Had a scrimmage last night, which tends to get really fun when you have overly-aggressive players with little experience and no potential foul trouble...After a never-ending stream of off-ball fouls in the post, where players resorted to hand-to-hand combat and wrestling instead of actually using their feet to get to and establish a post-up position, my partner came out with the double foul, our old friend. Worked like a charm. Both get personals, point-of-interruption penalizes nobody, and the game goes on. In real life, if they do not adjust, they go to the pine in foul trouble. If they do adjust, problem solved and everyone is better for it.
Best call of the night, best lesson of the early season. The double foul in the post is a great friend to you, especially early in the game, and early in the year. Save the wrestling matches for the Octagon; enforce BSQR in the post.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Lowlights From 2009-2010
Last year was a really funny year, like there was a full moon out for entire season. I'll put these out there for comsumption, because we often hear about things like this, but unless you actually see them, you're not really sure if it is just people exaggerating or not...Going through my notes, hopefully none of you will be subject to or around any of this in 2010-2011:
1) I had a game last year where a partner, who refused to really run down the court, would actually look to the scoring table to ask whether a shot was a 3 or not. That might be funny, but when the opposing coach picked up on it, the table thought it was funny, and I got absolutely railed for it. The third guy on the crew basically said it was not his problem to help with, despite the fact that he was the L on that side, with the shots coming from the wing. Film showed 2 FGs were called 2's when they were 3's, and after the issue became "public", we made up for it by calling a 2 a 3. That's hard to do. Net result was visitor getting screwed out of 1 point; they won by 8.
2) Had an R was unable to hold a pre-game, and then proceeded to get called out by a U for the pre-game, the opening toss (which had to be performed 3 times because said U blew the first 2 dead because they were bad), missing a goaltend because he never crossed halfcourt, and the lack of a post-game discussion. The R apologized, then proceeded to rip U all the way home, after he was gone. Two lessons: There is no need to embarass an R, and if you are not capable of being an R, you're gonna get exposed. Disaster all the way around.
3) Had a partner scream, "Don't you signal in my area!" on a block/charge in my area. He proceeded to try and ignore what had happened, and offered, "Sorry if I offended you," when confronted. The film showed not only was it my call, but he got it 100% wrong.
4) Had a partner tell me he worked D-1. I was not impressed with the statement or his floor game. Google indicated he did work D-1: One exhibition game about 10 years ago. I guess he didn't stick...If a guy is bragging about his resume, it's probably as empty as his words.
5) Saw an alternate not point out a team foul error on a scoreboard, which caused a major game interruption and make the crew onthe floor look bad. In the post-game discussion, the guy actually said, "Oh, I knew the scoreboard was wrong!" That either made him a complete liar, or a complete dick. When he was asked, then why didn't you fix the scoreboard or communicate with the crew, it was pretty obvious he wanted the crew to look bad. Glad I was not involved. It was painful to watch and not strangle the guy.
6) Had a coach tell me that a "veteran" official told him during a game that a partner who made a mistake "did not belong on this game".
7) Watched a few people rail and complain about a partner, but then tell them how great they were to their face.
8) Seen people blatantly lie about the years experience they have, the games/tournaments they worked, camps they attended, and who mentors them. That's getting worse. I don't know why. Google doesn't lie.
9) Heard officials first-hand chatting about "getting" a coach, who is rumored to be on a short leash from the school regarding bench behavior. As an official, I think the coach is a dick on the bench. As a basketball observer and person, I think he is a good coach and a top-notch person who a a great leader for young men. Officials playing God is just messed up...
10) Had an official who had 3 whistles in an entire half decide to call a 3-point play with less than 1 second to go in the first half. Coach jumps me, as he was upset about a previous whistle from the same guy, and my answer was, "Your defender must have been under the basket." Coach was OK and calmed down with that, until the guy then decides to give a different explanation without being asked. That made the second half really, really fun for me.
11) Had a partner call a coach to apologize for missing a call late in a game. The partner does not realize that the coach now owns him, the other officials think he's a joke, and that if the coach really respected him, he would have gotten a phone call/e-mail from the coach about it afterwards.
Be honest and truthful, understanding and compassionate with partners, coaches, and players when you work with them, separate business from personal with respect to the game, and acknowledge and admit mistakes when you make them. None of us are as good as we think we are. Don't be one of these guys.
1) I had a game last year where a partner, who refused to really run down the court, would actually look to the scoring table to ask whether a shot was a 3 or not. That might be funny, but when the opposing coach picked up on it, the table thought it was funny, and I got absolutely railed for it. The third guy on the crew basically said it was not his problem to help with, despite the fact that he was the L on that side, with the shots coming from the wing. Film showed 2 FGs were called 2's when they were 3's, and after the issue became "public", we made up for it by calling a 2 a 3. That's hard to do. Net result was visitor getting screwed out of 1 point; they won by 8.
2) Had an R was unable to hold a pre-game, and then proceeded to get called out by a U for the pre-game, the opening toss (which had to be performed 3 times because said U blew the first 2 dead because they were bad), missing a goaltend because he never crossed halfcourt, and the lack of a post-game discussion. The R apologized, then proceeded to rip U all the way home, after he was gone. Two lessons: There is no need to embarass an R, and if you are not capable of being an R, you're gonna get exposed. Disaster all the way around.
3) Had a partner scream, "Don't you signal in my area!" on a block/charge in my area. He proceeded to try and ignore what had happened, and offered, "Sorry if I offended you," when confronted. The film showed not only was it my call, but he got it 100% wrong.
4) Had a partner tell me he worked D-1. I was not impressed with the statement or his floor game. Google indicated he did work D-1: One exhibition game about 10 years ago. I guess he didn't stick...If a guy is bragging about his resume, it's probably as empty as his words.
5) Saw an alternate not point out a team foul error on a scoreboard, which caused a major game interruption and make the crew onthe floor look bad. In the post-game discussion, the guy actually said, "Oh, I knew the scoreboard was wrong!" That either made him a complete liar, or a complete dick. When he was asked, then why didn't you fix the scoreboard or communicate with the crew, it was pretty obvious he wanted the crew to look bad. Glad I was not involved. It was painful to watch and not strangle the guy.
6) Had a coach tell me that a "veteran" official told him during a game that a partner who made a mistake "did not belong on this game".
7) Watched a few people rail and complain about a partner, but then tell them how great they were to their face.
8) Seen people blatantly lie about the years experience they have, the games/tournaments they worked, camps they attended, and who mentors them. That's getting worse. I don't know why. Google doesn't lie.
9) Heard officials first-hand chatting about "getting" a coach, who is rumored to be on a short leash from the school regarding bench behavior. As an official, I think the coach is a dick on the bench. As a basketball observer and person, I think he is a good coach and a top-notch person who a a great leader for young men. Officials playing God is just messed up...
10) Had an official who had 3 whistles in an entire half decide to call a 3-point play with less than 1 second to go in the first half. Coach jumps me, as he was upset about a previous whistle from the same guy, and my answer was, "Your defender must have been under the basket." Coach was OK and calmed down with that, until the guy then decides to give a different explanation without being asked. That made the second half really, really fun for me.
11) Had a partner call a coach to apologize for missing a call late in a game. The partner does not realize that the coach now owns him, the other officials think he's a joke, and that if the coach really respected him, he would have gotten a phone call/e-mail from the coach about it afterwards.
Be honest and truthful, understanding and compassionate with partners, coaches, and players when you work with them, separate business from personal with respect to the game, and acknowledge and admit mistakes when you make them. None of us are as good as we think we are. Don't be one of these guys.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Fast Break Mechanics
Had another young official ask me about how to manage positioning on a fast break. There are times in transition/fast-break when you will be the new L opposite the ball. There are different ways to position yourself, depending on if it is a fast-break going directly to the basket, or if it becomes a transition situation where there will be no direct and swift play at the basket.
If there is an imminent play at the basket, you stay home. You let the transitioning C take the call on the opposite side. If he cannot run or get anywhere near the play to see it, help him. Otherwise, cover the end line and take your half of the court.
If there is a transition play, get ball-side. Period. Player coming down the wing and a potential cutter moving to the opposite side or block? Get over there if you can. That's called hustle. The C will have the ball on the wing. The 4-4-2 philosophy dictates that you get the next 4 closest players. If you can officiate better by getting over, then go.
