Playoff Prep

[mutantducky]

I've never heard about playoff prep before.
The only thing is I'd want to see is the refs on the same page. I've seen a few games when they aren't or maybe you'll have one game when the refs are calling it really tight, and then the next is loose. Sometimes with the playoffs you are working with new people and the chemistry isn't there. I do like working with new refs though because sometimes things just click and it goes really well.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by mutantducky

I've never heard about playoff prep before.
The only thing is I'd want to see is the refs on the same page. I've seen a few games when they aren't or maybe you'll have one game when the refs are calling it really tight, and then the next is loose. Sometimes with the playoffs you are working with new people and the chemistry isn't there. I do like working with new refs though because sometimes things just click and it goes really well.

I kind of agree. If anything, have an extra-detailed pre-game. And this doesn't have to all be in the dressing room. Try to go to the game site together, maybe even have lunch or dinner together earlier in the day. Shoot the breeze, get to know each other, talk about basketball. It works wonders for being on the same page come tip-off time.

[Raymond]

Get a hold of somebody's game video and review it.

[Bad Zebra]

Our state assn. sent out an email to all local assns. a week ago emphasizing...of all things...uniform and equipment rules. Specifically, undershirts, leg sleeves, and tights. Their concern is that schools will be going into state tournament play with illegal items.

Regional Girls play is underway. Boys begin next Thursday. Nice to know they're focused on the important things.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Our state assn. sent out an email to all local assns. a week ago emphasizing...of all things...uniform and equipment rules. Specifically, undershirts, leg sleeves, and tights. Their concern is that schools will be going into state tournament play with illegal items.

Regional Girls play is underway. Boys begin next Thursday. Nice to know they're focused on the important things.

I say good for your state assn. 1. It heads off problems later in the tournament if it gets dealt with in the first playoff games and 2. I've always thought that if the an official can't get the non-judgment items right in which all he has to do is look at the color of an item, I'm not going to have much confidence in his other rules knowledge or his attention to detail.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Our state assn. sent out an email to all local assns. a week ago emphasizing...of all things...uniform and equipment rules. Specifically, undershirts, leg sleeves, and tights. Their concern is that schools will be going into state tournament play with illegal items.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

It heads off problems later in the tournament if it gets dealt with in the first playoff games.

Some local boards may interpret equipment rules (undershirt, headbands, wristbands, sleeves) differently, so as teams start dealing with new officials, and new interpretations, it's good to get everybody together on the same page.

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

maybe even have lunch or dinner together earlier in the day.

This part made me laugh. Other than Saturdays, most of the guys I know go directly from their jobs to their games. If it wasn't for that pesky need to actually make a living, I would agree there could be some merit in this approach.

[APG]

Instead of going over rules, I'd be going over some game film (as suggested by BNR) or getting your hands on as many clips of plays as possible and breaking down the plays (positioning...then if the call is CC/IC/NCC/NCI...plus anything other unusual situations).

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

... maybe even have lunch or dinner together earlier in the day. Shoot the breeze, get to know each other, talk about basketball. It works wonders for being on the same page come tip-off time.

Originally Posted by johnny d

This part made me laugh. Other than Saturdays, most of the guys I know go directly from their jobs to their games. If it wasn't for that pesky need to actually make a living, I would agree there could be some merit in this approach.

For regional playoffs in my area, officials assigned to the tournaments are assigned about a month in advance, but several on the crew are coming from hundreds of miles away, if not flying in. There is usually a designated "crew chief" responsible for the assigning. Game assignments are given the night before the first day at a local watering hole. Sometimes we get to know some of our partners a little better than we'd really like to.