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NHSOA

More than a whistle...

3/31/2015

Comments

 
On the floor, the official should recognize that it is his chief function to keep the game running smoothly and to interpret and administer the official rules of the national body under whose auspices the game is being played. He should be immaculate in dress, always in command of himself and the game, and governed only by his best judgment based upon what he actually sees. During the game, his responsibilities are not those of player, coach, manager, scorer, time keeper, spectator or sportswriter; but he must always be aware of and sensitive to the maintenance of proper relationships with all of these groups of persons.

At the onset of the game, it is important to remember that the style of play, which he is to permit, will be determined by his officiating with the first few minutes of the game. As the game becomes fast, it is the officials business to keep it from becoming furious. As the atmosphere becomes more tense, the officials should keep a cool head. The score as such is none of the officials concern, regardless of what it may mean to a player, team, institution or community. In the long run, the official’s services will be in demand, depending upon the impartiality, promptness and clarity of his decisions. To players and spectators alike, the official must give the impression that he is in just as fine condition for his performance in the discharge of his duties as the players themselves.

Some officials are so “officious” that their very mannerisms antagonize both players and spectators. There is such a thing as poetry of motion. Some officials are like animated cartoons, and when they are in action no one wants to miss the “funnies” by taking their eyes off his antics, even to watch a fast basketball game. There is a difference between being on your toes and keeping ahead of the play, and running yourself dizzy to no good purpose. As gestures and signals should have meaning and be executed with grace and poise so as to convey to players, officials and spectators alike just what you want them to know. Remember, if you yourself are excited, not to betray it through over exaggerated movements. Your voice and its best use are also important. Speak clearly, but do not bawl or shout. You will soon discover how to use your voice to secure the best effect. The same applies to the use of the whistle. Too much whistle blowing ruins many a game otherwise good.

Know the rules, but do not give anyone the impression that you “know too much”. Never be sarcastic or want the last word. If a player is walking away after having his say-let him go. Never follow him or charge at a player, and above all, no pointing your finger and yelling at him. Hear only the things you should hear and see in your work! Remember that basketball is a highly competitive game and to destroy that thought would mean loss of interest. Allow that spontaneous “beef”, but don’t let it persist.

• Don’t worry. If you have a tough evening, review your work. One rough day doesn’t mean that you are a poor official. Review your work after every game and you will find that LOAFING is a principle cause of trouble.

• Never be cocky or have an antagonistic feeling toward the coach, player or the other official.

• Don’t be tense – as being too tight is often the cause of hasty and faulty decision. Act natural, as you are not the attraction.

• Have patience with coaches and players and keep your poise no matter how angry they appear to be. If you lose your temper also, then there is real trouble.

• No matter what your opinion may be of another official, either as a person or pertaining to his work, never make any adverse comment of any sort regarding him to anyone, either on or off the court. This is probably the most despicable breach of ethics among officials. Remember that none of us appear to others as we do to ourselves.

• You must have a good healthy body to house an alert, active mind. You owe this to yourself and to the game, so stay physically fit and HUSTLE.

• Be businesslike; show by your actions that you know what it is all about. Radiate confidence and efficiency, but don’t steal the show. Stay out of the limelight, always.

• Use uniform decisive actions in calling fouls, violations and infractions. This helps establish the faith of all concerned in your accuracy of judgment and eliminates any doubts as to your ability to do the job or the validity of your call.

• Train your voice and your whistle.

• ALWAYS HUSTLE. Be the first down the floor to the free throw line with a cheery “come on boys”. Keep both clubs on the move. Loafing is very contagious.

• To be a good official you must also be a good citizen. There are no successful dual characters in basketball.

• Dress the part, neat and clean, shoes shined.

• Give the game 100% of your attention; for just as you lapse or become interested in a particularly fine play or player that is when the roof will fall in. It never fails.

• Prepare. Learn something every day. Officiating will never be an open study. There will never be two games alike.

• There should always exist the friendliest feeling between officials working together. A feeling of confidence and trust is necessary to that you know that when you ask a question of any kind you are going to get a straightforward and truthful answer. To ask others to have faith in you, you must have faith in each other.

• If you partner asks your opinion of a play, don’t agree just to please him. It may mean trouble in the future. Tell him the way you saw it.

