Sunday, January 27, 2013
Professionalism....Or Lack Thereof
I have to admit, I am quite surprised that I still am getting tons of hits and page views, so I will throw a few observations and stories on here in the next few weeks. Hopefully the dude in Germany who visits frequently will be happy!
Heard another unfortunate story about an inexperienced and arrogant official exhibiting unbridled unprofessionalism that really disappoints me. As an official, especially if you are an R or a veteran, the way you carry yourself and speak to people is very important. You can be the nice guy, or you can be very blunt and direct, but you had better be professional. There are two reasons for this: 1) For every coach or player you have the ability to dress down verbally or punish with your whistle, there will be somebody waiting to stick it to you at some point in the future. May never happen, but it makes you a smaller person and you will not be remembered well when you hang them up. 2) No matter what happens, if someone believes you are unprofessional, I guarantee you that there will be a story from you and a story from the school--they will be very different and you will be stained by it.
A long, long time ago I had the wonderful opportunity to ref a JV/V doubleheader. JV game at 3, Varsity game at 5. Get to the gym at 2, do the JV game, and then we got informed that they are having a spaghetti feed, so the Varsity game won't start until 8. Wonderful news, especially when there is literally 200 residents within 15 miles of our location. So we hung out, waited, and shot some baskets in their secondary gym to pass the time. Varsity game starts, home team starts losing. One of the home team kids starts being an ass. The coach starts being an ass. The kid starts traveling on every move he makes in the post, so we start calling it. I bet we called it 6 times in the third quarter. We're getting screamed at, and I am kind of laughing and smiling. Two minutes left, coach curses at me, so I issue my first T of my Varsity career. One minute later, coach melts down. Partner issues his second T; I tell him he has to leave. All of a sudden, not so much fun anymore. Twelve seconds left in a 20 point game, visitor shooting 2. On the first free throw, the kid who was being an ass hammers the guy across the key. Instead of calling a foul, I told him the game was over, and to knock it off. I figured it was good preventative officiating. Game ends, crowd chases us out. We wait 45 minutes to leave, still get yelled at on the way to the car.
Got home, wrote up the ejection report. Three days later, the boss calls. Guess what the school said? To the best of my knowledge: 1) We screwed the team by calls travels that were not there because we were biased. 2) The coach did nothing to warrant a T, let alone an ejection. 3) Upon giving the coach his first T with two minutes left and a 9 point deficit, I told his captain that "the game is over." 4) My partner told him to "hit the showers" right after giving him his second T. 5) We talked rash to the crowd. 6) We shot baskets and interrupted their team's preparation for the Varsity game. 7) They did not want either of us at their school again.
Guess what school I had the following Friday night on the road? The boss watched the film, so nothing as noted except a couple of smiles from me. He also told me that it didn't matter what the truth was, if we gave them any opening at all to write any of it, we screwed up. He then would not let me get out of the game on Friday. He knew I learned.
I was never an angel, but I learned the if you goad a player or coach as an official, you are an unprofessional douchebag. And there are a lot of guys who enjoy the power of the stripes a little too much who do that stuff. And when they get called on it, they almost always lie about it, or tell embellished and exaggerated stories that sometimes get debunked on film pretty easily. I've seen people lose games--and careers--from being unprofessional and getting popped for it. You cannot recover from it, anyway. You'll never get credibility back from it. You can make bad calls, you can have spirited conversations, but once you cross the professionalism line you cannot go back.
It also works both ways. I once had a coach complain to the District that I was goading him during a playoff game. The good news--the guy he complained to was at the game and sitting close enough to the bench to know that I completely ignored that coach all night. Never even looked at him. And did a great job. Helped me immensely. I had another coach treat me very unprofessionally later in my career. I refused to work that school my last season; ironically, his team is now struggling and the school and his players are tiring of his act. Unprofessional coaches never help themselves.
Bottom line: Show professionalism and class as often as possible. If stuff gets personal, get away from it. Avoid conflicts of interest. Avoid personality conflicts. Do everything you can to steer partners away from it, too, but if they go there anyway, you don't owe them squat if the bus runs them over. They did it to themselves, and life (and the games) can go on without them.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Why Experience Can Be A Differentiator
Everyone talks about how experience makes officials better. They complain that they cannot move up because they get blocked by veterans, and veterans complain when a high potential guy passes them by very quickly after a relatively short period of time. While we all see officials who are no better at year 20 as they are at year 3, and we see the guys who have been promoted too quickly that stand out like a sore thumb, it is quite common for officials to know who is really, really good, and who is not. Experience is not the differentiator. What is? How quickly you can think, process, and act correctly when you are on the floor.
When officials are mentally quick, they can deal with situations before they mushroom into something bigger, and they can solve potential problems before many can get too excited. Example: I watched a game last year where there was a shot from the corner that was partially blocked, and went out of bounds behind the backboard. It was during a semi-fast break, and the officials were in transition. The T had nothing, and the L, who was not watching he shot from the corner, pointed the other way after a short, but very obvious delay. I'm in the stands waiting for the T or C to step in and state the ball was tipped, and to keep the ball there. They wound up having a conference, and after 10 seconds, stayed with the incorrect call. Someone who is quick and game aware would have jumped in right away, said it had to be tipped (or we missed a huge foul), so that we had to keep the ball here. But nobody did, and it hurt crew credibility. It was also a great learning experience for my friends.
Same example for me, which I am sure I blogged about before. I anticipated a shot clock violation, and hit the whistle a millisecond after the horn, only to see the ball graze the rim. I was able to charm my way out of a verbal tongue lashing, but I was wrong. If I was quicker and more aware, I would have gone inadvertent whistle. Here's the kicker--I learned from that, and probably went IW once a ear thereafter. I also was able to react and talk partners into it quickly a few other times a year. People close to me learned from it, and they implemented it. I never heard people talk about IW's before 2008-2009. I have heard a lot since from my friends.
Another great example. Long time ago, snowy night, OT game, partner has to drive 4 hours to get home. Road team is going to lose; we are in the foul foul foul mode where even desperation has left the building but they want to foul until the clock reads 0:00. Road player fouls out. While waiting for the sub by the road bench, the other refs allow a free throw to be shot, because they want to get on the road ASAP. Road coach goes ballistic. Greg Franz ballistic (he was the coach). He then decides to foul 4 more times and prolong the game, just to scream at us. He's more upset that he lost a tough upset bid on the road when he was up 15 in the second half, but we because the target of his transferred rage. He wanted the point taken off the board and to redo the free throw after the sub came in. The R did not manage it well, he basically ignored him. In the locker room, it was my fault for not communicating. U1 jumped the pile, and I just kept quiet. I read te book and talked to guys--you do not take the points off, you just move on. It is not a correctable error. So we were right, but did not explain that well, know the rule 100%, and did not handle that quickly. Two years later, I am with U1, and we have a foul out on a controversial call, so there was a lot going on. Getting ready for the free throw, I asked him 3 times whether the sub had come in, and he said yes three times. Free throw good, the the road coach starts screaming that we had to reshoot the FT because the sub had not come in. U1 starts to talk, and I immediately told him to go watch the players while I told road coach the deal. I told road coach that we messed up, the rule book says the point stays, we have you sub in now, and we play on. I also told him we had no excuse for not letting the sub in, and he could take it up with our assignor if he wanted to after the game. Moral: I learned from the first time. U1 obviously did not. U1 has been mediocre his entire 20 year career. It took me 3 years to pass him on the depth chart.
Taking your experience, and being able to smoothly implement them into your game is how experience makes you better. You cannot force it. It is your natural ability as an official. Some are very quick and can think on their feet. Others cannot. It cannot be taught. Either your experiences become innate and you improve from everything, or you get stuck. That's also why you can watch film until you eyeballs bleed, but if you cannot use it on the court, you are not helping yourself. Presence of mind and being quick is what separates the great officials from the laypeople. It's also why most great officials have a quick wit and get along with coaches well. They solve problems with it.
Experience doesn't mean squat if you don't learn from it. Being mentally quick is a lot more important than anyone talks about. It's what makes a lead official, no matter what the assignment says.
