A Conversation With Coaches and Captains

Before each game begins, officials will meet with captains for each team. The meeting with captains will generally take place between 4-8 minutes prior to the game beginning. At this time officials will explain if there are any issues with the court or location and offer insight regarding the officials' expectations of captains as leaders of their teams. After I make my expectations known I will close with, "Do you have any questions for me?" This season I have only heard one question from a captain. Otherwise, the most common answer is simply, "No."

With roughly two minutes remaining before game time I will approach the coaches for each team and offer my expectations of each coach. Generally I will say, "Coach, please let me know if you want a full or thirty second timeout when you make the request. And, please control the bench so we can remain focused on calling the game." Then, I follow with, "Do you have any questions of us?" Again, the most common answer is, "No."

Before the game, each coach and captain is given the opportunity to address any behaviors or concerns, and more often than not, neither coaches or captains take advantage of my undivided attention. This is significant since this may be the only time of the game where the attention is undivided. Once the game begins, everyone will have a job to perform, so questions and responses will need to be direct and quick. The time for general conversation is over.

In working with officials (or at least this official) I offer coaches and captains the following advice:

1. Learn and use the officials' names. At each meeting I will introduce myself as Adam to both the captains and the coaches. Speaking with me by name rather than "Ref" lets me know the question or comment is coming from someone who is involved in the game, and has met me for a reason. It's a gesture that demonstrates a desire to work together. For instance, with coworkers we tend to address each other by name rather than title, and the game doesn't have to be any different. A name means we want to work together, and it's a courtesy I like to extend to coaches and captains as well.
2. Use the meetings before the game. Pregame meetings are great for asking an official about philosophy regarding calling a game. For example, ask for clarification about common complaints such as three-seconds, hand checking, etc. Personally, I like to try and communicate with players to "get out of the key" or "get the hands off" before I start blowing my whistle. As a coach or player, if you hear me say "get out" or "hands off," then it's a cue to tell players to "move" or "play with your feet." Knowing how an officials calls a game could help a coach understand the best to play a team based on a crew's philosophy.
   
   The pregame meeting is also a good time to ask when is the best time to bring something to the officials' attention, and ask how much time can be expected per conversation. This can provide coaches and captains an opportunity to reflect on how to frame a question or conversation to maximize the feedback that can be offered by an official. One official may prefer timeouts as a time to address a question. Another may prefer to speak during free throws. Knowing you have an official's attention should help in receiving the desired information.
3. Not even the best officials get 100% of the calls right. I have heard and read that the best NBA officials will have a call accuracy of 90 percent. That means one out of ten calls will be incorrect. That also means that a 90 percent call accuracy is coming from someone depends on accuracy for their livelihood.
   
   Keeping that in mind, if an official is an accountant by day, and an official by night, if he blows his whistle 50 times a game for fouls and violations, then missing five of the calls would be fantastic. I would go on to say that a high school basketball official that makes 80 percent of the right calls is a good official. An official may miss a slap on the wrist, but will get the travel, hold, push, and block.

Overall, I enjoyed the game of basketball as a player, and I appreciate the level of commitment made my coaches and players to go out and play a game. As an official, I now appreciate the amount of time needed to study rules, watch film, and attend meetings in order to improve play calling ability. The goal of a good official is to enforce the rules so no team gains an unfair advantage, and maintain proper levels of courtesy throughout the game. Hopefully the advice here helps coaches and captains understand how to better use the officials for that purpose.

Even the Rules of the Game Have Fundamentals

The NFHS high school rule book provides 20 basketball rules fundamentals. I've decided to highlight a few rules fundamentals that should help in understanding why some calls do, and do not occur.

1. "While the ball remains live, a loose ball always remains in control of the team whose player last had control, unless it is a try or tap for goal." I highlighted unless it is a try or tap for goal because most players, coaches, and fans scream about three-second violation calls. A three-second violation can only occur when the offensive team is in control of the ball in their front court. Once a player releases a shot for a goal, no player cannot be in violation of the three-second rule because no team is in control of the ball.
2. "'Continuous motion' applies both to tries and taps for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by the defense during the interval which begins when the habitual trying or tapping movement starts and ends when the ball is clearly in flight." Rule 4-10-2 defines how the rule of continuous motion as, "If an opponent fouls after a player has started a try for goal, he is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight." This is often called "continuation" in basketball jargon, and is often thought to be a NBA rule. As you can see, even in high school, players are allowed to complete their shot attempts if they began a shot attempt before being fouled.
3. "A ball which touches the front face or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds, except that when the ball touches the thrower's backboard, it does not constitute a part of a dribble." So long as a ball does not go over the top of the backboard, or touch an apparatus that supports the backboard, the ball remains in play. Many younger players will hesitate when a ball hits the top of the backboard because they believe the ball is out of bounds.

