About a month ago, my brother-in-law and nephew came to a game. Home team player throws down a ferocious two-hand dunk when I am the L, and screams as he comes down. He continues his scream as he turns to run up the court, and ends up screaming right in an opponent's face. Bang. Crowd goes completely ballistic, which is funny for a CC game. Tell my partners, taunting T, go administer, I'll hang back here. Report to table: "Technical A on white 21, taunting." White coach still angry, so I head over. "Stop screaming!" He stops. "I called the T for taunting, not hanging on the rim. He screamed in 35's face after he came down." "Oh! OK!" and the coach sat without another word. Crowd hated me the rest of the half.
Saw my nephew today. He's 6. "We yelled 'BOO!' at you!"
"Why? I thought we were friends?"
"Because you made a bad call."
"You booed me?!?!"
"Yeah, but not as bad as the other people."
Priceless.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Ballside! Ballside! Ballside! Ballside!
Keep saying it. Over and over. Tell everybody. It's the new thing, although it's an old thing.
Back in the old 2-man days, not many people got ballside as the lead. Dick Cartmell used to yell at us to get ballside as the lead. I never liked it, could not get comfortable with it, and never did it. I still have a hard time with it. It's a weakness. One of my protogees started doing it, still does it, and it makes him a way better 2-man official than me when we do rec ball together for the free health club membership. Why don't I do it now? I should, and have no excuse not to.
In 3-man mechanics, even being lazy, you still can get ballside. It's not like you have to bust your tail back across upon a shot going in or a possession change. In 3-man, if you are not getting ballside, not only are you not in the best position to make your calls, but you are absolutely f%&#ing your crew. Period. No debate. No "everybody has different philosophies" garbage.
I have watched several basketball games this year to help officials who have asked me to watch and provide feedback. Virtually all of them are not getting ballside enough, and are either missing calls themselves (guessing) or screwing their partners into making bad non-calls (bad positioning and cannot see the play). Some don't have a clue. Here's a tip: You have to be on the same side as the ball as the L, and you should be mirroring the ball with your positioning, not sitting in Window 1 (on lane line). And if you think that's mine, it's not. It came from John Adams, head of NCAA Men's officiating. He's not happy yet, either.
The C should not have the ball matchup more than 5% of the time. The only time that should happen is on a swing pass or very quick ball reversal, when the ball goes to the opposite wing, and there is an immediate drive or shot. Otherwise, the L should be coming over, and the C becomes the T.
Why does everyone talk about how important a strong C is to a crew? Because the C manages a lot of the off-ball stuff, and also supports the T & L on scoring plays in the key, when he has the best look. The C can pretty much cruise if he wants to. No rush to get down the court on made baskets. Manage the screening action occurring away from the ball. And occassionally someone rotates or drives towards them from the opposite lane line/post and he has the best look. Doing that well makes the crew better. Doing nothing doesn't help the crew, but the individual remains invisible and stays out of individual trouble. Lots of guys dont want to blow the whistle., and they hurt crews. Don't be one of those guys. There are too many as it is.
If you are not flexing, and not getting ballside, you belong doing rec and AAU basketball, nothing higher. If you think that getting ballside is someone's philosophy that you dont have to agree with, you are an absolute idiot, and a cancer to every crew you are on. Getting ballside and flexing is the only way to officiate basketball effectively.
Back in the old 2-man days, not many people got ballside as the lead. Dick Cartmell used to yell at us to get ballside as the lead. I never liked it, could not get comfortable with it, and never did it. I still have a hard time with it. It's a weakness. One of my protogees started doing it, still does it, and it makes him a way better 2-man official than me when we do rec ball together for the free health club membership. Why don't I do it now? I should, and have no excuse not to.
In 3-man mechanics, even being lazy, you still can get ballside. It's not like you have to bust your tail back across upon a shot going in or a possession change. In 3-man, if you are not getting ballside, not only are you not in the best position to make your calls, but you are absolutely f%&#ing your crew. Period. No debate. No "everybody has different philosophies" garbage.
I have watched several basketball games this year to help officials who have asked me to watch and provide feedback. Virtually all of them are not getting ballside enough, and are either missing calls themselves (guessing) or screwing their partners into making bad non-calls (bad positioning and cannot see the play). Some don't have a clue. Here's a tip: You have to be on the same side as the ball as the L, and you should be mirroring the ball with your positioning, not sitting in Window 1 (on lane line). And if you think that's mine, it's not. It came from John Adams, head of NCAA Men's officiating. He's not happy yet, either.
The C should not have the ball matchup more than 5% of the time. The only time that should happen is on a swing pass or very quick ball reversal, when the ball goes to the opposite wing, and there is an immediate drive or shot. Otherwise, the L should be coming over, and the C becomes the T.
Why does everyone talk about how important a strong C is to a crew? Because the C manages a lot of the off-ball stuff, and also supports the T & L on scoring plays in the key, when he has the best look. The C can pretty much cruise if he wants to. No rush to get down the court on made baskets. Manage the screening action occurring away from the ball. And occassionally someone rotates or drives towards them from the opposite lane line/post and he has the best look. Doing that well makes the crew better. Doing nothing doesn't help the crew, but the individual remains invisible and stays out of individual trouble. Lots of guys dont want to blow the whistle., and they hurt crews. Don't be one of those guys. There are too many as it is.
If you are not flexing, and not getting ballside, you belong doing rec and AAU basketball, nothing higher. If you think that getting ballside is someone's philosophy that you dont have to agree with, you are an absolute idiot, and a cancer to every crew you are on. Getting ballside and flexing is the only way to officiate basketball effectively.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Understanding Coaches (Or Not)
As most of you who read this regularly know, I am a huge proponent of communicating with coaches and players during the game, and being empathetic to really understand where negative emotions or anger comes from, so I can deal with it the best way I can. If I blow a call, I'm going to give someone a little extra rope. If someone is just being stupid, I can explain that they are rapidly losing, or have lost their privilege of talking to me, and that unless there is a rules question or I need to communicate to you, that we're pretty much done.
A while back, I heard a coach, Gordie James of Willamette, speak to a group of officials at a camp, and he had some interesting insights. The best one was, that coaches spend a lot of time watching film, scouting, and preparing a game plan. They often see things on film that they need to exploit. The coach told us, "There are times when you guys come over before the game, and I'll say, 'Hey, I need you guys to watch the illegal screens on 32 tonight.' Now most of you think I'm trying to play head games, but in reality, I have sen him setting bad screens on film and getting away with it, and that costs me points and screws my defense, since I play aggressive man. If I play zone, not so much, but my game plan that night is aggressive man to take advantage of my team's quickness. Plus, even 3 non-calls on bad screens, at one point per possession, probably leads to 2 points. We don't have handicaps in basketball. So if you guys think that I'm trying to gain an advantage, I am, but there is a basis behind it. I'm not just whining. Remember, you guys work hard and prepare--that's why you are all here this weekend. But we recruit, prepare, scout, and practice a lot more. Not all of us are trying to manipulate you guys. Think about that."
That always stuck in my head. This week, a friend of mine talked about a coach who sometimes yells at officials for a reason I had never considered. Sometimes, he said, that he has a kid who may not be overly confident make a great move, and miss a layup. I may yell for a foul to be called, even if I have no idea whether there was a foul or not. I don't do it to razz the official, I can find other legitimate reasons to do that. I don't do it for myself, although sometimes I get frustrated on how the game is gong and it spills over. But I am advocating for my kid. By yelling for a foul, I am encouraging him and letting him know he made a great move, and maybe he should be on the line. It helps him keep his confidence in himself and our relationship. My players know I will be their advocate and vocal for them, and it helps out teamwork and brotherhood. I get my kids to play hard because they all know I have their backs.
I cannot argue with that logic. It's another reason why we have to have thick skin and be empathetic to coaches and players. Over time, we learn who the narcissistic jerks are; they always reveal themselves over time. But to refrain from knee-jerk reactions, and work through issues with coaches and players will lead you to understand that most of them are trying to do the right things, and are bright and articulate folks. None of us is perfect, and the stress of competition manifests itself in many ways. Don't take things personally, and don't hold grudges. Respect the game and everything about it. You'll enjoy it more in the long-run.
And if you don't believe this, find another post! I'm not always right...