When officials are mentally quick, they can deal with situations before they mushroom into something bigger, and they can solve potential problems before many can get too excited. Example: I watched a game last year where there was a shot from the corner that was partially blocked, and went out of bounds behind the backboard. It was during a semi-fast break, and the officials were in transition. The T had nothing, and the L, who was not watching he shot from the corner, pointed the other way after a short, but very obvious delay. I'm in the stands waiting for the T or C to step in and state the ball was tipped, and to keep the ball there. They wound up having a conference, and after 10 seconds, stayed with the incorrect call. Someone who is quick and game aware would have jumped in right away, said it had to be tipped (or we missed a huge foul), so that we had to keep the ball here. But nobody did, and it hurt crew credibility. It was also a great learning experience for my friends.
Same example for me, which I am sure I blogged about before. I anticipated a shot clock violation, and hit the whistle a millisecond after the horn, only to see the ball graze the rim. I was able to charm my way out of a verbal tongue lashing, but I was wrong. If I was quicker and more aware, I would have gone inadvertent whistle. Here's the kicker--I learned from that, and probably went IW once a ear thereafter. I also was able to react and talk partners into it quickly a few other times a year. People close to me learned from it, and they implemented it. I never heard people talk about IW's before 2008-2009. I have heard a lot since from my friends.
Another great example. Long time ago, snowy night, OT game, partner has to drive 4 hours to get home. Road team is going to lose; we are in the foul foul foul mode where even desperation has left the building but they want to foul until the clock reads 0:00. Road player fouls out. While waiting for the sub by the road bench, the other refs allow a free throw to be shot, because they want to get on the road ASAP. Road coach goes ballistic. Greg Franz ballistic (he was the coach). He then decides to foul 4 more times and prolong the game, just to scream at us. He's more upset that he lost a tough upset bid on the road when he was up 15 in the second half, but we because the target of his transferred rage. He wanted the point taken off the board and to redo the free throw after the sub came in. The R did not manage it well, he basically ignored him. In the locker room, it was my fault for not communicating. U1 jumped the pile, and I just kept quiet. I read te book and talked to guys--you do not take the points off, you just move on. It is not a correctable error. So we were right, but did not explain that well, know the rule 100%, and did not handle that quickly. Two years later, I am with U1, and we have a foul out on a controversial call, so there was a lot going on. Getting ready for the free throw, I asked him 3 times whether the sub had come in, and he said yes three times. Free throw good, the the road coach starts screaming that we had to reshoot the FT because the sub had not come in. U1 starts to talk, and I immediately told him to go watch the players while I told road coach the deal. I told road coach that we messed up, the rule book says the point stays, we have you sub in now, and we play on. I also told him we had no excuse for not letting the sub in, and he could take it up with our assignor if he wanted to after the game. Moral: I learned from the first time. U1 obviously did not. U1 has been mediocre his entire 20 year career. It took me 3 years to pass him on the depth chart.
Taking your experience, and being able to smoothly implement them into your game is how experience makes you better. You cannot force it. It is your natural ability as an official. Some are very quick and can think on their feet. Others cannot. It cannot be taught. Either your experiences become innate and you improve from everything, or you get stuck. That's also why you can watch film until you eyeballs bleed, but if you cannot use it on the court, you are not helping yourself. Presence of mind and being quick is what separates the great officials from the laypeople. It's also why most great officials have a quick wit and get along with coaches well. They solve problems with it.
Experience doesn't mean squat if you don't learn from it. Being mentally quick is a lot more important than anyone talks about. It's what makes a lead official, no matter what the assignment says.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
My Tribute to OJ: If I was a Coach
I have been asked this question a lot, and since I am currently a coach of 2nd and 3rd grade boys, this post has been long in the makings as a set of general observations.
I had a ton of feedback regarding a post about the different types of coaches, and how to diagnose and deal with them. The same goes for officials:
The Egomaniac. He's there for himself. It's all about him. Anything for flash and/or attention, he'll do it. Gotta make a bunch of travel calls to let people know he's there. Many of these guys have menial jobs, so they get drunk with the power of being a basketball official. Nevermind that coaches are putting in hundreds of hours teaching, coaching, scouting, planning, and recruiting--this guy is why the games are played. As a coach, this is the guy you don;t really want, because you cannot predict what he is gong to do, and you are going to go along for the ride, because he knows everything and he is in charge. The advice: Being critical will not result in him listening, and will result in him badmouthing you in the locker room and with other officials, which isn't gong to help you. If the Egomaniac gets a rule wrong or is unprofessional, you should take that up with the assignor, because you deserve better. Otherwise, not a whole lot you can do to help yourself.
FIGJAM. This stands for F&*k I'm Good, Just Ask Me. This guy is a variation of the egomaniac, and could be both. Typically, the Egomaniac is someone who likes flaunting his power; FIGJAM is BIG Trouble for you as a coach, for the kids, and for the game, because he is kind of oblivious. FIGJAM is the guy rated 25 that should be rated 3. They are 100% convinced that every call the make or don't make is correct. They have a good reason for everything. They are even perfect on film, because you don't really see the angle from the camera. They cause serious problems when their judgment is not as good as they think, and they get defensive when questioned. Like the Egomaniac, you have to just stay out of the way unless they miss a rule or act unprofessionally.
The D Student. They simply don't know the rules or the correct floor positioning to know when they have the best, or at times any, look at the play. They give 1 and 1's on offensive fouls. They screw up shot clock situations. They call goaltending and BI from under the basket. They call across the lane all the time. They call above the foul line form underneath. The older ones don't have the rotate. These guys are fair game. If they don't know a rule, ask one of their partners to clarify the ruling or fix it. If they are calling out of their area, ask one of their partners if he had a better look. A good official or crew chief (Egomaniacs/FIGJAMs included), do not want to look bad by missing rules or having someone making mistakes out of their area. Remember, ask questions, don't rail. The D Student doesn't know any better. They are a class A ball player, the non-scholarship kid, the uneducated laborer.
The Lazy Guy. There is no excuse for being physically lazy. The T should be at 28 feet and not cheating on rebounds. The C should be around the free throw line. Guys should be hustling to see plays on lines. They should NOT be tethered to the half-court line as the trail. They should be hustling across when they flex, if they have to. Laziness should be addressed. Hard for those officials, or their partners, to make excuses for it. Some of the older guys just cannot physically do it anymore at the levels they are assigned. That's an unfortunate fact of life. Those are the guys that should have film sent into the assignor.
The Brown Nose. Outside of rare places that model themselves after North Korea, coaches and schools have some power over officials. The higher the level, the more input they will have. Some officials will want to be your buddy, because they mistakenly believe that you will help their career because they kiss your ass, especially the younger ones trying to move up the food chain. Feed these guys. Prey on them. They deserve it. Leverage their insecurity, and lobby the heck out of them. Make them believe that you will help them out, that you are their buddy. It will help you. But beware, if they do rise in the food chain, these are the types of guys who are pretty duplicitous--so you need to watch for when these guys morph into Egomaniacs or FIGJAM's. I've seen that a lot over the years.
The Homer. Some guys are homers, period. They can be homers because they are an alum. Some guys get nervous in front of big and noisy home crowds. They may be friends with the home coach or a player's parent. I have even seen where officials have nephews playing in a loser-out playoff game, and still worked it. Either way, it is a bad deal, and there is nothing you can do about it, unless the official has a conflict of interest. You need to deal with conflicts of interest through the assignor or conference--you and the integrity of the game deserve to have no conflicts of interest, but in other cases, you just have to deal with it. Pointing out homer calls will do nothing for you, will irritate the Homer, and nothing will really change. In a lot of aspects, officials can benefit from being a Homer. That's makes me sick, but it is a fact.
The Absent Referee. "we're gonna let 'em play." He doesn't care what the State or assignor wants called, he just wants to be Clint Eastwood and not call anything. "NCAA wants less physical play? Assignor wants a whistle on hard contact? Thy shouldn't tell me how to make calls." In his opinion, good players can play through things. Besides, the less the whistle is blown, the quicker the game gets over, and then he can go drink beer and drive home drunk. He'll tell you he did not see anything, but in reality he just doesn't want to call anything. Some guys do this because they know their judgment is not good, and if not much is going on, thy can float invisibly through a game without screwing up. Kind of a variation on, "Better a man be a fool than open his mouth and remove all doubt." No-calls go away from your criticism faster than objectionable calls--but incorrect no-calls hurt you just as much as incorrect whistles. Encourage them to blow the whistle, but you would also be served to adjust your team's aggressiveness, because when the Absent Referee shows up, the rule book doesn't really apply too much.
