Category: Basketball

Eight Ways to Ruin Your Reputation

4/16/2015

by Tom Schreck, from the New York State Athletic Commission.

As an official all you have is your reputation. Screw it up and say goodbye to assignments and your career. Here are eight sure-fire ways to ruin what you worked so hard for.

1. Be high maintenance. The men and women who assign you to games and evaluate your performance have jobs to do, deadlines to meet and their own series of constituents to answer to. Do you realize that every time you make their lives harder and their days more frustrating, they're remembering the source of their anguish? Supervisors and assigners are looking for people who are low maintenance. Everyone wants someone they can trust, someone who will be on time and someone who will get the job done. Making your supervisors' lives easier fortifies your reputation while doing things that they find annoying works against it. Get your reports in on time, be punctual, return phone calls and do what needs to be done even when you find it a pain in the neck.

2. Talk too much. Do your best to keep your opinions to yourself, especially when you're out in public. Criticizing someone else's work is tacky and it reveals more about you than it does the subject of your conversation. Officials, athletic directors and coaches all travel in the same tight circles so when you let a "Between me and you ... " go, know that it is the furthest thing from being just among friends. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything -especially about another official.

3. Create problems off-the-court. Remember you've chosen to be an official, so don't pretend you're not in a visible profession. Yes, your free time is your own but don't be so naive as to believe that what you do away from your assignments won't impact your reputation. Like it or not officials have great visibility. People know who you are and when you're out and about how you act will get back to the coaches, ADs and supervisors." Those photos on Facebook and the tweets you make will affect how people see you.

4. Fraternize. Officials are human and like interaction. It is natural to want to talk with folks that you see on a semi-regular basis but remember your responsibility is to oversee a contest in an unbiased fashion. When officials enter a gym, they should survey the area, note where the coaches are sitting and find another spot. Be careful not to give the appearance of fraternizing. High fives and fist bumps with coaches and ADs get noticed and as innocent as they can be, they get interpreted.

5. Look terrible. Certainly by now officials know to keep your uniform in such a way as to communicate your professionalism. It extends off the court too. Showing up to your assignment with your ripped concert T shirt and flip flops may make you feel hip, but don't expect folks not to gossip about your sartorial statement. When officials walk into a venue, they must look professional and once you put on the uniform you are in charge so it is important to send the right message. Everything an official does communicates something. Make sure it's communicating professionalism.

6. Don't treat people right. Whether it's a team manager showing you to the broom closest that will double as your dressing room, the waitress at the restaurant where you're getting your pregame meal or the new official working his or her first assignment, no one appreciates mistreatment. Using "Please," "Thank you" and "Excuse me" goes a long way and their absence goes even further in people's memories. If you're a jerk to people onsite, that'll get back to people. Changing in a bathroom is not the ideal environment, but that doesn't mean it's OK to be rude to people. Being rude will get you remembered for all the wrong reasons.

7. Be all about the money. All officials have to write checks for clinics and association dues every year and they all know the realities of today's economy. Officials are all in the same boat and very few are getting rich officiating. Cherry picking assignments or complaining about paying dues is classless and it will cost you more than the amount you write on your check.

8. Be arrogant and unapproachable. The matches aren't about officials; they're about the players, coaches and institutions involved. Emotions run hot and high and sometimes people need to vent about what's going on. Let them, to a point. Coaches want officials who are approachable and coach friendly. More and more communication has become crucial and being standoffish is unacceptable.

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What it takes to be an Official

4/16/2015

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Many things go into the making of a good official. Knowledge of the rules and officiating techniques are very important. However, there are other details that may determine whether a man or woman becomes a good official or just someone registered to officiate.

The life of an official is not an easy one. Perhaps the first year or two are the toughest, but like the formative period in any one's life, these first years are all-important. The most important requirement is that you must gain experience. That means you have to work all the games you can find. Be ready and willing to work YMCA games, church and industrial league games and scrimmages. Somehow you have to get the feel of it, and the only way to do that is to officiate. The key is to be patient, and when you get your first interscholastic game, make sure you are prepared to properly handle the assignment.

Here are steps that have been designed to help an official.

• THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR STUDY. Textbooks are made available through your state association, such as rule books, case books, and officials manuals which contain many items of importance to officials. Game rules are generally complex and you don’t learn them without extensive study. Many experienced officials still average several hours each week of solid study of the rules publications. There is no sadder spectacle than an official who doesn’t know the rules. You learn the rules by means of thorough intensive study.