• Never discuss decisions with anyone but your partner and then, only in private.

• Try hard to be in a position to help if he requests it; don’t use the old alibi “I didn’t see it.”

• Never be jealous of any good break that your partner or any other official may get, your turn may be next. Don’t sulk and resent another person’s good fortune. Jealousy has ruined many good officials.

• Whenever possible, officials should travel to the game together, set together and leave the same way. Go directly to the dressing room and don’t stand around “fanning” with outsiders. Stay away from athletic offices and school officials. If they want you, they know where you are.

• Keep your dressing rooms free of visitors, for seldom is anything that is said in such places repeated as you may have said it.

• Go over any teamwork that may be doubtful in your mind, for a smooth working pair of officials has a very decided effect on coaches, players and the fans.

• Also, go over your individual interpretations and philosophies so that even though they may differ, you will both be intelligent enough to bend a little in order that the game is given a consistent administration. This is very important in the judgment game of basketball. Of course, if your thoughts are so very far apart, perhaps it would be better if you two did not work together, although you both may be very capable officials in your own right.

Be on top of every play and prevent the old cry of not hustling. If the offender looks up and sees you right there, there isn’t much left for him to complain about. A hustling official escapes many an argument that the nonchalant one gets. The hustler’s decisions are accepted because the players realize that he is doing his best and trying to get them right for them. Remember that basketball officiating is the same as any other endeavor – you get out of it what you put into it.

Basketball is a game of angles; for efficient work, never be in a straight line between two players, always at an angle so that you can see between the offensive and defensive players.

Don’t ruin your chances of becoming a good official by overrating your ability and expecting promotions before you are ready. To go up too soon can ruin you, while gradual promotion should make your position safe and sound. Be persevering, but above all, be patient.

Comments

Nothing but Net...

3/28/2015

Comments

 
Here in my own corner of the net I'll periodically post some articles, quotes, videos, etc. I've used to help make my officiating better each time I go into a contest.  In some cases, I may not be able to give credit to the rightful owner of each piece as I've gathered them without that information.

I'll give a little background about myself.  I met my wife in 1992 and that coincidentally was the same year I started officiating basketball in college.  She knew from Day One I was an official, knew it was a passion of mine, and knew it was something with which I tried to make myself better.  She supports me every year with my officiating avocation.

I have four school age children.  Allison is a 9th grader and loves the language arts.  She loves to write, act, sing, and read.  Hayden is a 6th grader and is great artist.  She plays softball and basketball when she's not busy fixing her hair and matching her outfits.  Cale is also a 6th grader and is active in sports.  He plays baseball, basketball, and football.  He likes spending time with his friends and trying to see how close to the curfew he can get home without picking up some extra chores.  Dani is our 2nd grader.  She likes playing softball and basketball all while trying to keep mommy and daddy wrapped around her finger.  She likes riding to school with dad to get a breakfast doughnut in the morning.

As I stated earlier, I started officiating basketball in 1992 when I was in college.  I worked in the intramural leagues and did some junior varsity and junior high games while I attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney.  My first varsity game was in Trenton in 1994.  My brother and I had finished the junior varsity games and the AD came in the locker room told us the varsity refs couldn't make it due to the weather. 

I started taking varsity games after that night and worked mainly varsity games until after the 2001 season.  I took a hiatus until the start of the 2007-08 season to help at home with our twins.  After coming back, I tried to make myself the best official I could by working tournaments in the summer, attending camps and clinics, and doing my best to stay in shape.  At the end of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons I was given the opportunity to officiate the girls state tournament.  These were great experiences and I was able to work with some great officials. 
Comments

Avoiding Problems on the Floor

3/28/2015

Comments

 
Thousands of assessments have been written contrasting the successful basketball official with his or her less effective counterpart. Topics like rules knowledge, consistent mechanics, the appreciation of a rule’s intent and similar extremely important criteria have been batted around like a tennis ball at Wimbledon. Often, though, rules and mechanics aren’t the problem. The official being assessed has scored 100 on the last five exams, is an expert on mechanics, has no problem with confidence and yet has a habit of getting into more trouble than Superman at a kryptonite exhibit.

