the benches (knowing that I must also know what half we're in). I know a lot of you guys don't like that (pocket whistle), but it's a "When in Rome" thing around here, almost mandatory.

At the horn ending the second period, my partner and I meet at the division line, opposite that table, and wait for the benches, and lingering coaches, to clear. Then we head toward that table, switching our pocket whistles, and we say to each other, "White to start the second half", and then the referee repeats this to the table, and has the scorekeeper switch the visible arrow.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Don't chase after balls that go out of bounds, or bounce away after a foul, or violation is called, going deep into corners, under bleachers, far away, as in field houses, etc. The kid's can't play without a ball. It will always come back to you. Keep your eyes on the players, not on the bouncing ball.

(This works in theory, but, sometimes, not so in practice. Sometimes you just have to politely ask a player to please go and get the ball.)

This doesn't work so well with "adults" in rec leagues. A couple of times I've asked a player to go grab a ball for me, only to be told, both times, by one of his TEAMMATES that that was MY job. I whacked without hesitation both times.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

This doesn't work so well with "adults" in rec leagues. A couple of times I've asked a player to go grab a ball for me, only to be told, both times, by one of his TEAMMATES that that was MY job. I whacked without hesitation both times.

Over thirty-three years, I've had three different local high school interpreters tell us that the ball always comes back to the official. I want to stand up and scream, "No, it doesn't always come back".

Of course, sometimes the whistle sounds and nobody is in possession: 10-3-5-B: A player shall not delay the game by acts such as: Failing when in possession, to immediately pass the ball to the nearer official when a whistle blows. We can ask for help, but, I guess, that we can't require that a player helps us?

Bottom line, try to keep your eyes on the players as much as you possibly can (I'm still refusing to go deep into corners, under bleachers, and far away, and I'm willing to wait a very long time for that ball to come back to me).

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Of course, sometimes the whistle sounds and nobody is in possession: 10-3-5-B: A player shall not delay the game by acts such as: Failing when in possession, to immediately pass the ball to the nearer official when a whistle blows. We can ask for help, but, I guess, that we can't require that a player helps us?

Actually, Rule 2-3 does allow us to require that assistance.

I thought there was something in the rule regarding unsporting conduct that something about refusing to follow an instruction given by an official. Apparently I was mixing this up with the football rulebook, which does contain such a statement.

So for basketball, I just hang my hat on Rule 2-3 for this one.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

Actually, Rule 2-3 does allow us to require that assistance.

Ah. Rule 2-3. The plumber's helper (Sorry Freddy) of the basketball officials' world.

[JRutledge]

I am aware that where you work ultimately dictates what you might do. I just feel that I want to look like everyone that does this at the highest level does so that I am not seen as a lesser than official before I get started. And that is why my pants are tailored in a way that they look sharp as well. If someone wants to do something different, that is on them. It is their career. I just know what I am going to do. What you do does not hurt me, it only hurts you or helps you depending on how you look at it.

Peace

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

This doesn't work so well with "adults" in rec leagues. A couple of times I've asked a player to go grab a ball for me, only to be told, both times, by one of his TEAMMATES that that was MY job. I whacked without hesitation both times.

Is that really worth a technical? I think I would just laugh and keep waiting until they get me the ball.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Is that really worth a technical? I think I would just laugh and keep waiting until they get me the ball.

Unless there's something really, really, unsporting about his vocal tone, body language, or he uses a few choice words, or gestures, I'm probably not charging a technical foul here either.