The Good Official. This guy is consistent with everything he does, but most importantly, he is genuinely approachable and listens to you and your players. He is there for the integrity of the game, and to compete for you, the other coach, and the players. You want to tell this guy specific things. "Hey, they are setting a bad screen on the baseline and allowing #32 to get an open shot because of it. Can you watch for that?" "(Name), are you guys being consistent as a crew with that last call (non-call)?" Tell your 1 or 2 good players to do the same. The Good Official will give you a good answer back, but will also be responsive and perhaps helpful if something is not right. His biggest fear is to go home feeling like the crew was not good and it affected the game. Understand that and use that if you can.
Lots of officials can and do exhibit characteristics of more than one of these categories. Here are a few more things that I would never, ever do as a coach:
1. Get personal. On or off the court. Ever. If you think an official is screwing you, send a tape into the supervisor and let him deal with it. This is a business; personal comments are unprofessional. If an official was unprofessional to me, I would not accept him at my games again, if at all possible.
2. "That's not your call." One of the worst things to say. You can question the judgment: "What did you just call?" "Did you really have an angle to see that?" "Did you have the best look at that?" "I think that's going to look bad on film." But every official has a whistle and the right to blow it. Questioning whose call it is, 98% of the time, is a bad move. The only time I'd ever do that would be quietly to a Good Official, to prod him into talking to the offender about it.
3. Ever be critical of an official working for free, like at a scrimmage. Nothing better than taking up a Saturday or weeknight away from your family, and get yelled at during a scrimmage for calls. 2-4 hours in a car and at least 60 floor minutes of free basketball, and some coaches want to bitch?
4. Carry grudges from game to game. Once calls are made, you need to let it go. Unless an official is lazy or unprofessional, which can be documented on a tape or with witness statements sent to the assignor, every day should be a new day. Yes, some officials carry grudges against coaches, which is EXACTLY why I would never do so as a coach. The coaches that do this are mentally weak, and in my opinion do not set a good example of leadership for their kids. There were coaches I did no care for (very few, but a small handful), but when I called their games, I went out of my way not to exacerbate the situation. It's business. It's competitive. Everyone gets it. Don't carry grudges.
Things I would do as a coach:
1. Communicate specifically with the assignor. If you don't like something, and i is wrong on tape, send it in. Coaches that do this are successful in knowing that officials are being held accountable, and the good officials know that they have to perform as well as they can for those coaches. Tape never lies, unless you are from Connell or are a mouthpiece talking out of school.
2. If you think an official has personal problem with you, and you are going to have him on your games anyway, find a way to squash the issue. Sometimes life is not fair, and your players should come before your pride. Many times, these officials will implode at some point on film anyway.
3. Challenge officials with questions. Be social, but challenge them. Ask specific questions. That will let the officials know that you expect them to be competing along with you and the players to be at their best. Good officials love this. The best coaches and aggressive without crossing the line. Push hard with facts and questions.
4. Maintain dialogue with the best official(s). The R is not necessarily the best official. Coaches and smart--they know who to go to to be listened to. There may be 2 or 3 Good Officials on your game. Maintain dialogue with them. It wont hurt, and may help you make adjustments.
5. Be loud towards the players; be conversational with officials. "Don't yell at me, I'm right here and listening to you," was a common line from me. Beckon the official over if you have a question. Loud questions/comments directed towards officials will piss off a lot of them, especially FIGJAM. Conversely, Egomaniac likes the attention, and may try to keep you screaming, because it gives him more spotlight. Be effective and don't feed the trolls--all officials over and be quieter when being critical.
6. Make sure officials are taken care of before and after the game. Have someone greet them. Have water for them. Have someone shepherd them at halftime. Have a shower available for them after the game. Small things mean a lot. Ray Lewis: "Greatness is a lot of small things done well." I stopped working at schools because of some of these things. I will always remember other schools that treated us like gold.
7. Stay away from absolutes. If an official blatantly misses one of makes a huge mistake, he knows it. Make your point, but make sure he has an out, to preserve his dignity. This is especially important in dealing with Egomaniacs. Also, as many times as I was 100% on a call, only to see something totally or vastly different when I saw the film, I know that very little is 100%. There are always angles, perceptions, and interpretations amongst each coach, the players, the fans, and even the officials' partners. Stay away from absolutes on judgment calls as much as possible. Rules are one thing, but judgment is always less than 100% and can be very subjective. Remember that...restraint regarding judgment can pay dividends, because the film won't lie. That's why NCAA D-1 uses replay, and we all know that happens a lot.
I know some coaches read this. E-mail me if you have any further questions. Most coaches do OK, but I think many could benefit from changing their tactics with officials, just like officials need to understand how to best deal with coaches. Like it or not, most of us are all in this together for the same reason: the love for the game of basketball. We need to recognize and respect that whenever possible.
I had a ton of feedback regarding a post about the different types of coaches, and how to diagnose and deal with them. The same goes for officials:
The Egomaniac. He's there for himself. It's all about him. Anything for flash and/or attention, he'll do it. Gotta make a bunch of travel calls to let people know he's there. Many of these guys have menial jobs, so they get drunk with the power of being a basketball official. Nevermind that coaches are putting in hundreds of hours teaching, coaching, scouting, planning, and recruiting--this guy is why the games are played. As a coach, this is the guy you don;t really want, because you cannot predict what he is gong to do, and you are going to go along for the ride, because he knows everything and he is in charge. The advice: Being critical will not result in him listening, and will result in him badmouthing you in the locker room and with other officials, which isn't gong to help you. If the Egomaniac gets a rule wrong or is unprofessional, you should take that up with the assignor, because you deserve better. Otherwise, not a whole lot you can do to help yourself.
FIGJAM. This stands for F&*k I'm Good, Just Ask Me. This guy is a variation of the egomaniac, and could be both. Typically, the Egomaniac is someone who likes flaunting his power; FIGJAM is BIG Trouble for you as a coach, for the kids, and for the game, because he is kind of oblivious. FIGJAM is the guy rated 25 that should be rated 3. They are 100% convinced that every call the make or don't make is correct. They have a good reason for everything. They are even perfect on film, because you don't really see the angle from the camera. They cause serious problems when their judgment is not as good as they think, and they get defensive when questioned. Like the Egomaniac, you have to just stay out of the way unless they miss a rule or act unprofessionally.
The D Student. They simply don't know the rules or the correct floor positioning to know when they have the best, or at times any, look at the play. They give 1 and 1's on offensive fouls. They screw up shot clock situations. They call goaltending and BI from under the basket. They call across the lane all the time. They call above the foul line form underneath. The older ones don't have the rotate. These guys are fair game. If they don't know a rule, ask one of their partners to clarify the ruling or fix it. If they are calling out of their area, ask one of their partners if he had a better look. A good official or crew chief (Egomaniacs/FIGJAMs included), do not want to look bad by missing rules or having someone making mistakes out of their area. Remember, ask questions, don't rail. The D Student doesn't know any better. They are a class A ball player, the non-scholarship kid, the uneducated laborer.
The Lazy Guy. There is no excuse for being physically lazy. The T should be at 28 feet and not cheating on rebounds. The C should be around the free throw line. Guys should be hustling to see plays on lines. They should NOT be tethered to the half-court line as the trail. They should be hustling across when they flex, if they have to. Laziness should be addressed. Hard for those officials, or their partners, to make excuses for it. Some of the older guys just cannot physically do it anymore at the levels they are assigned. That's an unfortunate fact of life. Those are the guys that should have film sent into the assignor.
