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?"

I understand the philosophy here, but no high level ref I want to emulate gives a preliminary signal on every foul. There are fouls that demand a preliminary like a block/charge decision, hand checks, and holds. Most other obvious fouls like hits and pushes I signal while reporting.

My mechanics tip is to look at the clock whenever possible. Made sure it runs after every chop, note the time when starting a back court count, and made sure it stops on every whistle.

Brass In Pocket, I'm Special (The Pretenders, 1980) ...
 

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.

No. People do not like officials using a whistle in their pocket for AP situations or gauge. I put a whistle in my pocket so I have an extra if it were to break or if my lanyard breaks too.

OK, if it works. Just seems like a lot to do just to remember something that should be obvious. To each his own I guess.

Peace

1) I tell newer officials to "Hit it and spit it." So many newer officials tend to keep the whistle in their mouth too much. I tell them that the whistle should be out at least 1/4 of the time they spend during a game - dead-ball after everything is settled and so forth. It usually helps one relax, and to look more relaxed.
2) On another point, I like to start wide, with my position as Lead and then move in as needed. I see a lot of officials virtually "pinching the paint" continuously, and then when the ball quickly swings down into their deep corner, they find themselves, to some degree, officiating with their back to the basket.
3) When a time-out is granted, I like to verify with my partner(s) the impending disposition of the ball, before we report the time-out to the table, and after the time-out, before we put the ball in play. I'm amazed ot how many officials have never done this, and treat the idea as something entirely new to them.
4) I also verify with my partner(s) the number of shots before we bounce the ball to the freethrower. Not only does it avoid mistakes, it demonstrates our intent to work as a crew, to the players and coaches. I see many officials go through the free throw activity as if they are three separate officials, with no communication at all. The message is picked up by the players that if we don't even want to talk to our partners, we probably won't be amenable to talking to them, either.

When In Rome ...
 

I'm not going to argue with you about this. It's an argument that is impossible for me to win. But, remember, Connecticut is "The Land That Time Forgot". When the alternating possession arrow was first used in high school games, our local interpreter thought that it would be a good idea to use the pocket whistle until the table crews got use to changing the arrow. I figured that we would do it for a year, or two, tops. We're still using it today. Why? Old habits die hard.

Confucius Says ...
 

During timeouts, and even during intermissions, the official with the ball should hold the ball on his left, right, front, or back, as a reminder about which way we're going after the timeout, or intermission.

At the same time, when the throwin is on an backcourt endline, partners should signal to each other to remind themselves whether it's a designated spot throwin, or a "run the endline" throwin.

There is nothign to argue. I have stated my position on that usage of a whistle i the past. And I do not know where you are from has much to do with that practice. And I change things every year, so I do not know why what was told when the rule was changed has much to do with today?

Peace

Welcome To The 20th Century ...
 

And I don't either. Remember, this is Connecticut. Two person games. Pocket whistles for alternating possession. And, yes, black belts.

https://yahoov4s2-a.akamaihd.net/sk/...8029f778_m.jpg

https://yahoov4s2-a.akamaihd.net/sm/...b3a37d6c_m.jpg

And two of those things have to do with you. I am sure not everyone is doing those things either.

Peace

Who cares what "people" think? (rhetorical question) Two weeks ago I saw the R on a D1 game toss the ball up and immediately switch the whistle in his pocket. He did it on every AP situation too. There is no right way to do it, just opinions on whose way is right.

I've heard the exact opposite at a college camp. They said unless you need to talk to keep the whistle in your mouth at all times so you can be prepared to blow it if necessary.

The "deep corner" is not the Lead's area in NFHS/NCAA-M. If the ball is in the corner Lead is usually watching post play or screens right in his area. If the player drives from the deep corner into Lead's area then the Lead can pick that up, but Trail should have that play initially.

Something else I like to do is wait until the calling official signals the number of shots before I do at Lead or C. I always try to signal back in reply.

New Math ???
 

