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5 Things that Will Separate You from the Average Official
https://basketball-referees.com/category/mindset/
Today’s post will focus on 5 key things that will separate you from the majority of average basketball officials. No one wants to be an average basketball official, yet most still fall into that category.
Referee Positions
http://official.nba.com/referee-assignments/
Crew Chief Position (NFHS Referee)
- Proficient in Referee and Umpire positions
- Leader of the crew, on and off the floor
- High-level play calling, partnering skills, and tools for handling any game situation, including interpersonal communication
- Understands the importance of extending into their secondary area of coverage, with accuracy
Referee Position (NFHS Umpire 1)
- Proficient in all Umpire position requirements
- Effectively the glue for a crew through consistency, teamwork, and communication - makes partners better by carrying a larger portion of the crew’s load than an Umpire
- Capable of handling some plays in secondary area of coverage
- Ability to recognize and appropriately manage shifts in game conditions (intensity, emotions, decorum, style of play etc.)
Umpire Position (NFHS Umpire 2)
- Aggressively and accurately calls plays in the primary area of responsibility
- Responsible for basic mechanics including rotations, positioning and clock and team foul awareness
- Strong rules knowledge coupled with contributions to in-game discussions/issues regarding adjudication
Why Ball Watching is a Problem
Regardless of what position you’re working, you have a primary coverage area (PCA) on the floor that you are responsible for. Your PCA is clearly defined in the manual. It doesn’t matter where the ball is on the court. Your responsibility is to officiate in your primary area first and foremost.
When the ball is outside your primary, you should allow your partners to worry about the on-ball action. When you follow the ball outside of your primary you’re leaving a certain area of the floor uncovered. This can lead to problems.
Basketball is a physical game. Off-ball action can be especially physical because players are trying to get open or get better defensive position and not get beat. Players understand that officials don’t always pay as much attention to off-ball activity, so they often try to get away with sneaky illegal tactics.
This is why it’s very important to be on the alert. Everyone pays attention to the ball, and most times, on ball action only involves 2 players (A1 and B1). If all the officials are watching these two players, who’s monitoring the other eight players?
There’s actually more going on away from the ball than on. But we sometimes get caught being a fan and turn our attention to the ball handler.
Fans watch the ball, officials focus on their primary coverage areas.
10 Things That Require Zero Effort:
Being on Time
Work Ethic
Effort
Body Language
Energy
Attitude
Passion
Being Coachable
Doing Extra
Being Prepared
Anne Arundel County JV Mercy Rule
For AAC JV Games Only!
There is a 20-point rule for JV only. This is the AACPS rule – not a state rule. Here is the communication that went to coaches in the county:
Junior Varsity
Teams arrive ready to play
8 minute quarters
4 minute halftime (teams remain on bench)
The running clock will occur for a 20 point differential in the 4th quarter. The clock will stop for the following reasons in a Junior Varsity contest:
An official or team time-out
Foul Shot
Injury
The clock will not stop if the score moves under a 20 point differential.