Fist bump your partner? (Video)
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJn1Xeh6M8

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There is a mini firestorm about 2 NFL officials giving themselves a fist bump for helping each other out on a TD call. A Player is characterizing the gesture as a 'celebration' and is questioning the impartiality of the involved officials.
What else is new, right.

My question is, do you engage in such acts during a game with your partners?

I know I constantly give 'thumbs up' or say "Good Call" as encouragement when I am working with a newbie or otherwise.

What about y'all?

I was advised long ago not to do any fist bumping or celebratory handshakes with my fellow officials until we were away from the court, and I've followed that advice.

I do give my partners a "good call" shout out when I feel it's needed.

We fist bump before the game.

I don't like to shake hands with my partners until I'm in the locker room. Call me paranoid.

Another example of perception.

In a high school game last week, a guy I know walks onto the floor to ask me a question about a situation. I quickly usher him back to his seat and tell him that I can talk to him after the game. When we chatted the next day, I reminded that (first of all) you never step onto the court during a game. And secondly, he was at the game because his daughter was playing. It never occured to him how this might be perceived that the father of a player was coming onto the floor to talk to an official during a timeout.

The absurdity of the "firestorm" proves the point of being "above reproach".

I am in the "good call" camp but no handshake/fist bump after initial one right before start of game until we get to the locker room.

Keep in mind that the NFL has what many consider absurdly excessive retrictions on player celebration -- which may be an undercurrent to the "firestorm" about the referees . . . let's just penalize the zebras 15 yards and move on . . .

. . . but on the serious side, why do it and risk someone misinterpretting it?

The only time I shake hands or fist bump is before (halftime during football games as well) and after the game. Usually after the game is the only time when it is not public. I would not do this in this particular situation, I would wait until the game was over. But that is just me.

Peace

this is how I roll :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCvmZ-lfkqM

I've developed a habit of, when a partner calls one in my area that I didn't have a good look, saying "Good help" or "good pickup" or "Thanks, glad you could see it" or something on the way by. I may have to rethink that, because in my first game at a new NCAA-W level this year, when I said "Great help, thanks!" to my partner, the home coach heard it and apparently went NUTS on my partner for me "cheering at his call." Guess I'm not doing that anymore...at least not as loud.

I've exchanged fist bumps with partners before a game. I don't think I'd do it during, though. My main reason would be that I simply don't see a reason to do so.

If I wanted to thank a partner for making a good call or for picking up something in my area that I missed, I can easily mention that at halftime or after the game. That way, I have any questions or wish to seek constructive feedback on the situation, there's enough time for that.

A good-bye handshake or final interaction usually happens inside the locker room after we've changed and before we leave for home.

YMMV

I just use a head nod to non-verbally indicate to parnter if I agreed with the suspect call. I would never fist bump in the heat of public competition and with all those folks in the gym with Ipads and cell phones recording the games, opens up a can of stale achovies! :eek:

Fist bump...the germophobic answer to the handshake
 

Always before the tip ("Good luck and D.F.I.U.") out of habit and superstition...

Sometimes after the game as we're leaving the court (if it was a tough game that didn't turn into a train wreck).

I don't think anyone has ever noticed...if they did, it's never been mentioned.

As far as NFL officials...one of the toughest calls they make is a goal line scrum. If a partner helps get it right, who is harmed and what is the perception? Sounds like a whiny coach (ie Harbaugh) or whiny player that lost that day. Much ado about nothing IMHO

Worked some youth games with a new official Sunday, 2 person. He had one call that I loved so much I yelled over to him (in a totally quiet gym): "GREAT CALL, GREAT CALL!!" I also taught him the more subtle pounding fists signal for those times you can't yell. :p

In regards to the NFL thing, Mike Pereria says NFL will tell it's officials "no fistbumps, no handshakes, and no smiles on the field". Sauce.