Just the belt, and it's neither encouraged, nor discouraged, here in my little corner of Connecticut, and since I'm comfortable with it, I will continue to wear it until someone tells me, "No more belts", at which time I will get two pairs of beltless slacks. If I don't use the pocket whistle I get marked down on my peer ratings. I do what I'm told to do by my superiors.

Well it matters if the people training or doing the evaluations thinks it is a crutch. Most people I know think it is a crutch. You should know things about the game just like you should know who is going to be shooting bonus on the next foul. Do officials right down on their hand when that is going to happen? No, and there is a reason they don't.

Peace

Train And Evaluate ...
 

Bingo. We train rookies to use the pocket whistle. And we evaluate our peers with understanding that they will use a pocket whistle as a double check aid, not as a crutch.

Once again, these are personal decisions you choose to do, just like people would choose to say those things you consider not appropriate on your little article. And that is why we disagreed about one of those items. But I know there are more people opposed to wearing a belt than if you tell someone "Don't move."

We are all independent contractors at the end of the day. But we are judged by things that right or wrong that we may do or say in different ways. But I do know one thing, I see no one wearing a belt at any major level. Just like in football I do not see someone with an adjustable hat. I do not want to be "that guy." And since no one wears a belt in a basketball contest that is participating directly, I am not going to advocate anyone wearing one. If you cannot let it go, that is on you.

Peace

That's fine, but you made a blanket statement that "people" do not like officials doing this. You and I don't do it and probably never will, but we shouldn't look down on other officials if they choose to do it that way.

What do they do when they forget to move the whistle And yes, they will sometimes forget. ;)

Peace

In case you didn't realize, my entire post was nonsensical. I sincerely hope nobody runs backwards to see the players. You think anybody working varsity HS ball or college ball would ever seriously advocate that?

I dunno man that advice about blasting a cheerleader was pretty good.

This whole thread turned into the usual nonsense about Connecticut officials wearing long-sleeved striped dress shirts and using pea whistles to officiate.

It works, but you have to be careful. A few years ago, a cheerleader's parent called the police when an official ran into their daughter. When the game was over, the police were waiting to question the official before he even went to the locker room and changed. We still give that guy grief every time he works a game where there are cheerleaders and very little room to maneuver.

I use the pocket whistle to keep up with the arrow only when there is a person who is obviously new and/or not doing a competent job of it. I've never done it at the varsity level.

Here's my question for those who do keep the arrow, whether it's with a whistle, or just in your head. What happens if the arrow points one way, you disagree, and the conflict cannot be resolved? This is listed as the timer's responsibility, not the officials, isn't it?

The norm around here is for the timer to work the arrow, and the scorer to also keep it in the book, and they check with each other. At some point don't you just have to trust your whole crew?

I know I was there. :confused:

The AD did us no favors that night. He did not handle his business and even tried to tease or bring it up to us at halftime. The cheerleading coach tried to confront us when going back on the court and I stopped her. Then I made it very clear to the cheerleaders if we even came close to running into any of them, we will remove the entire squad. Well they ended up on the sideline which had tones of room.

It was a cluster.....you know what.

BTW, I give that official crap about it every now and then too. :D

Peace

When I remember AP situations it is simple, I tell them when we last had a held ball. Usually that jars someone's memory other than mine and we put the ball in play and go. Usually you can remember this from the start of the game. I am not one to make a big deal about where it is pointed to start the game like some do until we have a dead ball, stoppage of play. Usually I will live and die with my memory unless someone can convince me we are wrong. But that happens so rare there is much of a debate either way. But I take it upon myself to not only know what situation we had the held ball, but try to remember the time. It has worked so far.

Peace

All very good, but that wasn't the question.

AremRed: "The "deep corner" is not the Lead's area in NFHS/NCAA-M. If the ball is in the corner Lead is usually watching post play or screens right in his area. If the player drives from the deep corner into Lead's area then the Lead can pick that up, but Trail should have that play initially."