The Brown Nose. Outside of rare places that model themselves after North Korea, coaches and schools have some power over officials. The higher the level, the more input they will have. Some officials will want to be your buddy, because they mistakenly believe that you will help their career because they kiss your ass, especially the younger ones trying to move up the food chain. Feed these guys. Prey on them. They deserve it. Leverage their insecurity, and lobby the heck out of them. Make them believe that you will help them out, that you are their buddy. It will help you. But beware, if they do rise in the food chain, these are the types of guys who are pretty duplicitous--so you need to watch for when these guys morph into Egomaniacs or FIGJAM's. I've seen that a lot over the years.
The Homer. Some guys are homers, period. They can be homers because they are an alum. Some guys get nervous in front of big and noisy home crowds. They may be friends with the home coach or a player's parent. I have even seen where officials have nephews playing in a loser-out playoff game, and still worked it. Either way, it is a bad deal, and there is nothing you can do about it, unless the official has a conflict of interest. You need to deal with conflicts of interest through the assignor or conference--you and the integrity of the game deserve to have no conflicts of interest, but in other cases, you just have to deal with it. Pointing out homer calls will do nothing for you, will irritate the Homer, and nothing will really change. In a lot of aspects, officials can benefit from being a Homer. That's makes me sick, but it is a fact.
The Absent Referee. "we're gonna let 'em play." He doesn't care what the State or assignor wants called, he just wants to be Clint Eastwood and not call anything. "NCAA wants less physical play? Assignor wants a whistle on hard contact? Thy shouldn't tell me how to make calls." In his opinion, good players can play through things. Besides, the less the whistle is blown, the quicker the game gets over, and then he can go drink beer and drive home drunk. He'll tell you he did not see anything, but in reality he just doesn't want to call anything. Some guys do this because they know their judgment is not good, and if not much is going on, thy can float invisibly through a game without screwing up. Kind of a variation on, "Better a man be a fool than open his mouth and remove all doubt." No-calls go away from your criticism faster than objectionable calls--but incorrect no-calls hurt you just as much as incorrect whistles. Encourage them to blow the whistle, but you would also be served to adjust your team's aggressiveness, because when the Absent Referee shows up, the rule book doesn't really apply too much.
The Good Official. This guy is consistent with everything he does, but most importantly, he is genuinely approachable and listens to you and your players. He is there for the integrity of the game, and to compete for you, the other coach, and the players. You want to tell this guy specific things. "Hey, they are setting a bad screen on the baseline and allowing #32 to get an open shot because of it. Can you watch for that?" "(Name), are you guys being consistent as a crew with that last call (non-call)?" Tell your 1 or 2 good players to do the same. The Good Official will give you a good answer back, but will also be responsive and perhaps helpful if something is not right. His biggest fear is to go home feeling like the crew was not good and it affected the game. Understand that and use that if you can.
Lots of officials can and do exhibit characteristics of more than one of these categories. Here are a few more things that I would never, ever do as a coach:
1. Get personal. On or off the court. Ever. If you think an official is screwing you, send a tape into the supervisor and let him deal with it. This is a business; personal comments are unprofessional. If an official was unprofessional to me, I would not accept him at my games again, if at all possible.
2. "That's not your call." One of the worst things to say. You can question the judgment: "What did you just call?" "Did you really have an angle to see that?" "Did you have the best look at that?" "I think that's going to look bad on film." But every official has a whistle and the right to blow it. Questioning whose call it is, 98% of the time, is a bad move. The only time I'd ever do that would be quietly to a Good Official, to prod him into talking to the offender about it.
3. Ever be critical of an official working for free, like at a scrimmage. Nothing better than taking up a Saturday or weeknight away from your family, and get yelled at during a scrimmage for calls. 2-4 hours in a car and at least 60 floor minutes of free basketball, and some coaches want to bitch?
4. Carry grudges from game to game. Once calls are made, you need to let it go. Unless an official is lazy or unprofessional, which can be documented on a tape or with witness statements sent to the assignor, every day should be a new day. Yes, some officials carry grudges against coaches, which is EXACTLY why I would never do so as a coach. The coaches that do this are mentally weak, and in my opinion do not set a good example of leadership for their kids. There were coaches I did no care for (very few, but a small handful), but when I called their games, I went out of my way not to exacerbate the situation. It's business. It's competitive. Everyone gets it. Don't carry grudges.
Things I would do as a coach:
1. Communicate specifically with the assignor. If you don't like something, and i is wrong on tape, send it in. Coaches that do this are successful in knowing that officials are being held accountable, and the good officials know that they have to perform as well as they can for those coaches. Tape never lies, unless you are from Connell or are a mouthpiece talking out of school.
2. If you think an official has personal problem with you, and you are going to have him on your games anyway, find a way to squash the issue. Sometimes life is not fair, and your players should come before your pride. Many times, these officials will implode at some point on film anyway.
3. Challenge officials with questions. Be social, but challenge them. Ask specific questions. That will let the officials know that you expect them to be competing along with you and the players to be at their best. Good officials love this. The best coaches and aggressive without crossing the line. Push hard with facts and questions.
4. Maintain dialogue with the best official(s). The R is not necessarily the best official. Coaches and smart--they know who to go to to be listened to. There may be 2 or 3 Good Officials on your game. Maintain dialogue with them. It wont hurt, and may help you make adjustments.
5. Be loud towards the players; be conversational with officials. "Don't yell at me, I'm right here and listening to you," was a common line from me. Beckon the official over if you have a question. Loud questions/comments directed towards officials will piss off a lot of them, especially FIGJAM. Conversely, Egomaniac likes the attention, and may try to keep you screaming, because it gives him more spotlight. Be effective and don't feed the trolls--all officials over and be quieter when being critical.
6. Make sure officials are taken care of before and after the game. Have someone greet them. Have water for them. Have someone shepherd them at halftime. Have a shower available for them after the game. Small things mean a lot. Ray Lewis: "Greatness is a lot of small things done well." I stopped working at schools because of some of these things. I will always remember other schools that treated us like gold.
7. Stay away from absolutes. If an official blatantly misses one of makes a huge mistake, he knows it. Make your point, but make sure he has an out, to preserve his dignity. This is especially important in dealing with Egomaniacs. Also, as many times as I was 100% on a call, only to see something totally or vastly different when I saw the film, I know that very little is 100%. There are always angles, perceptions, and interpretations amongst each coach, the players, the fans, and even the officials' partners. Stay away from absolutes on judgment calls as much as possible. Rules are one thing, but judgment is always less than 100% and can be very subjective. Remember that...restraint regarding judgment can pay dividends, because the film won't lie. That's why NCAA D-1 uses replay, and we all know that happens a lot.
I know some coaches read this. E-mail me if you have any further questions. Most coaches do OK, but I think many could benefit from changing their tactics with officials, just like officials need to understand how to best deal with coaches. Like it or not, most of us are all in this together for the same reason: the love for the game of basketball. We need to recognize and respect that whenever possible.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Total Embarassment
The following is presented without much comment. This is what happens when old officials who have no idea how to manage a basketball game get together and work a varsity HS game. This is also what happens when there are no standards for officiating. The bad news: nothing will be done about it.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Booed by Nephew....Cannot Get Any Lower
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Touche
Got absolutely smoked by a coach today. Player from the opposing team did a poor jump stop, where he landed with the quick "thu-thump". I didn't see it or hear it. It wasn't in my area. Coach wanted to tell me about it. My response was, "We don't want to be splitting hairs on travels." Coach response, "Well, you're doing good!" implying that we were certainly letting travels go. The good news was, it was not a malicious zinger. Great retort. I was very impressed.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Another Good Friend: Inadvertant Whistle!
Inadvertent whistles are nefarious. They happen when you anticipate something happening, lose your patient whistle, and react before you actually see and process everything. They happen a lot more than you think. Phantom fouls are really inadvertent whistles, you just don;t always realize they were because you guessed and/or anticipated.
You also very rarely see an inadvertent whistle identified and fessed up to during games. Why? Because referees don't know they did it, as described above, or they would be too embarrassed to admit it and administer it. If that is the case, get over yourself. It's a good way to build credibility, believe it or not, and sometimes can minimize the damage caused by them.