A while back, I heard a coach, Gordie James of Willamette, speak to a group of officials at a camp, and he had some interesting insights. The best one was, that coaches spend a lot of time watching film, scouting, and preparing a game plan. They often see things on film that they need to exploit. The coach told us, "There are times when you guys come over before the game, and I'll say, 'Hey, I need you guys to watch the illegal screens on 32 tonight.' Now most of you think I'm trying to play head games, but in reality, I have sen him setting bad screens on film and getting away with it, and that costs me points and screws my defense, since I play aggressive man. If I play zone, not so much, but my game plan that night is aggressive man to take advantage of my team's quickness. Plus, even 3 non-calls on bad screens, at one point per possession, probably leads to 2 points. We don't have handicaps in basketball. So if you guys think that I'm trying to gain an advantage, I am, but there is a basis behind it. I'm not just whining. Remember, you guys work hard and prepare--that's why you are all here this weekend. But we recruit, prepare, scout, and practice a lot more. Not all of us are trying to manipulate you guys. Think about that."
That always stuck in my head. This week, a friend of mine talked about a coach who sometimes yells at officials for a reason I had never considered. Sometimes, he said, that he has a kid who may not be overly confident make a great move, and miss a layup. I may yell for a foul to be called, even if I have no idea whether there was a foul or not. I don't do it to razz the official, I can find other legitimate reasons to do that. I don't do it for myself, although sometimes I get frustrated on how the game is gong and it spills over. But I am advocating for my kid. By yelling for a foul, I am encouraging him and letting him know he made a great move, and maybe he should be on the line. It helps him keep his confidence in himself and our relationship. My players know I will be their advocate and vocal for them, and it helps out teamwork and brotherhood. I get my kids to play hard because they all know I have their backs.
I cannot argue with that logic. It's another reason why we have to have thick skin and be empathetic to coaches and players. Over time, we learn who the narcissistic jerks are; they always reveal themselves over time. But to refrain from knee-jerk reactions, and work through issues with coaches and players will lead you to understand that most of them are trying to do the right things, and are bright and articulate folks. None of us is perfect, and the stress of competition manifests itself in many ways. Don't take things personally, and don't hold grudges. Respect the game and everything about it. You'll enjoy it more in the long-run.
And if you don't believe this, find another post! I'm not always right...
Sunday, January 16, 2011
More Poor Positioning
Take a look at this example of absolutely terrible positioning:
It is obvious that this is not a fast break situation with all the players below the top of the key and the higher players watching the play at the rim. The T is about 1 step inside the half-court line.
Positioning is very important. This is now a 2-man crew, because of the T. Even his posture is weak--he has obviously been there for quite a while and is not ready to move.
That T needs to be down at the 28 foot mark, and ready to help out on the rebound. One bad positioning habit is to "cheat" on rebounds as the T--to start to float back on a shot in order to get a headstart back the other way. That ends badly on offensive rebounds, or when you are needed to see the play on the opposite block, where the C may be straight-lined or does not have as good of a look as the T if the T is properly positioned. If the T was even close to being where he should be on this play, he would not be in the picture.
You simply cannot officiate like this, unless it is 3rd grade AAU. There is no excuse for it. It is stealing your game check. The ball goes below the key, the T needs to be one step above the top of the key. That is where the 28-foot hash is.
It is obvious that this is not a fast break situation with all the players below the top of the key and the higher players watching the play at the rim. The T is about 1 step inside the half-court line.
Positioning is very important. This is now a 2-man crew, because of the T. Even his posture is weak--he has obviously been there for quite a while and is not ready to move.
That T needs to be down at the 28 foot mark, and ready to help out on the rebound. One bad positioning habit is to "cheat" on rebounds as the T--to start to float back on a shot in order to get a headstart back the other way. That ends badly on offensive rebounds, or when you are needed to see the play on the opposite block, where the C may be straight-lined or does not have as good of a look as the T if the T is properly positioned. If the T was even close to being where he should be on this play, he would not be in the picture.
You simply cannot officiate like this, unless it is 3rd grade AAU. There is no excuse for it. It is stealing your game check. The ball goes below the key, the T needs to be one step above the top of the key. That is where the 28-foot hash is.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Partner T's a Coach: What Should You Do?