I understand that, for 3-man mechanics. And our Assignor emphasizes that we should be more mobile as Lead, even in 3-man mechanics. We still see many officials who set up as Lead within four or five feet of the lane, and never get any wider. So, when the ball is in their PCA, out as wide as the 3-point line, they, in effect, have to turn away from the center of the court.
I should've referenced 2-man Mechanics. I did about 60 games this season, of which 40+ would be considered training/mentoring newer officials, and we do all of those (sub-varsity) games with 2-man mechanics.

If I disagree with the table, we're going with what I have. One can try and pass it off on the table, but you're the one going to be in trouble for not keeping track of it.

Scorers duties:

2-11-7: Record the jump balls..............and be responsible for the possession arrow.

2-6: No official has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by the other official(s) within the limits of their respective outlined duties.

I would say that 2-6 is meant to deal with game officials. It's quite clear (at least to me) that table officials do not have the same authority that game officials do. If game officials have definite knowledge, they can set aside "decisions" (if we want to say what they are doing are making decisions) from table officials.

I thought so, too, but as I look at it now:

Game and Table Officials........listed on the same line in 2-1.

The scorer has a list of duties, and she has a pencil and I don't. I will ask if I see a problem, but if I see it in writing and the scorer is certain I think I would back down in this case.

When In Rome ...
 

People in Chicagoland? People in the rest of the nation? People in the rest of the world? Yes. Yes. Yes. Agree. Agree. Agree. But there is one exception, here in my little corner of Connecticut. The people that I care about most, those that rate, and rank, me, are not opposed to wearing a belt. Our rookie officials are neither encouraged, nor discouraged, from wearing a belt, as long as it's black. I know, I served on that training committee. Since I don't plan on moving away from my little corner of Connecticut, and since I don't plan on moving up to the NCAA, I really don't care about all those other "people", other than for the sake of discussion here on the Forum. I do realize that if I was planning on moving away from Connecticut, let's say to Chicagoland, that I would be expected to conform to mores of that culture, and I would most certainly have to wear beltless slacks, or face failure to "fit in".

Scattered Pictures ...
 

Yes, sometimes we do. We discuss it with our partner, who also has a pocket whistle, and look to the arrow at the table, maybe having a discussion with the arrow operator. That discussion usually involves remembering the most recent arrow change. If all else fails, and we can't come up with a logical determination, we have a two out of three (me, partner, table) rule, but it usually never makes it that far.

Note: Some of us, those that work Catholic middle school games, are really good at switching pockets. There is no possession arrow at the table for any of these games. It's all on the officials, so some of us are really good at this "mechanic". For those of you that don't work middle school games, there are a lot of held balls to keep track of, especially in a middle school girls game.

Billy I have been to camps across the Midwest and other parts of the country on a regular basis. Not a single time do I remember anyone wearing a belt at a camp game. And the officials have been from all over the country. Even one guy was from Canada and he did not wear a belt. And the camp supervisors never tell us what kind of pants to wear, just tells us that we are to wear full uniforms. Somehow others seem to get the memo.

Oh and I work games across my state, not just in one part. I have not worked with a single partner that has a belt. The only officials I see wearing a belt are those old guys that for some reason never go far as officials or a rookie that has not worked varsity contests. I did not see any State Final officials wearing a belt in the last couple of years and cannot remember when the last time I saw any varsity official on the boys side wearing them.

Expand your view Billy. ;)

Peace

I am telling you what I do. We are the final say anyway. I have had to remind the table several times when we had a held ball and then they realize the crew or me was correct. You are the one that is ultimately going to take the crap, so I take it upon myself to always know. It might also help I do not work girls games and do not have 500 of those a game. ;)

Peace

Hah, my mistake.

1 and 3 seemed reasonable. I didn't even read 4.

How About A Nice Hawaiian Belt ???
 

I have. I agree that belts are an official faux pas just about everywhere except my little corner of Connecticut (not sure about the rest of our beautiful state). Even here, belts are going the way of the dinosaur. I'm going to guess that less than 5% of us wear them, and almost no young officials wear them. I did see a colleague, a grizzled veteran, wear one in a state quarterfinal game last week. When I first started thirty-three years ago, going beltless was seen as a braggart college thing ("Look at me, I'm a college official"), and almost all of us strictly high school officials wore a belt. Over the years, the young whipper snappers who get onto our local board like to emulate the college guys that they see on television, and almost none choose to go with a belt, even though they can.

