Selling Calls

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not sure that there really is a good bad call, but my former local interpreter used to say that "The best bad call is a strong bad call". I believe that he meant that if an official is always making confident calls, signals, voice, posture, etc., that he may be able to get away with an occasional bad call that a wishy washy signal, voice, or posture, wouldn't get away with.

A wishy-washy 100% correct call can lead people to have doubt, too.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

A wishy-washy 100% correct call can lead people to have doubt, too.

Good point. It's all about confidence, and consistency.

[Kansas Ref]

One of my ref partners does the "Push" signal/mechanic several times per incident to emphasize/sell the call. Sort of looks like a dance move as she demonstratively does the open handed push movement 3 or 4 times in rapid succession at the spot of the foul--but only once when reporting tableside. I just do one emphatic "open handed" push signal. Yet, she does what she does--evryone seems to get the point.