So Sandman, how should I handle this situation. It has happened to me three times in the last five years and each time was in a close game. My team was taking the ball out under our own basketball. The ref gives the ball to my in-bounder and starts to count. When the ref counted to 4, he blew his whistle and said "Three Seconds in the lane on White." That particular call is against the rules because hte ball was never in bounded. How do I say "That is not a rule," in a way that is respectful but quick enough so that it is still a correctable error. If the ref refuses to acknowledge it and tells me to sit down, how do I react? What if its a tie game in the last minute?

 

JV Ref. 8th region.

 

Since you asked me directly, I will attempt an answer. But, understand you've given me a tough situation to deal with as the official(s) clearly don't know the rule. In the heat of moment you may want to go ballistic, but that's only going to get you T'd, per may first post. Thus you lose the game for your team, even though you were correct on the rule.

 

In this particular case, I'd likely really try to talk to the other ref, hoping he knew the rule and was also willing to intervene. If he's a good ref, he would. If not, I'd sit down and coach my team to get a stop.

 

After the game, I'd speak with my AD and ask him to call the supervisor of officials and explain clearly what transpired. Part of the AD's job, and he and the official's supervisor should be on good communication terms. This should be the end of the problem.

 

You mentioned this has happened three times in five years, correct? This seems hard to fathom at any level of high school basketball.

Edited October 10, 201411 yr by Sandman

So that means they should get guys that don't know the rules?

 

Tell that to the kid that will never play above JV in his life.

 

JV games for officials are used in the same manner they are for players in my opinion. It's a way to get better so you can work your way up.

JV games for officials are used in the same manner they are for players in my opinion. It's a way to get better so you can work your way up.

 

I agree with that. There has to be some baseline before they throw an official out there and part of it needs to be a basic understanding and knowledge of the rules past out of bounds.

I agree with that. There has to be some baseline before they throw an official out there and part of it needs to be a basic understanding and knowledge of the rules past out of bounds.

 

I agree totally. Each association needs to have some type of performance test/showcase that all officials should have to attend before they step onto the floor for any level of basketball. I know when I worked in the BBA, we had weekly training sessions and the more training sessions you went to, the better you got and the better your schedule ended up being when they came out.

I usually don't reply to things like this in any shape, form or fashion. But as an official in wrestling for 6 years now (including 2 middle school state championships and 2 KHSAA regional tournaments) and football for 2 years now, as well as an NAIA Wrestling official I think my view point may help some of you understand what an official thinks.

 

Firstly I can only speak for myself. With that said, I don't mind a coach asking me what I saw, provided he isn't throwing a "Bobby Knight" tantrum doing it. As some have said, be respectful. Don't question my/an official's judgement. In wrestling, it is AUTOMATICALLY a misconduct penalty and in football I try to remind the coach it's discouraged and in some cases unsportsmanlike. Officials are human. period. We are going to make mistakes. I had a coach one year come up to me at the Middle School State tournament when I wasn't an "on the mat" official and ask me why I wasn't on the mat because as he said "You may not be the perfect official but I can live with you since you are not only able to understand the sport but you admit when you make a mistake, which to me isn't that often from what I see." Basically: BE RESPECTFUL AND MAKE SURE YOU AREN'T THROWING A FIT.

 

Secondly, pick and choose your battles. A coach who questions EVERY SINGLE CLOSE CALL gets on an official's last nerve. I can name multiple coaches who if they ever questioned me I would be willing to listen because the only time they do question me as an official is when they either didn't see the call in question, had a different view, or honestly I blew it. Vice-Versa, I can name multiple coaches who I have a hard time listening to because they question every single close call. They may be right but honestly, I have a hard time listening because they're questioning me every other call. Even i they are respectful.

 

Finally, and to me personally this is a HUGE thing. A coach who has no control over their athletes isn't likely to get many close calls. There was an incident I remember not too long ago where a kid looked AT A TEAMMATE and told him something I'm not even going to spend time re-typing. I had to inform the coach exactly what was said and his response was "I don't condone that type of behavior, but I'm not their parents so I can't do anything about it." In high school if I had said ANYTHING disrespectful my coaches would have jerked me out of the game and suspended me for a few events. Coaches who have control over their athletes and make them represent their school AND their team with respect have a little more leeway honestly.

 

The key to working over an official: treat the official like YOU would want to be treated in the same situation. I know it sounds simple, but honestly it goes a LOOOOOOOONG way.

This may be true, but that's a two way street. Especially the non varsity guys. Can't tell you the # of times when I've seen JV or freshman guys simply not have sufficient knowledge of the game... Granted some of it might've been tough calls, but I've seen guys award bonus FT's after charges.... #cmonman

 

 

 

I agree I have seen some officials who just are not that good or are flat out disrespectful. will say things like "I don't tell you how to coach" will walk over and say "you got anything else you have to say" . never think they are wrong and just straight Argonaut. I have also seen coaches who complain about every call, and think no one makes a mistake.

So Sandman, how should I handle this situation. It has happened to me three times in the last five years and each time was in a close game. My team was taking the ball out under our own basketball. The ref gives the ball to my in-bounder and starts to count. When the ref counted to 4, he blew his whistle and said "Three Seconds in the lane on White." That particular call is against the rules because hte ball was never in bounded. How do I say "That is not a rule," in a way that is respectful but quick enough so that it is still a correctable error. If the ref refuses to acknowledge it and tells me to sit down, how do I react? What if its a tie game in the last minute?

 

This concerns me greatly and I'm not saying it isn't true, I just find it very hard to believe. In this situation, if I were a coach, I would go to the calling officials partner and ask if he could help his partner out. (Rarely does this work…) However, if I got no satisfaction, I would probably call a time out, have my assistant take my team and ask to speak to the official(s).

 

From an officials perspective, this is impossible…you can't administer, count and watch the lane, regardless of the fact that this is an abortion of any rule.

 

I would get with my AD and have them get with the assigner to address….immediately. A call like this is terrible at the grade school level, much less high school.

As a general rule of thumb, "working" an official is typically viewed as part of the game and it is incumbent upon the coach and the official to find a healthy balance of what that means for each game. Working is not whining though. If a coach and an official can find a mutually agreeable and respectful line to work a game, then usually it goes ok. If either of the two parties can't find that line…..probably going to be a tough night for both.

 

As for getting the seatbelt…everyone gets the sportsmanship expectations at the beginning of the game. If an official gives a coach "the hand", consider that a courtesy and adjust accordingly, if not, settle in….you are likely to have one of the best seats in the house for the remainder of the evening.