Body Language Check

[bainsey]

MS doubleheader today, working with a new, young partner. The first (boys) game started 36-0 and finished 68-13. The losing (visiting) coach was very quiet; the winning (home) coach was anything but.

In the first few minutes, he was trying to buy calls. I was the T, near his bench. In the opposite corner, ball handler V-1 shuffled his feet, and Coach H called for a travel. Within a second, my partner called just that. (I doubt rabbit ears were involved.)

I calmly turned to Coach H and say, "Coach, we got this."
He responded, "Well, make the calls, then!"
I considered a T, but instead, offer a stern look, "Coach, not again!"
He doesn't complain the rest of the game.

Here's what I didn't know about myself. The A.D. (official timekeeper) spoke to us at halftime of the second (girls) and told me that, at the time I was considering the T, it showed. My two hands at my sides were starting to make the "T" signal, then quickly stopped. I didn't even realize I did that, and I'm glad he pointed it out. There's no way he was the only one who saw that.

There are a lot of things we don't see about ourselves. It makes you wonder what other non-verbal clues you send out.

(Side note: I had to get a T later, on H-12 for eye shielding, holding both hands two inches in front of a ball-handler V-2's face. Never saw that before, may never again.)

[Stat-Man]

I'll admit to past instances where I was too anticipatory of a call and was set to signal a foul or held ball, only to have none. I'm sure anyone keying in on that body language wondered what was wrong with me.

I guess it's not as bad as my partner on Tuesday (MS Boys games) who granted a time-out to the V coach by forming a T with his hands . I was trying to figure out who earned a technical foul. Needless to say, I discreetly reminded him that what he called and signaled were two very different things.

[constable]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I'll admit to past instances where I was too anticipatory of a call and was set to signal a foul or held ball, only to have none. I'm sure anyone keying in on that body language wondered what was wrong with me.

I guess it's not as bad as my partner on Tuesday (MS Boys games) who granted a time-out to the V coach by forming a T with his hands . I was trying to figure out who earned a technical foul. Needless to say, I discreetly reminded him that what he called and signaled were two very different things.

Perhaps your partner is a FIBA official???

dumbest signal ever.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by constable

Perhaps your partner is a FIBA official???

Not a FIBA official, but a third year official that's a bit raw with his signals. I gave him what feedback I could, and he was receptive,

[Kansas Ref]

In that millisecond between when I see an imminent violation and actually pop my whistle, my focus is on allowing the action to "develop" to see if my expectation is verified, I'm sure fans have seen me suddenly semi raise my hand only to drop it as the play develops which likely leads them to self-ask "what is that man doing? The shakes?".

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Not a FIBA official, but a third year official that's a bit raw with his signals. I gave him what feedback I could, and he was receptive,

Third year?? I was about 20 minutes into my first official basketball game (5/6 C team CYO, St. Luke edged Christ the King 17-14 for those keeping score) before my partner told me to stop T'ing up the coaches when I was granting them a timeout. That's not raw that's still grazing in the pasture.

Perhaps he is also a volleyball official?

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I'll admit to past instances where I was too anticipatory of a call and was set to signal a foul or held ball, only to have none. I'm sure anyone keying in on that body language wondered what was wrong with me.

I guess it's not as bad as my partner on Tuesday (MS Boys games) who granted a time-out to the V coach by forming a T with his hands . I was trying to figure out who earned a technical foul. Needless to say, I discreetly reminded him that what he called and signaled were two very different things.

Back when I used to do volleyball in the fall, I'd do this once or twice early in basketball season before I got all the signals changed in my mind.

[j51969]

Originally Posted by bainsey

MS doubleheader today, working with a new, young partner. The first (boys) game started 36-0 and finished 68-13. The losing (visiting) coach was very quiet; the winning (home) coach was anything but.

In the first few minutes, he was trying to buy calls. I was the T, near his bench. In the opposite corner, ball handler V-1 shuffled his feet, and Coach H called for a travel. Within a second, my partner called just that. (I doubt rabbit ears were involved.)

I calmly turned to Coach H and say, "Coach, we got this."
He responded, "Well, make the calls, then!"
I considered a T, but instead, offer a stern look, "Coach, not again!"
He doesn't complain the rest of the game.

Here's what I didn't know about myself. The A.D. (official timekeeper) spoke to us at halftime of the second (girls) and told me that, at the time I was considering the T, it showed. My two hands at my sides were starting to make the "T" signal, then quickly stopped. I didn't even realize I did that, and I'm glad he pointed it out. There's no way he was the only one who saw that.

There are a lot of things we don't see about ourselves. It makes you wonder what other non-verbal clues you send out.

(Side note: I had to get a T later, on H-12 for eye shielding, holding both hands two inches in front of a ball-handler V-2's face. Never saw that before, may never again.)

I get as much video as I can from the teams I officiate. Almost all schools video varsity contests. Some schools even share videos on sites like HUDL.com. You could also ask a friend to come and video you specifically. I get a lot of information like body language, posture, mechcanics, proper angles, and call accuracy. Having others chart fouls and give construtive critism is great, but no subsitiute for seeing it live.

[j51969]

Originally Posted by bainsey

MS doubleheader today, working with a new, young partner. The first (boys) game started 36-0 and finished 68-13. The losing (visiting) coach was very quiet; the winning (home) coach was anything but.

In the first few minutes, he was trying to buy calls. I was the T, near his bench. In the opposite corner, ball handler V-1 shuffled his feet, and Coach H called for a travel. Within a second, my partner called just that. (I doubt rabbit ears were involved.)

I calmly turned to Coach H and say, "Coach, we got this."
He responded, "Well, make the calls, then!"
I considered a T, but instead, offer a stern look, "Coach, not again!"
He doesn't complain the rest of the game.

Here's what I didn't know about myself. The A.D. (official timekeeper) spoke to us at halftime of the second (girls) and told me that, at the time I was considering the T, it showed. My two hands at my sides were starting to make the "T" signal, then quickly stopped. I didn't even realize I did that, and I'm glad he pointed it out. There's no way he was the only one who saw that.

There are a lot of things we don't see about ourselves. It makes you wonder what other non-verbal clues you send out.

(Side note: I had to get a T later, on H-12 for eye shielding, holding both hands two inches in front of a ball-handler V-2's face. Never saw that before, may never again.)

Sometimes it may seem hard, but I am not getting upset over what any coach or player does during a game. If behavior warrants a technical foul it's generally not a surprise, even if they act like it afterwards. I am not taking any of this personally, nor do I have an emotional investment in the outcome (they do). It's a game and I choose to be there. Many of these alpha male types see us as a necessary evil anyway. I am not going to compound the situation by rising to their level. I am always efforting to bring them to mine. I don't engage in unnecessary conversation yet I am approachable. I am visibly fit and have a presence on the court without having to show it (maybe it’s the NCO in me). I have a smile on my face and probably seem to the casual observer like I want to be there (without the showboating). This is not a place you can arrive at when you first start officiating, but something to strive for. Most varsity contest’s are probably in the neighborhood of $70. If what you’re doing starts to feel like a job you either need to be making way more money, hang them up, or go coach. JMO

Edited:

I wasn't speaking directly to you, but more in general. Just in case it came across like that.