How do I know this? I've been there, done that, and seen the mistakes on film. Three years ago, I was the C and the shot clock was about to expire. A terrible flip towards the basket that had no chance of drawing iron was aimlessly flying out of bounds. Shot clock was less than 1. As the buzzer sounded, being alert and as greatly aware as I am, I hit the whistle and tapped the top of my head. Problem was, some offensive player jumped up, reached way out, and somehow redirected the ball towards the basket. Guess what? It grazed the rim. And I was standing right in front of the offensive team's coach (darn second half). "It hit the rim!" he screamed. I knew he was right, and I asked for help from the T, who said it did not hit the rim. The coach was still chapped, and I said, "I think you're right, I anticipated it, and think I blew it. We're going to just go the other way," and we implemeted the shot clock violation, giving the ball to the other team. The other coach loved it, "Great call, it didn't hit the rim." I started wondering if my call was correct, but didn't feel like it was. End of game, the L said it did noth it the rim. I asked someone in the hallway on the way out of the locker room, who said it did not hit the rim. Got in the car, and my wife, who knows little about basketball, told me it hit the rim. That's when I knew 100% I blew it. The film later confirmed it. No damage was done, but I thought about how I could have fixed it. The answer: Inadvertent whistle. Could have gone to the arrow, and the offensive team would have kept the ball. Could have also said that the offensive team controlled the tip after it grazed the rim, so POI give it to offense. Admitting my mistake would have allowed me to attempt to mitigate the negative consequences levied against the offense. I vowed to never be afraid to call inadvertent again.
Earlier this year, working 4th grade girls (yeah, a big big favor to a good friend), one team was blue and one team was purple. Loose ball, frantic and crappy pursuit by several players. Kind of lost track of which team was which and who was going which direction...and I called an over-and-back based on the offensive team being the last to touch...and realized I got it wrong. I right away called inadvertent, went to the arrow, and got on with the game. The defensive team got the ball based on the arrow--so my inadvertent still hurt a team unjustly, but at least they gained the arrow back, and my proclamation of "my bad" did not get screamed at. I was kind of proud of myself to have learned and implemented this lesson.
Think of hypotheticals. Scrambling for a loose ball in a close game, no team gets possession, but a referee guesses visually, reacts to a coach/player yelling for a timeout, and grants one. You know the film will show that the team did not have possession. The crew can discuss inadvertent whistle. It the R has stones, he can and will make that call, and try and fix the damage. Still a lot of variables, but these situations can and do happen, and can ruin a game if done at the wrong time.
Inadvertent whistles happen. We all have the "Oh s&*t!" moments when we hear a whistle we wish we could immediately take back. Acknowledging it, and being quick enough to decide whether inadvertent whistle is the right call will help you be a better official. Of course, if you do it 5 times a game, you're dead meat. But on rare occasions, it can be a crew's good friend. Hope this gets in your toolbox.
You also very rarely see an inadvertent whistle identified and fessed up to during games. Why? Because referees don't know they did it, as described above, or they would be too embarrassed to admit it and administer it. If that is the case, get over yourself. It's a good way to build credibility, believe it or not, and sometimes can minimize the damage caused by them.
How do I know this? I've been there, done that, and seen the mistakes on film. Three years ago, I was the C and the shot clock was about to expire. A terrible flip towards the basket that had no chance of drawing iron was aimlessly flying out of bounds. Shot clock was less than 1. As the buzzer sounded, being alert and as greatly aware as I am, I hit the whistle and tapped the top of my head. Problem was, some offensive player jumped up, reached way out, and somehow redirected the ball towards the basket. Guess what? It grazed the rim. And I was standing right in front of the offensive team's coach (darn second half). "It hit the rim!" he screamed. I knew he was right, and I asked for help from the T, who said it did not hit the rim. The coach was still chapped, and I said, "I think you're right, I anticipated it, and think I blew it. We're going to just go the other way," and we implemeted the shot clock violation, giving the ball to the other team. The other coach loved it, "Great call, it didn't hit the rim." I started wondering if my call was correct, but didn't feel like it was. End of game, the L said it did noth it the rim. I asked someone in the hallway on the way out of the locker room, who said it did not hit the rim. Got in the car, and my wife, who knows little about basketball, told me it hit the rim. That's when I knew 100% I blew it. The film later confirmed it. No damage was done, but I thought about how I could have fixed it. The answer: Inadvertent whistle. Could have gone to the arrow, and the offensive team would have kept the ball. Could have also said that the offensive team controlled the tip after it grazed the rim, so POI give it to offense. Admitting my mistake would have allowed me to attempt to mitigate the negative consequences levied against the offense. I vowed to never be afraid to call inadvertent again.
Earlier this year, working 4th grade girls (yeah, a big big favor to a good friend), one team was blue and one team was purple. Loose ball, frantic and crappy pursuit by several players. Kind of lost track of which team was which and who was going which direction...and I called an over-and-back based on the offensive team being the last to touch...and realized I got it wrong. I right away called inadvertent, went to the arrow, and got on with the game. The defensive team got the ball based on the arrow--so my inadvertent still hurt a team unjustly, but at least they gained the arrow back, and my proclamation of "my bad" did not get screamed at. I was kind of proud of myself to have learned and implemented this lesson.
Think of hypotheticals. Scrambling for a loose ball in a close game, no team gets possession, but a referee guesses visually, reacts to a coach/player yelling for a timeout, and grants one. You know the film will show that the team did not have possession. The crew can discuss inadvertent whistle. It the R has stones, he can and will make that call, and try and fix the damage. Still a lot of variables, but these situations can and do happen, and can ruin a game if done at the wrong time.
Inadvertent whistles happen. We all have the "Oh s&*t!" moments when we hear a whistle we wish we could immediately take back. Acknowledging it, and being quick enough to decide whether inadvertent whistle is the right call will help you be a better official. Of course, if you do it 5 times a game, you're dead meat. But on rare occasions, it can be a crew's good friend. Hope this gets in your toolbox.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Newbie Advice: Tough Coaches
Started going through my files, and found an Excel file that logged every game I ever worked. Since I keep getting a lot of e-mail from first-year guys asking questions, I have a few more things that stood out when I saw the games I worked as a rookie.
One of the lasting memories was getting assigned to a particular coach 7 times, which equated to 13 games since, most of those assignments were freshman games where each school had a freshman A and freshman B team, so you called 2 games. Richland was, and sort of continues to be, a cool place where the former varsity coaches, who were extremely successful during their turns as the Varsity coach of RHS, would coach the sub-varsity teams at Richland, and also the junior high schools that feed Richland. It established a pipeline of kids that maximized their talents, and fostered extreme success for the school. My first year of officiating, the freshman coach at Richland had been a State Championship coach at 2 schools and also coached the local CC team. He was a great big bear of a man, who wore a perpetual scowl and growled all the time. Absolute intimidator. Combine Bobby Knight and Walter Mathau, and this was the guy.
First game with this coach, after my initial fun scrimmage, was with another crusty old guy who was short on people skills. I'm sprinting around, trying my best to hustle, and work on a couple of basic things. Richland is dismantling another opponent by about 40. All of a sudden, the Richland coach doesn't like a few of my calls. I pretty much start to put him on ignore as he gets madder at me. I don't really know what to say, anyway. Them, one of his players makes another poor decision and turns the ball over. "Time out!" he bellows as he glares straight at me. He could have been heard for a mile. I hit the whistle, made the signal, and then realized that something was strange. The opposing coach was yelling, but my partner was right in my grill. "Don't you know you they have to have the ball to get a TO, you f&ck^&^g idiot! Jesus!" I felt pretty small and pretty stupid. I also saw the contented smirk from the Richland coach. Embarrassed and angry at everyone, I finished my games.
Next week, same deal. Same yelling. Same attempts to intimidate. I vowed never to get unnerved again, and I did not, but I really hated working those games. The reason I hated it? I knew that I was making mistakes, and I hated getting called on it that loudly. I had little basis for giving him a T, unless I wanted to get back at him for pointing out mistakes or 50/50 calls that did not go his way. I asked my assignor why I had so many of those games with that school. My assignor said, "George, keep working. He's making you better." Year 2, I had 12 more games with that coach. By the end of year 2, he was killing my partners and kind of leaving me alone. Year 3, I didn't really work freshman games any more.
