Category: Basketball

Lazy Days of Summer

6/7/2015

Time for off season basketball. That means wearing shorts, working summer ball, and dealing with adult leagues where some of the games are downright brutal. It's also a time for complacency. Everyone complains about it. Adult players are a pain to deal with, kids don't really care about playing, table people stink, the pay is bad...the list goes on and on.

One of the biggest gripes is how it can hurt your officiating because people don't use good mechanics. I find that pretty funny. During rec leagues or summer games, there are plenty of people who Cadillac it. They loaf down the court, don't blow the whistle much, and just don't put in their best effort. They're no different than players who dog it at practice to "save it for the game".

Every time you step on a court, you need to perform. Earn your money. Earn the respect of the players and coaches.

Here are some thoughts to consider about working the long off season:

1. You can always use great mechanics. If you think your mechanics need work, by all means work on them. If nobody else is doing them, who cares? For myself, I believe I have pretty good mechanics, and to be honest, there are times when I don't exhibit full-bore reporting/rotating mechanics in mundane off season games, but I never let it bleed anywhere else in my game. You still have to communicate with everyone.

2. You need to hustle. If you cannot physically hustle, or just cannot get up emotionally to give your best physical effort, don't do the games. There is never an excuse for not hustling and earning your check. Lots of guys get lazy during the summer. Eventually, almost all of them get lazy during the regular season. Don't do it.

3. This should be #1. Work on your judgment. You can watch kids playing pickup and work on your judgment. The more reps you get, the more situations you see, the better prepared you'll be to make judgment calls. Work on never guessing. Work on passing when there is no advantage/disadvantage. If you blow the whistle a lot, work on letting more go. If you let them play, trying blowing it more. By the way, if you are not hustling and being lazy, you're not helping your judgment.

4. Try some new stuff. Take different approaches with players, especially adults. Try different lines on coaches. Try a different persona. I have found a lot of things that don't work for me during off season games, but I have learned a lot about how to deal with emotional players during adult leagues. Trying to work in other techniques and styles that you admire in others and seeing if they work in your game is a great way to continue to improve. Offseason games allow you to do that in a less formal setting, especially when integration may be a little awkward and feel funny.

5. Don't worry about your partners. If they are not taking it seriously, and are going through the motions, just focus on yourself.

There should be little difference between regular season games and off season games. Every game is important to the players, coaches, and parents. They all pay money to play, and pay you to officiate for them. Don't be the guy that tries to do everything the right way from November to March, and then becomes the lazy object of scorn that never crosses half-court, wants to avoid the bonus at all costs because it's just a summer game, and let players deck each other without penalty because they're dreaming about spending that $15 a game at Wal-Mart on the fishing pole they've been saving for.

And don't ever use anything as an excuse to not try and get better every time you put the shirt on. Someone is always watching.

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Before and After the Game

5/6/2015

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Officials can wind up in trouble in any number of places during a game. Many problems happen during the course of play, but others can be prevented by applying common sense and principles of preventive officiating. The following preventive techniques might anticipate possible infractions and head them off before you have to take official action.

The first is something to be taken care of before you leave home: your uniform. Look like a referee when you arrive at the game site and you are more likely to be treated like one during the game. This means a clean and neat (not faded) uniform, a current association patch, and shoes shined. Carry a shoe brush in your bag to touch up the shine before the game or at halftime. First impressions are important; make sure yours is a good one.

The second area is your arrival at the game site. Do you screech into the parking lot, run into the gym and start the game? Or, do you arrive 20-30 minutes ahead if time, inspect the equipment, playing surface and players, brief your partner(s) and generally allow yourself to take your time and do things right? If you are hurried and hassled before the game, you cannot be in the proper frame of mind to do a good job officiating.

Another area is your visit to the coaches to introduce yourself. Keep it short and sweet without a lot of joking and camaraderie, regardless of how well you know the coach.

