Small Mechanics tips
 

I watched a state final 4 game with several veteran officials from my association (my mentor was working the game) and they would throw out small mechanics tips here and there. Examples:

As the T, don't run down the floor with your arms up after a made three, just stick it for a click or two and get down the floor (let the C hold it).

Don't look back for your number as you are running to the table. Get it before you head that way.

When calling a foul, think Bang, Bang, Bang. Bang one is the fist and plant your feet, bang two is a preliminary signal, bang 3 is ball placement or signaling shots. Then go report. I like that one.

Anyone got any tips like that?

Keep your head on a swivel.

Except for transition plays, run backwards from T to new L, it helps you keep your eyes on the players.

Take your whistle out of your mouth when you talk to players, they can understand you much better.

If there are cheerleaders outside of the end line, blast one full speed the first time you run down the court. The rest will learn to get out of the way and it will make working the L much easier.

I've frequently been told in camps not to backpedal (as you can be more likely to trip).

But then I think about the mechanics for FJ and SJ in football where they backpedal and it doesn't seem to make any sense to me.

I've been told not to run backwards as well. As new Lead your coverage area is not behind you, it is to the side all the way across the court and you can look there easily without running backwards.

In football if you fall, you are not going to likely break your arm falling on a very hard surface. A grass field or field turf is much more forgiving.

I know of someone that was cracked their skull falling on a basketball floor as they could not land soft.

And as a deep wing, there better not be anyone in your way or there is going to be other issues with that team. Not the same danger.

Either way, all of these things sound great, but there is always going to be something someone is not going to do. I do not get a couple of these tips, but to each his own.

Peace

I too have been told to be careful of the backpedal. I've been told to hustle to the endline with an eye behind you. I've gotten in the habit of busting it until I'm about 10ft from the endline and then turning and backing into position. I will probably bust my @ss one of these days, but it allows me to turn and see what is coming.

Confucius Says ...
 

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.

Confucius Says ...
 

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.)

Confucius Says ...
 

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.

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

NEVER NEVER NEVER DO THIS on a basketball court. You can see the players you need to see as L by turning your head.

Backpedaling will only get you into trouble, and makes you look like a rookie (the least of all concerns, but a significant impression will be made).

I don't think he means backpedaling, though.

Wrong Way Riegels ...
 

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.

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

You think he meant something else with "run backwards?"