• ATTEND ALL RULES INTERPRETATION MEETINGS WITHIN YOUR REACH. They are arranged for the purpose of reviewing old rules, explaining new ones, and giving positive interpretations on the more tricky ones. It is also a good place to get acquainted with fellow officials, coaches and athletic directors.

• JOIN A LOCAL OFFICIALS GROUP. There may be one in your area or not too far away. Many of these local groups meet regularly for rules discussion and for discussing common problems. The state-sponsored meetings are important, but local groups must take over in a follow-up program of rules study and interpretations.

• SEE ALL THE GAMES YOU CAN, especially games worked by the most capable officials. It is one of the best ways to learn about the technique and mechanics of officiating.

• ALWAYS STRIVE TO IMPROVE. The game of officiating has no place for an official who doesn’t want to improve him self/herself. Here, you either get someplace or drop out; you can’t stand still. Give attention to such factors as rules examination grades, ratings received from schools and assistance from rules meetings.

• IF AVAILABLE, GET GAME FILE OF YOUR GAMES. Being able to review the games you've worked will greatly improve your mechanics, judgement, and overall persona of how your present yourself on the court. Were you in the correct position when a call was made? What could you have done differently? Do your calls show everyone you're confident in your decision? Little things that you may be unaware you are doing can be viewed and rectified in reviewing games you've worked.

Several other things go into the making of a good official.

When you start out for a game, plan to be there early. It is better for you to help the janitor open the front door than it is to rush in breathless at the opening whistle. The time preceding the game can be used to confer with fellow officials. Go over some pertinent phases of the rules. Talk over the general plan of administering penalties, positioning at key situations, and pre- and post-contest procedures. A good pregame conference is very necessary and a must.

During the contest, be in position. In your attitude toward players and coaches, be kind and polite but firm. It is a big order, and few ever fill it completely. But this is what it takes! Be firm but not overbearing. Be courteous and never rude. Be dignified but never cocky. Be friendly to players but avoid “kidding” on the floor or field.

With the contest at an end, your duties are over. It isn't your job to congratulate the winner, console the defeated, or offer advice to losers. It is businesslike for officials to leave the floor or field together, neither seeking out nor deliberately avoiding coaches. Make no statements and offer no comments concerning the contest to members of the press or radio. Shower, dress, collect your gear, and head for home; not because you are afraid or ashamed to talk to anyone, but the contest is over and your job has been completed. There is no need to hang around.

(Adapted with permission from the Missouri State High School Activities Association)

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Basic Floor Mechanics

4/12/2015

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The mechanics structure is predicated on an official “Refereeing the Defender” in all one on one situations when refereeing on the ball. The priority is to focus the primary attention on the legality of the DEFENSIVE player. An official must be prepared to reward a legal defensive play. It is important that an official see the offensive player in their field of vision, with the focus being on the defender.

Knowledge of the entire mechanics system and why it works, gives an official the ability and confidence to make correct decisions. The emphasis is on making QUALITY calls that are obvious in an official’s primary area.

ON-BALL AND OFF-BALL COVERAGE

The “position of the ball” dictates whether an official referees on-ball or off-ball.

An official must always attempt to be in a position where he can see ALL players who are not directly involved with the play on-the-ball. An official must know the position of the ball and the location of his partners at ALL times, without having to look directly at either of them. This is absolutely essential when it is necessary for an official to adjust his positioning on the floor and changing his primary area of responsibility from on-ball to off-ball coverage.

An official will referee on-ball when the ball is in his primary area of responsibility. The referee with on-ball coverage must dictate his angle by positioning himself in a position to “Referee the Defender”.

ROTATION

Rotation is dictated by the movement of the official in the “LEAD” position. The LOCATION of the “BALL” dictates the rotation of the “LEAD” official. FIND A REASON TO ROTATE, NOT AN EXCUSE NOT TO ROTATE!”

When the ball is in the front court and moves toward or outside the area of the free throw lane line nearest the CENTER official, the official in the LEAD position must move across the lane to maintain a position in line with the ball (in line with the ball = ‘mirroring the basketball). While rotating across the lane the LEAD will referee the first competitive match up that the CENTER official cannot referee.

During rotation initiated by the LEAD official, the CENTER official must maintain a position to “Referee the Defender” on-ball. This position is normally best maintained by “stepping down” (aka “diving down”). Once the LEAD official has completed his rotation and there is no pressure on the ball or the ball has moved in the LEAD official’s primary area of responsibility the CENTER official will rotate to the TRAIL position. It is important that the CENTER maintain an open angle on the play, so rotation by the CENTER is not necessary until play dictates that he do so.