Bottom line. I've been wearing one for thirty-three years, and I like it. It has absolutely no effect on my rating, ranking, or the number, or level, of games that I am assigned. It has never been mentioned to me as a problem either verbally, or in writing, by my peers, by my interpreter, by my assigner, or at local, and state, high school (not college, I don't attend those) camps. I don't plan on officiating in any other part of the state, or anywhere else, for that matter, and I don't plan moving up to the college ranks. And finally, most importantly, I can. Black belts are allowed here. Belts, or beltless, are a non-issue here. We can no longer wear long sleeved striped shirts, with a bow tie, but we can wear black belts.

Typical high school discussion once I look at the possession arrow at the table and realize that my whistle is in my wrong pocket:

Me (to partner): "Which way do you have the arrow going?"
Partner (after checking his pocket): That way (points)."

If he, and the arrow at the table are the same, and I'm different, I will switch my pocket, unless I definitely remember that I'm right (seldom happens), at which point we will continue our discussion at the table.

How many times does this happen during the high school season? Once. Twice. Maybe a whole season without a mistake by me.

If he has the same direction as me, and the table is different, we will have a discussion at the table to see if we can figure it out (it's usually the crew at the table forgetting to change it after throwin after an intermission).

Typical Catholic middle school discussion (no possession arrow at the table) when my partner is about to go a different direction than my pocket whistle after a held ball, or intermission:

"(Insert sound of crickets chirping here)".

How many times does this happen during the Catholic middle school season? Once a game. Maybe none during a game.

Sir Charles
 

Billy--the official who is talking to Charles Barkley in the Capital One commercial is wearing a belt. Is that you? :D

It's not hard to get an arrow at a table. An empty water bottle will do. Wouldn't start without SOMETHING there.

Didn't you say you never worked the playoffs? It would be one thing if you were the most accomplished official in your area, but according to what you have said here, you have not reached the top level in your area or state. And you are not a college guy that is turning down high school playoffs just to work at a higher level.

Also no one tells people you are not going to wear a black belt or else here. But when you are the only one and you stand out looking like a goof, that is not going to help you if all things are equal. It is simply not encouraged. There is no ban or prohibition as I have stated before. It is like showing up to a game dressed. You might be able to get away with that in certain situations, but it will hurt you if you do it to at the wrong setting.

Peace

I'm a deep wing in college football. They do not teach the backpedal anymore. They prefer to see officials run while looking over a shoulder, like we do in basketball.

At some point you may need to backpedal a few steps, but I never backpedal all the way down the field.

We also start a lot deeper than we used to -- 24 yards off the LOS. Gives us time to read the play and still have a 15 yard cushion most of the time.

I see plenty of officials wearing belts here working JV and freshman games -- and even the odd varsity game. I also know a letter I received recently from the state office reminded me that the proper dress for a game I was going to work included pleated beltless pants, no side panel shirts, all black shoes, and flags were a crew decision (but everyone had to go flag or no-flag).

I just can't imagine why anyone would choose to wear belted pants over pants made specifically for basketball officiating. In 2014 those pants are beltless, pleated, and do not have western style pockets.

Usually the ones I see wearing belts for the most part of rather new officials, or they are the old timers that do not care about a lot of things, let alone what they look like. And those that do not care about what they look like, they do not care about their mechanics or other presentations of themselves either.

Peace

Don't Like It ??? There's The Door ...
 

Agree 100%. A pencil could work also, it has a point, it's easy to change the direction, it's cheap, it's portable, and it's easy to find.

The Catholic middle school league, the entire league, not just some schools, all fifteen schools, that I officiate in doesn't use a possession arrow at the table. My assigner for that league is also on it's board of directors, and he doesn't see the need (ignoring the written rule) for a possession arrow at the table. He expects his officials to keep track of the arrow. He's our assigner. We do what we're told.