Point to new guys? Understand that you make tons of mistakes. Don't look to penalize coaches because of them. Tough coaches are not fun to deal with--I still have assignments that I know are not going to be much fun--but as a new guy think of what they are communicating more so than how they say it. Some of these guys can teach you an awful lot. Don't miss the message through the yelling or sarcasm. Embrace the adversity that your mistakes can create, and learn from it.
This coach is now retired, but he is a fixture at basketball games, and still scowls all the time. However, he is always willing to give opinions, good or bad, about games and officiating. I've had the chance to watch major college games with him, and he is incredibly observant an intelligent about basketball. He has helped me to this day be a better official. I would have never thought that in a million years during my rookie campaign. Think about that.
Have a great Christmas!
One of the lasting memories was getting assigned to a particular coach 7 times, which equated to 13 games since, most of those assignments were freshman games where each school had a freshman A and freshman B team, so you called 2 games. Richland was, and sort of continues to be, a cool place where the former varsity coaches, who were extremely successful during their turns as the Varsity coach of RHS, would coach the sub-varsity teams at Richland, and also the junior high schools that feed Richland. It established a pipeline of kids that maximized their talents, and fostered extreme success for the school. My first year of officiating, the freshman coach at Richland had been a State Championship coach at 2 schools and also coached the local CC team. He was a great big bear of a man, who wore a perpetual scowl and growled all the time. Absolute intimidator. Combine Bobby Knight and Walter Mathau, and this was the guy.
First game with this coach, after my initial fun scrimmage, was with another crusty old guy who was short on people skills. I'm sprinting around, trying my best to hustle, and work on a couple of basic things. Richland is dismantling another opponent by about 40. All of a sudden, the Richland coach doesn't like a few of my calls. I pretty much start to put him on ignore as he gets madder at me. I don't really know what to say, anyway. Them, one of his players makes another poor decision and turns the ball over. "Time out!" he bellows as he glares straight at me. He could have been heard for a mile. I hit the whistle, made the signal, and then realized that something was strange. The opposing coach was yelling, but my partner was right in my grill. "Don't you know you they have to have the ball to get a TO, you f&ck^&^g idiot! Jesus!" I felt pretty small and pretty stupid. I also saw the contented smirk from the Richland coach. Embarrassed and angry at everyone, I finished my games.
Next week, same deal. Same yelling. Same attempts to intimidate. I vowed never to get unnerved again, and I did not, but I really hated working those games. The reason I hated it? I knew that I was making mistakes, and I hated getting called on it that loudly. I had little basis for giving him a T, unless I wanted to get back at him for pointing out mistakes or 50/50 calls that did not go his way. I asked my assignor why I had so many of those games with that school. My assignor said, "George, keep working. He's making you better." Year 2, I had 12 more games with that coach. By the end of year 2, he was killing my partners and kind of leaving me alone. Year 3, I didn't really work freshman games any more.
Point to new guys? Understand that you make tons of mistakes. Don't look to penalize coaches because of them. Tough coaches are not fun to deal with--I still have assignments that I know are not going to be much fun--but as a new guy think of what they are communicating more so than how they say it. Some of these guys can teach you an awful lot. Don't miss the message through the yelling or sarcasm. Embrace the adversity that your mistakes can create, and learn from it.
This coach is now retired, but he is a fixture at basketball games, and still scowls all the time. However, he is always willing to give opinions, good or bad, about games and officiating. I've had the chance to watch major college games with him, and he is incredibly observant an intelligent about basketball. He has helped me to this day be a better official. I would have never thought that in a million years during my rookie campaign. Think about that.
Have a great Christmas!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
"Is that his call?"
I absolutely hate it when I hear officials say, "Ask him!" when a coach questions something that happened right in front of a partner. Especially on scoring plays, because you should have 2-3 sets of eyes on scoring plays around the basket.
At best, you are telling a coach that your partner may have missed on and it is not your problem. Typically, since most of these situations occur on scoring plays when you are near the coach, and probably saw something similar to what set him off, it's a passive-aggressive swipe at your partner. Neither one espouses the mantra of teamwork, brotherhood, and backing each other up that all referees claim as their religion. Wanna be a respected R and leader? Read on...
I had a situation where a ball was fed into a post player who was probably camped for a while. I was the T right next to the opposing coach. Post player caught the ball 3 feet from the basket, and took his sweet ass time to gather himself and moose a shot up through a much smaller defender who was fighting all the way. Boop! 3-point play, call made by the L. Problem was, the kid was probably in there 5 seconds prior to shooting. It should have been a 3 in the key. No question. Can't correct that.
Coach got excited. "That's 3 in the key!"
George's brain: "Oh, s^&t! S*&t, s*&t, s87t 1" George's mouth: "You're right!"
Coach, heading towards L and gaining emotional steam: "How can he not call that?! It's right in front of him. That's his call!"
George: "No, it's all of our call, Coach."
Coach: "What?!? It was right in front of him!"
George: "Hey, I'm standing right where you were. I saw what you did. I should have called it."
Coach: "But that's HIS call!"
George: "No, it's all of our call. Any of us could have made it, and we didn't. It's on me, too."
It ended right there. Coach never even addressed the L. I doubt the L even knew what went on. Now, I had time for this extended conversation because I stayed there for the reporting and the free throw. How do you think that coach views me now? Think I earned some credibility?
The best thing? It's the truth. I could have and should have made that call. I didn't register quick enough, and didn't hit the whistle.
It happens other times. "Yeah, coach, it looked like contact to me, too, but I had the third best look, and didn't feel confident calling it...but you probably have a point, and I'm aware of it."
"Yeah, coach, looked like contact, and I could have pulled the trigger, but didn't. I missed it, too."
Don't be the Big V that points fingers. Crew integrity is your best friend. Everyone talks that game. A lot of people don't walk that game.
At best, you are telling a coach that your partner may have missed on and it is not your problem. Typically, since most of these situations occur on scoring plays when you are near the coach, and probably saw something similar to what set him off, it's a passive-aggressive swipe at your partner. Neither one espouses the mantra of teamwork, brotherhood, and backing each other up that all referees claim as their religion. Wanna be a respected R and leader? Read on...
I had a situation where a ball was fed into a post player who was probably camped for a while. I was the T right next to the opposing coach. Post player caught the ball 3 feet from the basket, and took his sweet ass time to gather himself and moose a shot up through a much smaller defender who was fighting all the way. Boop! 3-point play, call made by the L. Problem was, the kid was probably in there 5 seconds prior to shooting. It should have been a 3 in the key. No question. Can't correct that.
Coach got excited. "That's 3 in the key!"
George's brain: "Oh, s^&t! S*&t, s*&t, s87t 1" George's mouth: "You're right!"
Coach, heading towards L and gaining emotional steam: "How can he not call that?! It's right in front of him. That's his call!"
George: "No, it's all of our call, Coach."
Coach: "What?!? It was right in front of him!"
George: "Hey, I'm standing right where you were. I saw what you did. I should have called it."
Coach: "But that's HIS call!"
George: "No, it's all of our call. Any of us could have made it, and we didn't. It's on me, too."
It ended right there. Coach never even addressed the L. I doubt the L even knew what went on. Now, I had time for this extended conversation because I stayed there for the reporting and the free throw. How do you think that coach views me now? Think I earned some credibility?
The best thing? It's the truth. I could have and should have made that call. I didn't register quick enough, and didn't hit the whistle.
It happens other times. "Yeah, coach, it looked like contact to me, too, but I had the third best look, and didn't feel confident calling it...but you probably have a point, and I'm aware of it."
"Yeah, coach, looked like contact, and I could have pulled the trigger, but didn't. I missed it, too."
Don't be the Big V that points fingers. Crew integrity is your best friend. Everyone talks that game. A lot of people don't walk that game.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Poor Positioning Illustrated
In three-man mechanics, as lead you must get ball side, period. There are rare times where you will have a skip pass followed immediately by a drive or shot, where you would stop your flex, but that is a very rare occurrence. Take a look at this:
Mr. Red is watching the ball on the opposite wing, while there is a competitive matchup ongoing on the opposite block. He's also right on the end line, so even if he decided not to flex, like he would have done in the archaic days of 2-man, he has no depth from the court to see the post play at all--completely straight-lined. It's also apparent that the defender got beat pretty badly, so you know this did not originate on a skip pass. The C should be going top side on the drive, moving the opposite direction of the dribbler in his on-ball matchup. This is a prime example of terrible positioning that will absolutely lead to either guessing or missed calls. That L is screwed.