The young official told me he got chastised for getting over, because the new T had not even crossed half court yet, and that this was poor teamwork. I found this comical on several levels. The new T should be hustling. If the new L has time to come across, the new T had better be able to cover the back side (new C) side of the play. There will be no bad screens or competitive matchup opposite a transition break situation, anyway. Get to the ball-side to officiate your most compelling competitive matchup. He did the right thing, but the know-it-all who told him different doesn't get it, and never will.
4-4-2 applies all the time.
If there is an imminent play at the basket, you stay home. You let the transitioning C take the call on the opposite side. If he cannot run or get anywhere near the play to see it, help him. Otherwise, cover the end line and take your half of the court.
If there is a transition play, get ball-side. Period. Player coming down the wing and a potential cutter moving to the opposite side or block? Get over there if you can. That's called hustle. The C will have the ball on the wing. The 4-4-2 philosophy dictates that you get the next 4 closest players. If you can officiate better by getting over, then go.
The young official told me he got chastised for getting over, because the new T had not even crossed half court yet, and that this was poor teamwork. I found this comical on several levels. The new T should be hustling. If the new L has time to come across, the new T had better be able to cover the back side (new C) side of the play. There will be no bad screens or competitive matchup opposite a transition break situation, anyway. Get to the ball-side to officiate your most compelling competitive matchup. He did the right thing, but the know-it-all who told him different doesn't get it, and never will.
4-4-2 applies all the time.
One Ref Block, One Ref Charge
Getting ready for the 2010-2011 campaign, I am getting a real charge out of the brilliant people who debate long and hard on how to administrate what they term a "blarge". I will never, ever be part of a blarge. Ever. Anyone who is part of a blarge, in my opinion, has too big of an ego.
On a block/charge, the event occurs in somebody's primary. That is the person who should take that call, period.
High school and college have different "rules" for who takes drives to the basket. Decide who takes block/charges on drives to the basket in the pre-game. Follow the pre-game. It's that simple.
How do "blarges" happen? One way is that the pre-game doesn't cover it or the pre-game is forgotten. Another way is that someone tried to take and sell a call that is out of their primary. Either way, it is bad.
Either way, even if you both signal, you can get together and decide who is going to take it. If it is not your primary, admit your mistake and move on. All you do if you insist on calling both fouls is to make yourself and the crew look like megalomanical and territorial idiots. I had a play last year where my partner was trying to atone for a previous egregious error in judgment against one team, and he poached and sold the call on a drive in my primary, got it wrong, and I gave it up to prevent him and the crew further embarrassment. My response to the coach when questioned, "He took it, end of story." Think it lingered? No. Think a "blarge" call would have reflected well on me, when the film would have shown I was correct? No, I really don't.
Be patient with block/charge calls--you have plenty of time post-whistle to make, and even sell, the call if you have to. The crew is better if you can put up the fist on a double-whistle, and then put it back down and/or nod assent to your partner if you have to. If you give a preliminary signal, it's OK to say, "Hey, I kind of guessed, it's his primary and he has it." We have conferences all the time to "get it right". Use that tool and this philosophy to avoid the "blarge" at all costs.
On a block/charge, the event occurs in somebody's primary. That is the person who should take that call, period.
High school and college have different "rules" for who takes drives to the basket. Decide who takes block/charges on drives to the basket in the pre-game. Follow the pre-game. It's that simple.
How do "blarges" happen? One way is that the pre-game doesn't cover it or the pre-game is forgotten. Another way is that someone tried to take and sell a call that is out of their primary. Either way, it is bad.
Either way, even if you both signal, you can get together and decide who is going to take it. If it is not your primary, admit your mistake and move on. All you do if you insist on calling both fouls is to make yourself and the crew look like megalomanical and territorial idiots. I had a play last year where my partner was trying to atone for a previous egregious error in judgment against one team, and he poached and sold the call on a drive in my primary, got it wrong, and I gave it up to prevent him and the crew further embarrassment. My response to the coach when questioned, "He took it, end of story." Think it lingered? No. Think a "blarge" call would have reflected well on me, when the film would have shown I was correct? No, I really don't.
Be patient with block/charge calls--you have plenty of time post-whistle to make, and even sell, the call if you have to. The crew is better if you can put up the fist on a double-whistle, and then put it back down and/or nod assent to your partner if you have to. If you give a preliminary signal, it's OK to say, "Hey, I kind of guessed, it's his primary and he has it." We have conferences all the time to "get it right". Use that tool and this philosophy to avoid the "blarge" at all costs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)