I have said this a hundred times, and it is absolutely true, giving technicals, especially to a coach, provides an adrenaline rush that makes the calling official frequently get just goofy. A good thing for the pre-game, if someone calls a T, one of the other 2 guys become the QB and call the play for the crew. Conversation should go like this:
Partner: "OK, you have a T? What's the deal?"
Gunslinger: "Yeah, I whacked Coach Jackass."
Partner: "OK, white had the ball. So white shoots 2 at this end, and gets the ball that basket. Rookie, go administer the free throws."
Rookie should already be on his way getting the free throws shot.
Partner: "Gunslinger, you need to go talk to the coach?"
Gunslinger: No, nothing to say. He knows what he did."
Partner: "Great. Just go across."
Coach Jackass: "What did I do?"
Partner: "He said you know what you did. It was automatic."
Coach Jackass: "I want him to come over and provide an explanation!"
Partner: "No, you need to calm down first. Now's not the time. He has nothing to say right now."
Coach Jackass: "I want an explanation!"
Partner: "Take it up with our assignor after the game. Let's move on."
Then get away. Partner managed the situation, and made sure that the level-headed one who has no dog in the fight got the game going correctly.
There are situations where a T on a coach gets uglier. As Partner, you have to understand several things:
1. Are you the Partner who should be dealing with it, or are you the Rookie of the crew? Know your role.
2. You must deal with the coach if he is still hot after the T. You have no choice.
3. You must get the coach back into the coaches box. Walk him back there, if necessary.
4. Keep the calling official away from a coach that gets more pissed after a T. Hard to win with that. Tell the coach that if he is that upset, to deal with the assignor after the game.
5. If the coach won't get back into the box, or continues with profanity towards the calling official, you have to toss him. The calling official should not give both T's. That opens a can or worms that your assignor will not want to deal with. Make it easy, and be a team. Protect both the coach and the calling official in these situations. Be nice, but crystal clear, back into the box and calm down or he is choosing to get thrown out. If that's what he really wants (it almost never is), then oblige him.
6. Be cognizant of what a film will show. Angry coaches have bad gestures and body language. They are aggressive. Be calm and matter of fact. That's what being a non-calling official allows. Get him in the box, address him quickly, and then get distance from the coach. If he continues on, the film will show his continued aggression, your attempts to solve it, and proof of why he had to be tossed, if it comes to that. This same principle works for the initial T, too.
This happens a lot. It happened to me last year. U2 made the worst call/subsequent decision I have seen 16 years of officiating, leading to a blowout by a coach of epic proportions. U1 T'd him. Coach continued unabated at half-court while U2 kept yelling, "I'm sorry!" to the coach. U1 tells me I need to get the coach into the box, which shook me out of my state of shock and got me to manage the situation and prevent an ejection that was warranted but would have been bad for the crew and the game since we messed up in a huge way on the call that led to the meltdown.
Bottom line, help you partners when they whack someone. Even Tommy D in Goodfellas needed Jimmy and Henry to bury the bodies. Don't stand around with you thumb up your ass. Get involved, help your partner ,and help the coach or player who got whacked to gain control of themselves.
Partner: "OK, you have a T? What's the deal?"
Gunslinger: "Yeah, I whacked Coach Jackass."
Partner: "OK, white had the ball. So white shoots 2 at this end, and gets the ball that basket. Rookie, go administer the free throws."
Rookie should already be on his way getting the free throws shot.
Partner: "Gunslinger, you need to go talk to the coach?"
Gunslinger: No, nothing to say. He knows what he did."
Partner: "Great. Just go across."
Coach Jackass: "What did I do?"
Partner: "He said you know what you did. It was automatic."
Coach Jackass: "I want him to come over and provide an explanation!"
Partner: "No, you need to calm down first. Now's not the time. He has nothing to say right now."
Coach Jackass: "I want an explanation!"
Partner: "Take it up with our assignor after the game. Let's move on."
Then get away. Partner managed the situation, and made sure that the level-headed one who has no dog in the fight got the game going correctly.