The difficulty here is that our heroine has failed to recognize the double rule of officiating: don’t interrupt unless really needed, and once you have interrupted; return to play as soon as you possibly can. The reality is that when the ball is alive, attention is focused on the players. As long as fair play is going on, there’s no need to interrupt, but when a rule is broken, the official must do what has to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible, and then get on with the play. The effect is to avoid making some officials the focus of attention any more than is absolutely necessary. To fail to do so is to make a difficult job even more difficult by creating one or more irritants that could cause player, coach or fan reaction. The secret to enjoying the roses is to avoid the thorns.

DEAD BALL THORNS


Don’t say any more than is necessary. Too much verbalizing invites reaction and takes the shine off an otherwise excellent decision. During free throws, “one shot, ball in play off the ring” is a bit of an overkill. Even more inadvisable is the staging of elaborate rules clinics during dead ball periods. If a player poses a fair question, keep the answer as simple and professional as possible. Once such an answer has been given, additional clarification is neither wise nor necessary. Move crisply during the dead ball. This isn’t the time for a slow strut or a casual stroll. Slow movement prolongs the dead ball and often suggests an officiousness; apathy or disgust, which invites abuse, like treading water in the piranha tank.


Avoid the suggestion of officiousness in mannerisms. Don’t hold the foul signal longer than necessary or challenge a player with prolonged eye contact. Avoid projecting a “make my day” attitude. During time-outs, stay still! “Find a line and toe up to it” is a good rule of thumb. Proper mechanics covers this, but keep away from casual conversation with table officials and fans. Sometimes it might be necessary to confer with your partner; a time-out taken in the closing seconds of a close game is an excellent example. Normally, however, keep your distance during a time-out. Too much conversation could be read as “second-thinking” a judgment or general discomfort and/or lack of confidence by one official or another. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t interrupt the coach during a time-out. Notification of a fifth foul is a good example of “absolutely necessary”.

Be clear in your communication with the scorer and/or timer. Remember that you’re on a “party line”, and what you say to table officials you’re also saying to everyone else. Be certain that everyone knows what was called and what’s going to happen next. Remember, too, that approaching a scorer’s table can be a lot like clerking the bargain counter at Sears. Keep your priorities in order: foul – basket – substitution – time-outs (FBST). Don’t bring in subs until fouls have been charged and points credited; don’t grant a time-out before subs have been acknowledged. Be firm but professional.

When the game is over, don’t wait around for applause. Go home where you’re really wanted. Leave the teams to themselves. Let wounds heal and emotions level out. Criticism of your performance has a habit of becoming less traumatic with a minimal passage of time.

LIVE BALL THORNS

Unless there’s an extreme noise level, one sharp whistle blast is almost always enough. Parakeet imitations should be saved for the weekend sing-a-long.


When calling a foul or violation, don’t overstate your case. “Five white, holding” is just great, but “No! Five white, you got him” is grandstanding. Too much verbalizing is as inadvisable during a live ball as during play stoppage. Get the out-of-bounds call correct. You can sometimes get away with a questionable foul decision, but the gym rains shrapnel when an out-of-bounds goes the wrong way. Be sure all lines are covered; trust your partner to cover his or her lines; above all, see the whole play, not just the exit of the ball. If you’re uncertain, look immediately for help. If you can’t get help, bite the bullet, wipe the egg from your face, and get on with the jump ball and alternating throw-in. Crisp and efficient movement is important during a live ball too. You have to move to maintain the best perspective on play action. Lethargic movement projects apathy. Avoid traffic, however, don’t get in the way. Always anticipate a possible turnover. Be prepared to “go the other way”, avoid interfering with the movement of players and/or the ball. Never use “non-signals”. These are signals which are not authorized among the approved officials at the end of the official rule book. “Clipping”, “head shaking”, “safe” signs, etc. are totally unacceptable. They amount to no more than weak attempts to justify a “no call”.

Finally, take care that you’re properly equipped, particularly with a good whistle. Few things are more embarrassing than making a great call with a whistle that sounds like air leaving a balloon. Always have an extra whistle and lanyard in your pocket in case of an emergency. The job is tough enough without you adding to it. Keep your cool; do your job, and always remember that the best officials avoid as many problems as they solve.
Comments

    Scott Johnson

    Information Systems Director
    McCook Pubic Schools
    Basketball Official since 1992
    Football Official since 2012
    Volleyball Official since 2014

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