During rotation initiated by the LEAD official, the TRAIL official must immediately change his coverage to off-ball and referee the first competitive match up that the LEAD official cannot referee while in rotation. At this time the TRAIL official will be moving toward the free throw line extended and assume the CENTER position.

This to remember about Rotation:

If the ball swings back to the middle of the floor and the LEAD has not crossed the middle of the basket, the LEAD will back out and assume his previous LEAD position.

It is possible to temporarily have TWO officials at the free throw line extended. This could be GOOD floor coverage!

If a drive starts to the basket as the LEAD is in rotation, both the CENTER and LEAD official will referee on-ball.

If there is a steal by the defense while in rotation the outside officials must make eye contact to determine which official is going to the LEAD position. The new TRAIL official must be aware and balance the floor.

LEAD POSITION

The official in the LEAD position must constantly move to maintain a position in line with the ball (aka “mirroring the basketball”).

When the ball is in the center of the floor whether in a half court game or in transition the LEAD official should position himself at his near lane line. This allows the LEAD official to properly start his ROTATION if the ball crosses his far lane line and a shot or drive is not imminent. This position will also reduce the number of times the LEAD will have to run across the lane while rotating and will allow the official to walk “WITH A PURPOSE”.

If the ball is outside his near lane line, the LEAD official must step wide to maintain a position in line with the ball. As the play develops and enters his primary area of coverage, the LEAD must move to attain a position to allow himself to dictate his angle to referee the defender(s).

Primary rebounding coverage for the LEAD official will be the players on his side of the basket.

The LEAD official must be careful not to call fouls across the lane outside of his primary area of responsibility.

CENTER POSITION

The starting CENTER position must be in the area of the FREE THROW LINE EXTENDED. This allows an official to have an inside/out look at most plays from this position, clear view of all ten players on the floor and a clear view of plays s they develop.

CENTER’s primary responsibility will be off-ball until the ball enters is primary area of responsibility and the LEAD official has not had an opportunity to ROTATE.

As the ball enters our primary area of responsibility do not be in a hurry to move to the TRAIL position. Wait until the LEAD official has completed his ROTATION and assumes the LEAD position on our side of the floor. Many times as the ball or pass enters your primary above the free throw line extended stepping down (aka “diving down”) will allow you the best opportunity to continue to referee the defender As the ball gets passed to the corner, back to the middle of the floor, or as a drive starts to the basket adjust your position accordingly.

From the CENTER position, if there is a trap near mid-court, adjust your position to best referee the play. In most situations like this, the LEAD official will rotate across the floor and you will assume the TRAIL position.

Primary rebounding coverage for the CENTER official will be the players on his side of the basket.

TRAIL POSITION

Normal TRAIL position should be slightly behind and to the outside of all ten players on the floor.

If the ball is in your primary, establish a position to clearly see the actions of the defender. From the TRAIL position your movement to maintain a position to Referee the Defender is critical. Make every attempt to not get “STACKED” behind the offensive player, especially when the offensive player is taking a shot near the 3 point arc.

As an offensive player starts a drive toward the basket, the TRAIL official must stay “connected to the play” and help the LEAD official with secondary and multiple defenders converging on the offensive player.

Rebounding coverage for the TRAIL official will be the players directly in front of the basket and on the weak side of the floor, as many times the TRAIL official has the best look at illegal actions by rebounders on the weak side.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

There is no “MAGIC SPOT” on the floor, only a beginning point. Adjust your position to see the defender in your primary area and to see as many players as possible when your primary area of responsibility is off-ball.

Do “NOT” count calls. Be honest with yourself and only concern yourself with calls you “SHOULD” or “SHOULD NOT” have made.

Trust your partners – if you do not have a good angle to make a decision on a play (primary or not), DO NOT GUESS! Many times in these situations one of your partners will have a better “open look” to make a correct call.

When things aren’t going well, return to the BASICS:

Referee the defender

Trust your partners

Stay in your primary

CALL THE OBVIOUS

Look for reasons to rotate

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Avoiding Problems on the Floor

3/28/2015

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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.

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Eight Ways to Ruin Your Reputation

What it takes to be an Official

Basic Floor Mechanics

Avoiding Problems on the Floor

Scott Johnson

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