Learn from this. On about 4 levels, this is exactly what you are NOT supposed to be doing. This positioning is even poor for 2-man mechanics, because he is is right on the endline. Get ball side and flex.
Mr. Red is watching the ball on the opposite wing, while there is a competitive matchup ongoing on the opposite block. He's also right on the end line, so even if he decided not to flex, like he would have done in the archaic days of 2-man, he has no depth from the court to see the post play at all--completely straight-lined. It's also apparent that the defender got beat pretty badly, so you know this did not originate on a skip pass. The C should be going top side on the drive, moving the opposite direction of the dribbler in his on-ball matchup. This is a prime example of terrible positioning that will absolutely lead to either guessing or missed calls. That L is screwed.
Learn from this. On about 4 levels, this is exactly what you are NOT supposed to be doing. This positioning is even poor for 2-man mechanics, because he is is right on the endline. Get ball side and flex.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Rookies...The First Steps
I am still astounded at the number of hits and direct e-mail s I have gotten the last few months, so it is pretty cool that what I am doing here is actually helping someone. I have gotten e-mails from several brand new officials, so I am guessing that others who are silent are out there, too.
My first year was interesting. I reffed intramurals at college and was considered "good". I did all the playoff and championship games. Big head. After I finished my Master's at night, I had some time, and was asked to ref high school games. I agreed as long as I was not stuck with HS girls' freshman games. Again, pretty arrogant, but off I went.
"Training" was a joke. A "veteran" official with no real personality or aggressiveness on the court would lecture for about 10 minutes after meeting. That's it. They then asked for volunteers to go do an intrasquad game, so I jumped.
Rode up to the game with 2 vets, one was a varsity guy, the other was a perpetual varsity wannabe guy. In retrospect, they were both big time, just ask them, and they loved to hear themselves talk. I got quite the load of war stories heading up.
Game started, and I was told to watch and learn. Then, they put me in there. Varsity boys, hothead coach. I got creamed. I was not positioned right. I was not signaling right. I was missing a lot of stuff because I was worrying about positioning and signals. Coach was screaming about me. It was embarrassing.
Post-game, direct quote: "You have no idea what the f%^k you're doing out there, do you know that? You're not even close to being ready to do games!" I got ripped all the way home, for about 35 minutes. I think the one guy was upset because the coach was pissy. It was a nightmare. Got home, called my "mentor" who got me into this, and told him I was done.
My mentor told me to chill out, and informed me that I was not quitting. He told me that I would be working Varsity games during my third year of officiating. He wound up being 100% correct, although I would have bet a testicle against that at the time. I could have been Ol' One-Ball Jackson. Seriously.
"Pick one thing per game, focus on it, master it, and move on." Great advice. Next game out, I vowed to put my arm straight up with a hand or fist on every whistle. That was it. Cared about little else. Felt good about it.
Game number 2, stand up straight when I signaled travel which I called a lot). Other examples: Go super slow reporting at table, beat the ball down the floor as new lead, only signal on my lines for OOB, don't call across key as lead, call only very obvious travels...The list is endless. I still do it. Last night, it was "do not get distracted by player reactions (grunting/groaning/profanity) to the point that you worry more about game management than balls and strikes".
February of that year,I get assigned a freshman/JV doubleheader. I had 64 games since the intrasquad game. That was 64 things I had tried to work on. Guess who my Varsity guy was? He watches a half of our JV game, and proceeds to absolutely rip my partner, who had transferred to Tri-Cities with 10 years experience in other states. "Got anything for me, God?" I asked. (His name was not really God, just changed to protect the jackass.) "George, no. I cannot believe how far you've come already. I really have nothing to tell you. I don't believe it."
Two years later, I was working Varsity games. Four years later, I was working college basketball games. Five years later, I had passed both of those guys by quite a margin. To be fair, both of those guys were cool with me as I ascended. But I never forgot how they treated me, and never did that to anyone else.
New guys, pick one thing each game to fix, fix it, and keep it fixed. Doesn't make many games to make a massive overall improvement. Believe me, it happens.
My first year was interesting. I reffed intramurals at college and was considered "good". I did all the playoff and championship games. Big head. After I finished my Master's at night, I had some time, and was asked to ref high school games. I agreed as long as I was not stuck with HS girls' freshman games. Again, pretty arrogant, but off I went.
"Training" was a joke. A "veteran" official with no real personality or aggressiveness on the court would lecture for about 10 minutes after meeting. That's it. They then asked for volunteers to go do an intrasquad game, so I jumped.
Rode up to the game with 2 vets, one was a varsity guy, the other was a perpetual varsity wannabe guy. In retrospect, they were both big time, just ask them, and they loved to hear themselves talk. I got quite the load of war stories heading up.
Game started, and I was told to watch and learn. Then, they put me in there. Varsity boys, hothead coach. I got creamed. I was not positioned right. I was not signaling right. I was missing a lot of stuff because I was worrying about positioning and signals. Coach was screaming about me. It was embarrassing.
Post-game, direct quote: "You have no idea what the f%^k you're doing out there, do you know that? You're not even close to being ready to do games!" I got ripped all the way home, for about 35 minutes. I think the one guy was upset because the coach was pissy. It was a nightmare. Got home, called my "mentor" who got me into this, and told him I was done.
My mentor told me to chill out, and informed me that I was not quitting. He told me that I would be working Varsity games during my third year of officiating. He wound up being 100% correct, although I would have bet a testicle against that at the time. I could have been Ol' One-Ball Jackson. Seriously.
"Pick one thing per game, focus on it, master it, and move on." Great advice. Next game out, I vowed to put my arm straight up with a hand or fist on every whistle. That was it. Cared about little else. Felt good about it.
Game number 2, stand up straight when I signaled travel which I called a lot). Other examples: Go super slow reporting at table, beat the ball down the floor as new lead, only signal on my lines for OOB, don't call across key as lead, call only very obvious travels...The list is endless. I still do it. Last night, it was "do not get distracted by player reactions (grunting/groaning/profanity) to the point that you worry more about game management than balls and strikes".
February of that year,I get assigned a freshman/JV doubleheader. I had 64 games since the intrasquad game. That was 64 things I had tried to work on. Guess who my Varsity guy was? He watches a half of our JV game, and proceeds to absolutely rip my partner, who had transferred to Tri-Cities with 10 years experience in other states. "Got anything for me, God?" I asked. (His name was not really God, just changed to protect the jackass.) "George, no. I cannot believe how far you've come already. I really have nothing to tell you. I don't believe it."
Two years later, I was working Varsity games. Four years later, I was working college basketball games. Five years later, I had passed both of those guys by quite a margin. To be fair, both of those guys were cool with me as I ascended. But I never forgot how they treated me, and never did that to anyone else.
New guys, pick one thing each game to fix, fix it, and keep it fixed. Doesn't make many games to make a massive overall improvement. Believe me, it happens.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Old Farmer's Advice
Some of you may have seen these, but a ton of them can apply to officating. Think about them and enjoy!
Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Don't judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Don't judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Dealing With Coaches Part 2: Important Questions
Had tons of feedback a year or two ago when I listed 4 categories which cover how coaches deal with officials. Everyone liked it. Had some recent experiences/stories from others that prompted me to post on this topic again.
First off, if you do not have to deal with a coach, don't! A good rule of thumb is, "Don't make an issue where there is not one." Don't explain what he doesn't ask about. Coaches will let you know if they want to know something. Be approachable, but don't approach them unless you need to. Took me a long time to find that balance, and that spectrum goes from not dealing with issues to being a complete ass kisser. The first one gets you in serious trouble, the second one will erode the respect your receive from other officials and the visiting coaches. You'll see both of these, trust me. Be in the middle.
There are 4 different things to consider when you have to deal with a coach. Each coach has a different temperament/philosophy in dealing with officials, each official has different charismatic ability, each game is different, and each situation is different. You need to think about all of these, to deal with coaches effectively on a consistent basis. Judgment is always of paramount importance, but game management, which comprises with dealing with coaches and players, comes best from experience. Can't fake it. Hopefully, this will help you navigate through those experiences a little easier.