There are situations where a T on a coach gets uglier. As Partner, you have to understand several things:
1. Are you the Partner who should be dealing with it, or are you the Rookie of the crew? Know your role.
2. You must deal with the coach if he is still hot after the T. You have no choice.
3. You must get the coach back into the coaches box. Walk him back there, if necessary.
4. Keep the calling official away from a coach that gets more pissed after a T. Hard to win with that. Tell the coach that if he is that upset, to deal with the assignor after the game.
5. If the coach won't get back into the box, or continues with profanity towards the calling official, you have to toss him. The calling official should not give both T's. That opens a can or worms that your assignor will not want to deal with. Make it easy, and be a team. Protect both the coach and the calling official in these situations. Be nice, but crystal clear, back into the box and calm down or he is choosing to get thrown out. If that's what he really wants (it almost never is), then oblige him.
6. Be cognizant of what a film will show. Angry coaches have bad gestures and body language. They are aggressive. Be calm and matter of fact. That's what being a non-calling official allows. Get him in the box, address him quickly, and then get distance from the coach. If he continues on, the film will show his continued aggression, your attempts to solve it, and proof of why he had to be tossed, if it comes to that. This same principle works for the initial T, too.
This happens a lot. It happened to me last year. U2 made the worst call/subsequent decision I have seen 16 years of officiating, leading to a blowout by a coach of epic proportions. U1 T'd him. Coach continued unabated at half-court while U2 kept yelling, "I'm sorry!" to the coach. U1 tells me I need to get the coach into the box, which shook me out of my state of shock and got me to manage the situation and prevent an ejection that was warranted but would have been bad for the crew and the game since we messed up in a huge way on the call that led to the meltdown.
Bottom line, help you partners when they whack someone. Even Tommy D in Goodfellas needed Jimmy and Henry to bury the bodies. Don't stand around with you thumb up your ass. Get involved, help your partner ,and help the coach or player who got whacked to gain control of themselves.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Island
I have talked quite a bit in the past about outlier calls. The past year, I have gotten a lot of questions about how to advance and move up the food chain as a basketball referee. The #1 thing a new official or up-and-comer needs is to stay off The Island. The #1 things that people who want to be good leads or R's is to not only keep yourself off the island, but try and keep your partners off, or get them off of there as quickly and quietly as you can.
You get on the island when you bring a lot of attention to yourself. There are only a few times when being on The Island is a good thing for you, and that is only when it is recognized by almost everyone that you're doing a great thing for the game. Examples:
1. Calling any non-basketball play as a foul.
2. Calling a bad screen, especially the first one of a game, and the earlier the better.
3. Calling a chuck or hold on a cutter, especially when it results in a turnover or prevents a likely basket.
4. Getting a goaltend or basket interference correctly.
5. Identifying and fixing a shot clock/game clock error.
6. Fixing a missed out-of-bounds or 2/3 point basket call.
Some of these are subjective, but being honest with yourself, you know when you've done these right. So does everyone else in the gym.
The list of ways to get on The Island that hurt you is endless. Most of the time, you miss an obvious call. You have to minimize those instances anyway. Learn from your mistakes. Here is a short list of things I see occur on a regular basis that puts officials on The Island:
1. Calling a travel that didn't happen or was not visible to most of the gym.
2. Several bodies on the ground with no whistle.
3. #2 compounded by the officials signaling for multiple players to "get up".
4. Making a ticky-tack call when others are allowing more contact.
5. Passing on a foul, and compensating by awarding an out-of-bounds to the team that got fouled.
6. Making an obscure call that doesn't get called often and you have to explain to offending player(s)/coach.
7. Calling right in front of a partner.
Lots of guys are great officials, and they are real tough guys with the coaches that yell at them a lot. Just ask them. They are also frequent residents of The Island.
We talk a lot about teamwork and being on the same page. That means we work together to keep each other off The Island. Some guys relish it: they either have an insatiable need for the attention it brings (even bad attention is good attention) or they feel that when partners get stuck on The Island, they personally benefit from it.