We (both officials) are also expected to email the league director (c.c. to the assigner) the scores for all the games that we officiate, as soon as we get home from the assignment. He's our assigner. We do what we're told (I hate this directive).

He also wants us in full high school uniform (no sweats, no sneakers, patched jersey, etc.), sans jacket, for all of our games (even those involving fifth, and sixth graders). He wants us to enforce all fashion police rules. He's our assigner. We do what we're told.

I don't mind helping them figure something out, but frankly, I wouldn't work that ball. It's not hard to find a wood block in the industrial arts area and have an art class paint an arrow on it. An assigner that expects me to track the arrow in a ms girls game is going to, hopefully, have plenty of other officials to work.

Yep.

I do not need middle school games. I do those for the money. If I choose to do them, I do them with what I am comfortable with. If I am not comfortable, I stay home. And this might be the reason why I don't do these games for the most part. Too much compromising on things that should be done a certain way.

Peace

From My Cold Dead Waist ...
 

1) Correct. I am a journeyman official. Back twenty-five years ago, when belts were very common, I reached the zenith of my career, the top quarter of my local board. Wearing a belt, especially at that time, did not prevent my continued ascension through the ranks. Even today, with belts significantly less common, belts don't prevent a few (very few) of our top officials from working state tournament games.

2) The training committee tells rookies that they can wear a belt, or not wear a belt. Not only is there no belt ban (a negative statement), but the committee informs the rookies that belts are acceptable (a positive statement). That's the difference between where you officiate, and where I officiate. We tell rookies that they can wear a belt. While your training committee doesn't have a belt ban, I doubt that your training committee makes such a positive statement.

3) It sounds like your guidelines regarding proper dress for showing up for a high school game are similar to our cultural mores (no uniform, business casual). Some on this Forum would find that ridiculous. They show up for their games in uniform, and walk out in uniform. If an official did this (show up for a high school game in uniform) here in my little corner of Connecticut, they would be quickly advised, either orally, or in writing (through our rating system), to stop doing that. Yet, I fully understand that this cultural more can be very different in other areas, and I wouldn't question the competency, perceived, or otherwise, of such an official simply because they come to a game dressed in uniform, because I realize that it's an accepted guideline where they work.

JRutledge: My "Rome" isn't the same as your "Rome", or a lot of other "Romes". What's so hard to understand about that? Why do you have such a fascination, or fixation, with my waist? Hey. Eyes up here, please.

Don't Call Us, We'll Call You ...
 

No hope needed. There's a line that goes all the way down the street, and our assigner only selects top prospects for our "board". We've got high school varsity officials (27 of 45 total), state tournament officials (45 of our local high school board officials (of 325) made the state tournament list, ten of those work our Catholic middle school games, in other words, almost a quarter of our Catholic middle school officials (10 of 45 total) are state high school tournament officials), and college officials (two), on our "board". The only subvarsity officials that he selects are vetted and show skills that make them very likely to quickly move up the ladder.

They also should tell rookies that if they go to camps or aspire to be college officials, that belts are frowned upon outside your little corner of Connecticut.

Not dircted directly at any one person in particular, but...

This debate seems to get rehashed very frequently here and there seems to be two camps of thought: the "if its ok with the guy who assigns you then its ok to do it even if thats not what the "official" requirements are" camp, verse the "not going by the book for dress code IS unprofessional because a rule is a rule regardless of what is done, required, allowed by others" camp.

I am guessing that most of us fall into a third group that knows in reality the truth is somewhere in the middle. To get games, you may have to do what an assignor wants even if it wanders over the lines of strict adherence to rules or guidelines BUT for the most part we try do it by the book.

What I find interesting is that in one string there will be multiple comments about how a ref looks is connected to his making a bad call and then in another string to suggest a standard look is more professional brings a wrath upon you, often from the same people. It seems we go from talking about "how a guy is out of shape or wearing white socks or has stripes that are different from the crew" to "how dare you suggest that any of those have any thing to do with how professional someone is". From what I have read here I believe that most of us believe that; 1) how you look does not affect your ability, 2) how you look is a part of how you are judged professionally, and, 3) some sensible flexibilty is necessary.