1. First Q: What is the coach like? Don't tell a very aggressive coach, who is a Screamer or Mindfu&*er, as described earlier in the blog, to "calm down", "mellow out" or "relax". Remember Jeff Spiccoli and Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High? They are a race car on red, you have to compete with them or say the minimum and get away. On the flip side, if the coach is mellow, an he starts yipping, you might want to lend a sympathetic ear. They usually either have a point, or are nice mindless souls who just need to be heard once in a while. Don't wave red flags in front of raging bulls. And don't ignore a squeaky wheel that is usually quiet. Common sense rules. Use it.
2. Second Q: How charismatic are you? Are you the life of the party who can make players and coaches laugh via personality and credibility? Are you the Nazi who can quote the rulebook by number and who has no problems playing "T" ball? Are you generally laid back and not a conflict fan? Knowing what your role is, much like when you were a player, is very important. Nothing more painful that a bad communicator trying to explain something to an angry coach, or when the R who doesn't get along with Coach Y feels the need to deal with everything. Learn to use what you bring to the table, and use your partners when you need to. There are officials I work with now that get chewed up by certain coaches, for whatever reason. There's no shame in that, just know who brings what the party, and let them serve it. Just like when we played--some guys shot 3's, and some guys set picks. Know your role and when you are needed--and when to give it up to your partner.
3. Third Q: How important is the game? Is it a non-conference game? Tournament? Does one team have something to prove? Some games are revved up more than others, and the coaches will rev up accordingly. Some coaches rev up every game before the tip. I watched Dick Cartmell T up Mark Few last year with 5 minutes left and Gonzaga up by 35 against an overmatched opponent. "What did I do?" whined Few. "Doesn't matter, we're moving on," said Cartmell, barely looking at him and walking away. I doubt that happens in a NCAA Tournament game that exact same way.
4. Fourth Q: Does the coach have a legitimate gripe? I love that term. Every time I have used it to acknowledge a bad call that I or a teammate has made, it has worked like a charm. I hope I did not jinx myself, but since it is genuine and the truth, it shouldn't. Something looks bad? It may have been. "Coach, I am frustrated, too. You have a legitimate gripe there, but it's not correctable, but we heard you." Big difference between a coach having a real point, or possibly a real point, and a coach trying to make a problem where is not one. Just like we need to avoid that, if a coach goes there, you put up the stop sign and get on with it. Hopefully, you can steer him clear of those.
First off, if you do not have to deal with a coach, don't! A good rule of thumb is, "Don't make an issue where there is not one." Don't explain what he doesn't ask about. Coaches will let you know if they want to know something. Be approachable, but don't approach them unless you need to. Took me a long time to find that balance, and that spectrum goes from not dealing with issues to being a complete ass kisser. The first one gets you in serious trouble, the second one will erode the respect your receive from other officials and the visiting coaches. You'll see both of these, trust me. Be in the middle.
There are 4 different things to consider when you have to deal with a coach. Each coach has a different temperament/philosophy in dealing with officials, each official has different charismatic ability, each game is different, and each situation is different. You need to think about all of these, to deal with coaches effectively on a consistent basis. Judgment is always of paramount importance, but game management, which comprises with dealing with coaches and players, comes best from experience. Can't fake it. Hopefully, this will help you navigate through those experiences a little easier.
1. First Q: What is the coach like? Don't tell a very aggressive coach, who is a Screamer or Mindfu&*er, as described earlier in the blog, to "calm down", "mellow out" or "relax". Remember Jeff Spiccoli and Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High? They are a race car on red, you have to compete with them or say the minimum and get away. On the flip side, if the coach is mellow, an he starts yipping, you might want to lend a sympathetic ear. They usually either have a point, or are nice mindless souls who just need to be heard once in a while. Don't wave red flags in front of raging bulls. And don't ignore a squeaky wheel that is usually quiet. Common sense rules. Use it.
2. Second Q: How charismatic are you? Are you the life of the party who can make players and coaches laugh via personality and credibility? Are you the Nazi who can quote the rulebook by number and who has no problems playing "T" ball? Are you generally laid back and not a conflict fan? Knowing what your role is, much like when you were a player, is very important. Nothing more painful that a bad communicator trying to explain something to an angry coach, or when the R who doesn't get along with Coach Y feels the need to deal with everything. Learn to use what you bring to the table, and use your partners when you need to. There are officials I work with now that get chewed up by certain coaches, for whatever reason. There's no shame in that, just know who brings what the party, and let them serve it. Just like when we played--some guys shot 3's, and some guys set picks. Know your role and when you are needed--and when to give it up to your partner.
3. Third Q: How important is the game? Is it a non-conference game? Tournament? Does one team have something to prove? Some games are revved up more than others, and the coaches will rev up accordingly. Some coaches rev up every game before the tip. I watched Dick Cartmell T up Mark Few last year with 5 minutes left and Gonzaga up by 35 against an overmatched opponent. "What did I do?" whined Few. "Doesn't matter, we're moving on," said Cartmell, barely looking at him and walking away. I doubt that happens in a NCAA Tournament game that exact same way.
4. Fourth Q: Does the coach have a legitimate gripe? I love that term. Every time I have used it to acknowledge a bad call that I or a teammate has made, it has worked like a charm. I hope I did not jinx myself, but since it is genuine and the truth, it shouldn't. Something looks bad? It may have been. "Coach, I am frustrated, too. You have a legitimate gripe there, but it's not correctable, but we heard you." Big difference between a coach having a real point, or possibly a real point, and a coach trying to make a problem where is not one. Just like we need to avoid that, if a coach goes there, you put up the stop sign and get on with it. Hopefully, you can steer him clear of those.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Not Sure On Intentional (Hard) Foul? Ask For Help!
Had a fast break play tonight where a defender crushed an offensive player gong in for a fast break layin. He went for the ball, but also came across with a full body block. Hard foul, offensive player crashed to the ground hard, groaned, writhed in pain, and stayed down for a little bit.
I know the defender fouled him hard, but he also made some play up top for the ball. I almost put the cross up for Intentional, and I would have called it as a "Hard Foul". I hesitated as I tried to compute the situation quickly enough. Partner 1 cruised in to to in close proximity to the crash site. "Upgrade? What do you think?" He looked at me and said, "I don't think so." Other partner: "No." So I stayed with a common foul. With 2.5 votes out of 3, probably the right call.
If you have a borderline intentional or flagrant, it never hurts you to get a second opinion. You can always upgrade the foul: "Coach, we both thought it was 'excessively hard contact' so we upgraded the foul!" "Coach, he swung at him, and we both saw it. That's flagrant and he's out." It is a lot harder to downgrade.
Last year, we upgraded a foul where the kid got flipped and cut his head wide open on a fast break. I do not think it was intentional or malicious, but by upgrading the foul as a crew we prevented any retaliation or escalation that the bloody scene could have ignited. It was the right thing to do. "Hard foul, 2 and the ball."
Unless you are certain on an intentional or flagrant, quick crew decisions may be a great tool for you.
I know the defender fouled him hard, but he also made some play up top for the ball. I almost put the cross up for Intentional, and I would have called it as a "Hard Foul". I hesitated as I tried to compute the situation quickly enough. Partner 1 cruised in to to in close proximity to the crash site. "Upgrade? What do you think?" He looked at me and said, "I don't think so." Other partner: "No." So I stayed with a common foul. With 2.5 votes out of 3, probably the right call.
If you have a borderline intentional or flagrant, it never hurts you to get a second opinion. You can always upgrade the foul: "Coach, we both thought it was 'excessively hard contact' so we upgraded the foul!" "Coach, he swung at him, and we both saw it. That's flagrant and he's out." It is a lot harder to downgrade.
Last year, we upgraded a foul where the kid got flipped and cut his head wide open on a fast break. I do not think it was intentional or malicious, but by upgrading the foul as a crew we prevented any retaliation or escalation that the bloody scene could have ignited. It was the right thing to do. "Hard foul, 2 and the ball."
Unless you are certain on an intentional or flagrant, quick crew decisions may be a great tool for you.
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