Newer guys/U2's, think about this, and learn to stay off the island. Unless you have a personal relationship with the players/coach, The Island is a bad place for you, and if you spend much time there, it may be impossible to really be seen as a great official. Memories of officials being on The Island last a long time with some coaches. Sometimes forever. Calls I made 6 years ago that would have marooned me without water on The Island, I can now make with little consequence, because of the combination of knowing the context and my standing with the coaches and players. I know the time and place to make those calls--most of the time. And when I put myself on The Island, which I still do more than I like, I make sure I do not stay there for long. I focus and get really good (high certainty) for the next several minutes.
Veterans can use that first set to gauge whether they need to be there or not. I can tell you from experience, that sage use of that first set will make you a good R. You also need to counsel your team to do whatever you can to keep your partners off of The Island, because it makes it a lot easier on you.
Sometimes there is nothing you can do. But remembering this analogy may be helpful to you. We all talk about missed calls and pissed coaches, but some people have a knack for getting put in jail, and others have a knack for getting away with it. It all boils down to staying off The Island as an individual, and a crew.
You get on the island when you bring a lot of attention to yourself. There are only a few times when being on The Island is a good thing for you, and that is only when it is recognized by almost everyone that you're doing a great thing for the game. Examples:
1. Calling any non-basketball play as a foul.
2. Calling a bad screen, especially the first one of a game, and the earlier the better.
3. Calling a chuck or hold on a cutter, especially when it results in a turnover or prevents a likely basket.
4. Getting a goaltend or basket interference correctly.
5. Identifying and fixing a shot clock/game clock error.
6. Fixing a missed out-of-bounds or 2/3 point basket call.
Some of these are subjective, but being honest with yourself, you know when you've done these right. So does everyone else in the gym.
The list of ways to get on The Island that hurt you is endless. Most of the time, you miss an obvious call. You have to minimize those instances anyway. Learn from your mistakes. Here is a short list of things I see occur on a regular basis that puts officials on The Island:
1. Calling a travel that didn't happen or was not visible to most of the gym.
2. Several bodies on the ground with no whistle.
3. #2 compounded by the officials signaling for multiple players to "get up".
4. Making a ticky-tack call when others are allowing more contact.
5. Passing on a foul, and compensating by awarding an out-of-bounds to the team that got fouled.
6. Making an obscure call that doesn't get called often and you have to explain to offending player(s)/coach.
7. Calling right in front of a partner.
Lots of guys are great officials, and they are real tough guys with the coaches that yell at them a lot. Just ask them. They are also frequent residents of The Island.
We talk a lot about teamwork and being on the same page. That means we work together to keep each other off The Island. Some guys relish it: they either have an insatiable need for the attention it brings (even bad attention is good attention) or they feel that when partners get stuck on The Island, they personally benefit from it.
Newer guys/U2's, think about this, and learn to stay off the island. Unless you have a personal relationship with the players/coach, The Island is a bad place for you, and if you spend much time there, it may be impossible to really be seen as a great official. Memories of officials being on The Island last a long time with some coaches. Sometimes forever. Calls I made 6 years ago that would have marooned me without water on The Island, I can now make with little consequence, because of the combination of knowing the context and my standing with the coaches and players. I know the time and place to make those calls--most of the time. And when I put myself on The Island, which I still do more than I like, I make sure I do not stay there for long. I focus and get really good (high certainty) for the next several minutes.
Veterans can use that first set to gauge whether they need to be there or not. I can tell you from experience, that sage use of that first set will make you a good R. You also need to counsel your team to do whatever you can to keep your partners off of The Island, because it makes it a lot easier on you.
Sometimes there is nothing you can do. But remembering this analogy may be helpful to you. We all talk about missed calls and pissed coaches, but some people have a knack for getting put in jail, and others have a knack for getting away with it. It all boils down to staying off The Island as an individual, and a crew.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Lone Ranger
All we hear about from camps, supervisors, and partners is teamwork and crew. However, how many times do people say one thing, and do another. How many guys are always right? How many guys know everything? How many guys are going to do whatever they think is right on the court no matter what their partners think or do? Those guys are insanely arrogant. Big bad tough guys. While they may be good individual officials, they are bad officials. They are Lone Rangers. They are Crewanomas--Cancer of the Crew.