Billymac is correct to do what he is doing because in Conn. that's what THEY do and JRut is correct that in the rest of the basketball world (where things are done the right way:D) it is unprofessional, makes you stand out, and should be avoided. I fall more in line with JRut but will also stand behind Billymac and his "when in Rome" flexibility because he might stand out unprofessionally if he didn't and because I work games in different leagues & conferences that have different rules, requirements, and cultures so I occassionally have to adapt how I personally do things. (before some of you jump on that last statement with silly responses asking if I am also willing to kick a rule just to get games, the answer is NO)

In my chapter we are required to wear all black shoes, grey shirts, and beltless pants for all games, with a jacket added during pregame for varsity. There are some who don't always follow this - usually bottom of the barrell guys who get very few games a season or rookies who are quickly corrected by the vets - and it not only affects how you are viewed by others but also your chapter rankings, the number/level of games you get, playoff assignments, etc. In my first year I worked a set of 9th grade & JV games with a very veteran ref. At his insistance, we wore blk/wht the first game and the required grey for the JV because he wanted the JV to feel more special. After the first game, we were met in the locker room by the three guys assigned to varsity and got an ear full about (hemore than I since I was a rooke). He was one of the best refs I worked with and I learned a lot from him that day, including that how you look is important since that guy started getting less games and is no longer with the chapter.

Beltless In Seattle ...
 

Our training committee doesn't use the term "frowned up" but it does tell rookie officials that, although belts are allowed, most young officials, especially those that have college aspirations, may wish to choose the beltless option.

Here in my little corner of Connecticut, belts are going the way of the dinosaur. By the way, I was the last basketball official in Connecticut to wear a bow tie while officiating a high school varsity game. It's true. It's true. Maybe I'll take the bow tie out of retirement for my swan song.

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.:D

Theory Versus Reality ...
 

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).

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.

An Official's Best Friend ...
 

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

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

It is if it's on your side. 2 man mechanics of course.

Black Is Beautiful, With Just A Little White ...
 

Since I'm following my local uniform guidelines to the letter, then it can only help me, since it can't hurt me.

I was initially concerned with the small amount of "reflective white" on my new Zigs this season, but the rating committee has approved them for use on our local board. It seems that last season a few officials were rated poorly for "Appearance" because (according to written comments) of the white on the Zigs (all back means all black), so the rating committee put a stop to that this season. Thank God, because if I thought that the Zigs, with a small amount of white, were going to hurt my rating, ranking, and the number, and level of games, that I was assigned, I would have "shelved" them in a New York minute, and my wallet would have been $89.00 lighter. Once I was confident that they were "approved", I bought a second pair. My feet never felt more comfortable while working a basketball game. I feel sorry for you guys that stick to an "all black means all black" local policy, because you either don't know what you're missing (it's like running on air), or you have to get out the black Sharpie. Thirty years ago, I had to put a dab of black paint on the white "spot" on the back of my Spotbilts every few weeks. What a pain. Back then, all black really did mean all black.

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

This isn't necessarily true.

When The Ball Is Dead, Be Alive ...
 

When a timeout is granted, and there are going to be free throws following timeout, be sure that both officials know who the free throw shooter is. If my partner is granting the timeout request, the first thing that I do, from my position on the free throw line, after he goes back to his position on the jump ball circle, is to say, "Twelve shoots one and one".

What Time Do The Lights Go Off ???
 

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.

OK Billy. I know you are following guidelines that your area has set. Actually you would be following the guidelines here too. If you were paying attention, no one said you would get pulled off of games or fired just because you wore a belt. You would still get games and likely a lot of games. There are more than enough JH, Men's leagues, travel ball games to go around. Heck you would likely still be assigned JV and Freshman games too.

Peace

They Shoot Horses, Don't They ???
 

Hey wait a cotton picking minute (as opposed to a New York minute). I'm only half of the debate. And I've contributed several posts on topic. Doesn't that count?

"Show them the circles, Grandpa."