Remember, the other team is watching for evidence of prejudice - they are more than ready to convict you on the slightest pretext. If you approach everyone at the game site from a professional point of view, you can avoid a lot of grief.

With the captains together the meeting, some referees deliver a lecture on rules or what they will and will not allow. You are wasting your breath. Players are concentrating on getting psyched up for the game and may even resent the intrusion. At worst, you can paint yourself into a corner by prescribing certain penalties for particular offenses. In a given situation, you may not want to apply that penalty. If you pronounce your intentions ahead of time, someone will undoubtedly remind you of your earlier statement and ask why you changed your mind. Prevent the problem by giving the lecture to yourself while you are getting ready for the game and leave the players alone.

Try to do your equipment inspection while walking through the players during their warmup. Officials can keep a low profile rather than inject themselves into the game. If you had problems with a particular player in the past, ignore it. You’ll only open yourself to charges of bias if you refer to the problem in pregame meetings.

Once the game is over, leave. Don't hang around and lecture a player or talk to a coach. If you want to watch the game following yours, don’t go into the stands in uniform. Change your clothes and don't criticize the officials. Remember the golden rule as well as the code of ethics.

Those are a few topics for thought. The ideas are not infallible, but applied on a regular basis they should take some of the hassle out of your games. Remember the game is for the players, not for you. Officials have tremendous power that, used inappropriately, can destroy the game. lf you can remain in the background and prevent problems rather than react to happenings on the field, you will have not only done your job but done that job splendidly.

You will make mistakes. You must learn from your mistakes so you can prevent that particular problem in future games.

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Game Management

4/21/2015

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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 principal 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 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.

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Dealing with Conflict

4/20/2015

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by Monty McCutchen NBA referee

"I think first and foremost you must be consistent with your personality. Whether that means firmness through the use of technical fouls or that means a quick wit to dispel certain situations…whoever you are must consistently be brought out. My background has always been to meet strength with strength. That’s a fine balance, because that doesn’t mean that you go around meeting every situation with strength.

If players or coaches are coming to you in a way that is respectful and we’re all talking as men; for you to meet that with this hard core strength is not fair to the participants; because they’re already coming to you from a point of respect. If you abuse that sense of power that a referee has, no one ultimately will trust that abuse of power. That being said, if you’re met with strength, you must meet it with strength in my opinion. That doesn’t mean a technical foul always; a quick wit is a very firm point of strength. If you can recognize where your verbiage and your dialogue can get you out of a situation…that is a point of strength. Asking for something, regardless of how you do it is not a point of strength. You’ve been entrusted to run the game as a referee. Run the game with your personality.

I think it’s important that we don’t try to be other people. Dick Bavetta is one of the funniest human beings alive. As a result, he was able to use his humor to dispel and quiet volatile situations very quickly. I may be funny, but I’m not quick witted. I’d like to think that I have a great sense of humor in certain situations; that being said, as a younger, sort of fit guy, trying to be funny can come off as cocky and arrogant. You have to be very careful about that; so one of the things about on court conflict is that you have trust a long process. By that I mean, people want to be well liked in this profession, but being well liked, doesn’t mean being well respected. If you handle on court conflict with a consistency, you will end up being respected for it. However, it takes longer that way; because when you handle a coach in one way, in may be two years before that coach gets to see you handle another coach or another player exactly the same way.

So, your payoff may be two years down the line; but that delayed gratification if you’re consistent over a long period of time is a longer standing respect in my opinion from the participants that you’re entrusted to work with. And that over the course of six, seven, eight, ten years you can know that John Calipari at Kentucky is going to respect you because he saw you handle him one way in year two; but then he saw you handle Roy Williams the same way three years later down in North Carolina. The trust factor of handling on court conflict is a long process. You have to trust the process to do it well in my opinion."

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Lazy Days of Summer

Before and After the Game

Game Management

Dealing with Conflict

Scott Johnson

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