These are things that Lone Rangers tend to do:
1. Call out of their area.
2. Call things like GT and BI from the L, under the basket.
3. Split hairs on travels when the other guys do not.
4. Make any call that the other guys are not making.
5. Overselling calls.
6. Getting into it with players.
7. Making really obscure calls that do not fit the game, and having to explain them to everyone.
8. Irritating coaches by dealing with them in an arrogant True Grit fashion.
9. Making a big show about warning coaches/players in front of teams/benches.
10. Making a habit of telling coaches "ask him" or "it wasn't my call".
11. Talking to coaches about partners' issues when it doesn't help the situation.
12. Unnecessarily bring attention to themselves.
13. Give quick T's.
14. Talking much more than listening--to partners, players, and coaches.
15. Play the "I know but you don't" card of "knowledge hoarding".
There are many more examples. The common thread? These traits are mostly about ego and control. Officials have the ultimate power in basketball games. We can forfeit the game, eject people, disqualify people, and do pretty much whatever we want to. However, as history shows, the people who use ultimate power benevolently are the ones who escape getting decapitated when their time is done. Treating the coaches and players with respect will ultimately serve you well, and it will carry over to being considerate of your partners. Being the tough guy rarely works. Why do it? I have my theories. It doesn't make me feel like a man to scold men who don't make millions and work tons of hours fueled by passion as a basketball coach. It doesn't make me feel like a man to show a 20-year-old kid who really think she got fouled that I can sit him down whenever I feel like it if I don't like how he looks at me. It doesn't make me feel like a man to believe that I was great in a game but one or both of my partners didn't have a clue as to what they were doing. That's not why I do this. That's not what crews or teammates do, either, on any successful team. The world has enough TO's and Ochocincos. That's why the Bengals suck. It is the stripes on the helmets?
The longer I officiate, the more different things I see. The one thing I will not miss when I hang them up are the Lone Rangers. I love the movie Road House with Patrick Swayze. The movie actually stinks, but the line, "Be nice, until it is time not to be nice," is one we should all think about really hard. No animosity, no anger, no grudges...work hard and conduct business. Each game--each half--should have a fresh start. Treat everybody that way. We're there for the game first, ourselves second.
These are things that Lone Rangers tend to do:
1. Call out of their area.
2. Call things like GT and BI from the L, under the basket.
3. Split hairs on travels when the other guys do not.
4. Make any call that the other guys are not making.
5. Overselling calls.
6. Getting into it with players.
7. Making really obscure calls that do not fit the game, and having to explain them to everyone.
8. Irritating coaches by dealing with them in an arrogant True Grit fashion.
9. Making a big show about warning coaches/players in front of teams/benches.
10. Making a habit of telling coaches "ask him" or "it wasn't my call".
11. Talking to coaches about partners' issues when it doesn't help the situation.
12. Unnecessarily bring attention to themselves.
13. Give quick T's.
14. Talking much more than listening--to partners, players, and coaches.
15. Play the "I know but you don't" card of "knowledge hoarding".
There are many more examples. The common thread? These traits are mostly about ego and control. Officials have the ultimate power in basketball games. We can forfeit the game, eject people, disqualify people, and do pretty much whatever we want to. However, as history shows, the people who use ultimate power benevolently are the ones who escape getting decapitated when their time is done. Treating the coaches and players with respect will ultimately serve you well, and it will carry over to being considerate of your partners. Being the tough guy rarely works. Why do it? I have my theories. It doesn't make me feel like a man to scold men who don't make millions and work tons of hours fueled by passion as a basketball coach. It doesn't make me feel like a man to show a 20-year-old kid who really think she got fouled that I can sit him down whenever I feel like it if I don't like how he looks at me. It doesn't make me feel like a man to believe that I was great in a game but one or both of my partners didn't have a clue as to what they were doing. That's not why I do this. That's not what crews or teammates do, either, on any successful team. The world has enough TO's and Ochocincos. That's why the Bengals suck. It is the stripes on the helmets?
The longer I officiate, the more different things I see. The one thing I will not miss when I hang them up are the Lone Rangers. I love the movie Road House with Patrick Swayze. The movie actually stinks, but the line, "Be nice, until it is time not to be nice," is one we should all think about really hard. No animosity, no anger, no grudges...work hard and conduct business. Each game--each half--should have a fresh start. Treat everybody that way. We're there for the game first, ourselves second.
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