Theses are only three of the 20 fundamentals found in the rules of high school basketball. Yet, I find that I hear many misunderstandings about these rules.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about the rules of the game.

When Does a Jump Stop Become a Traveling Violation?

One of the most common phrases hollered out during a game by all participants and spectators is, "Travel ref!" A simple definition of a travel is the moving of a foot or feet in any direction in excess of the allowed limits while holding the basketball. To clearly explain a traveling violation, it's critical to understand the allowable limits of movement. As an official, we have to understand the definition of pivot and traveling.

Pivot is defined by NFHS rule 4-33: A pivot takes place when a player who is holding the ball steps once, or more than once, in any direction with the same foot while the other foot, called the pivot foot, is kept at its point of contact with the floor.

A simple definition of traveling is moving of a foot or feet in any direction in excess of allowed limits while holding the basketball.

So when does traveling occur on a jump stop? A breakdown of the NFHS traveling rule (4-44) will explain:

• Rule 4-44-2...A player, who catches the ball while moving or dribbling, may stop, and establish a pivot foot as follows:
• If both feet are off the floor and the player lands:
• Simultaneously on both feet, either foot may be the pivot.
• On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. Neither foot can be a pivot in this case.
• If one foot is on the floor:
• It is the pivot when the other foot touches in a step.
• The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. Neither foot can be a pivot in this case.

I highlight the definition of pivot because it's important to note that a pivot is only established by stepping, and not by merely lifting the pivot foot. Once a player comes to a jump stop, it's important to note if the dribble stopped while the player was in the air or on the floor. A player that stops the dribble in the air and lands on both feet simultaneously, that player may establish a pivot foot. However, if the dribble ends with one foot still on the floor, then a traveling violation would occur if a player lifted a foot and returned the foot to the floor.

For great video review of rules I recommend going to the NBA Video Rulebook. Obviously, not all of the rules of the NBA are applicable to high school basketball rules, but the NBA Video Rulebook does offer some great video with explanations of what constitute fouls and violations.

Know the Rule: You Can Move On a Charge

One of the most common comments heard in a gym after a charge is, "He was moving ref!" It's a common misconception among most basketball players, coaches, and fans that a defender must be stationary in order to receive a charge call. To clarify the misconception I'll review the sum of the rules that determine if a charge occurred.

First, one must understand what it means for a defender to have a legal guarding position. For high school basketball a legal guarding position is defined by rule 4-23:

• Article 2. To obtain an initial legal guarding position:
• a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.
• b. The front of the guard's torso must be facing the opponent.
• Article 3. After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:
• a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he has inbound status.
• b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.
• c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.
• The guard may raise hands or jump within his own vertical plane.
• The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.

Obtaining and maintaining a legal guarding position has been defined, so the rules regarding a charge can be easier to understand.

Rule 4-7-2 defines charging:  The rule states:

• Article 2. Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso.
• a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change direction to avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding position in his path.
• b. If a guard has obtained a legal guarding position, the player with the ball must get his head and shoulders past the torso of the defensive player. If contact occurs on the torso of the defensive player, the dribbler is responsible for contact.

Basically, if the defender has initially planted two feet on the ground to guard an opponent, the defender can move in order to maintain their defense. If the offensive player does not get his head and shoulders around the defender, then an offensive foul is the correct call. Moving is allowed by both the offensive and the defense. So, try and refrain from yelling, "He was moving ref," the next time you don't like an offensive foul call.

Reebok Zig Energy Falls Apart

In my quest to find a great shoe for officiating basketball I decided to try the Reebok Zig Energy.  Prior to the start of my 2011-2012 season I had heard from a fellow official that the shoe is comfortable.  The shoe also comes in patent leather look which makes for a better looking uniform.

Unfortunately, the Zig Energy didn't last me for more than two games.  A seam along the outer portion of the right foot shoe began to tear.  The right side of the shoe was falling apart and could no longer be used for officiating.  The shoe is comfortable, but for an individual as large as myself the shoe does not appear to be built to withstand sudden changes in direction.

For the time being I'm using a low-top version of the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse.