Officiating in boys basketball

• rogandjohn

  The problem: An official makes the wrong judgment on a foul; he then gives the upset coach a technical foul, giving the opposing team a four point shift in the game. This is a close game in the fourth quarter. Four points is a big change.
  
  
  
  Through an action research project we’ve done, we’ve found that the actual problem with officiating is a lot deeper than just missing a call and giving technical fouls out. Through conducting interviews with two high school officials of 10 or more years of experience, one college official with experience of more than 18 years, and surveying coaches around central Ohio, we have determined that basketball officials affect games more than they should. It is inevitable that they will have an impact on the game, but to what extent should this be controlled and reasonable? Multiple coaches surveyed said that officials have egos and let those egos get in the way of games. One coach even gave the specific example of an official having a disagreement with the A.D. and himself, and it showed not only in that game but in the other games he officiated with that team. Another coach said that officials will always favor certain coaches and teams and that will never change..
  
  We looked further into the officiating problem and discovered a communication breakdown. For example, the majority of coaches’ believe that officials don’t receive enough training to do their job. Also, coaches don’t think officials communicate with them the way they should. All three officials agreed that communication is a problem, but they don’t seem to be doing anything about it. With coaches thinking this about officials, you would think they would at least consider increasing the training, and interaction between coaches and officials.
  
  The solution: Coaches and officials need to get on the same page. Three times a year coaches and officials should meet together to improve communication and expectations. All the power cannot be with the officials; however it can’t be with the coaches. There has to a solid balance. Achieving the balance of power, egos will have less of an impact, communication will be good, and the quality of games will sky rocket.
  
  
  
  (This is not directed to all officials as we realize there are good officials out there.)
• BRF

  

  Refs and umps are failed athletes that still want to have a hand on the game. Period. The best official is the one you don't remember.
• queencitybuckeye

  BRF;765651 wrote:Refs and umps and coaches are failed athletes that still want to have a hand on the game. Period.

  
  FIFY
• BRF

  

  queencitybuckeye;765688 wrote:FIFY

  
  Hmmmmmm...perhaps.....yes?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  BRF;765651 wrote:Refs and umps are failed athletes that still want to have a hand on the game. Period. The best official is the one you don't remember.

  
  Easy on the 1th sentence, big guy.
  
  100% agree with the last sentence.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Many officials will also say that they wish coaches would know the rules. Not "how to play the game" rules, but rules that they don't get, and usually send them in a tirade towards the official.
  
  Coaching egos are equally just as much of a problem.
• arnie palmer

  

  I have been officiating high school basketball for 14 years and college basketball for 11 years and I believe the communication issues are more on the coaches side than the officials side. Every year for me, it gets worst where coaches do not hardly coach at all and just complain about every call and have comments about everything. I tell them i am not listening anymore if they have a comment, question everytime down the floor.
  I do beleive with the evolution of 3 man, than many officials were moved up to early for varsity and not have enough experience to handle coaches at that level.
  I tell everyone that wants to work on being a good official is to get to camp and put some time and effort at in the summer. that is when you get better!
• ernest_t_bass

  

  arnie palmer;766441 wrote:I have been officiating high school basketball for 14 years and college basketball for 11 years and I believe the communication issues are more on the coaches side than the officials side. Every year for me, it gets worst where coaches do not hardly coach at all and just complain about every call and have comments about everything. I tell them i am not listening anymore if they have a comment, question everytime down the floor.
  I do beleive with the evolution of 3 man, than many officials were moved up to early for varsity and not have enough experience to handle coaches at that level.
  I tell everyone that wants to work on being a good official is to get to camp and put some time and effort at in the summer. that is when you get better!

  
  Agree, agree, agree, agree, agree.
• Bigdogg

  rogandjohn;765508 wrote:The problem: An official makes the wrong judgment on a foul; he then gives the upset coach a technical foul, giving the opposing team a four point shift in the game. This is a close game in the fourth quarter. Four points is a big change.
  
  
  
  Through an action research project we’ve done, we’ve found that the actual problem with officiating is a lot deeper than just missing a call and giving technical fouls out. Through conducting interviews with two high school officials of 10 or more years of experience, one college official with experience of more than 18 years, and surveying coaches around central Ohio, we have determined that basketball officials affect games more than they should. It is inevitable that they will have an impact on the game, but to what extent should this be controlled and reasonable? Multiple coaches surveyed said that officials have egos and let those egos get in the way of games. One coach even gave the specific example of an official having a disagreement with the A.D. and himself, and it showed not only in that game but in the other games he officiated with that team. Another coach said that officials will always favor certain coaches and teams and that will never change..
  
  We looked further into the officiating problem and discovered a communication breakdown. For example, the majority of coaches’ believe that officials don’t receive enough training to do their job. Also, coaches don’t think officials communicate with them the way they should. All three officials agreed that communication is a problem, but they don’t seem to be doing anything about it. With coaches thinking this about officials, you would think they would at least consider increasing the training, and interaction between coaches and officials.
  
  The solution: Coaches and officials need to get on the same page. Three times a year coaches and officials should meet together to improve communication and expectations. All the power cannot be with the officials; however it can’t be with the coaches. There has to a solid balance. Achieving the balance of power, egos will have less of an impact, communication will be good, and the quality of games will sky rocket.
  
  
  
  (This is not directed to all officials as we realize there are good officials out there.)

  
  You think more training for official's at the high school level is the answer? You need to do a lot more research. Officiating at this level is an avocation for 99% of the people who do it. The pay is breakeven at best, if you track all your expenses. Your research theory seems to be begging the question.
• Prescott

  Let me understand your "study": You interview 3 officials, make an assumption and you come to these conclusions. Your action research study is laughable.
  
  Let me start by saying that officiating basketball at any competitive level is an extremely difficult task. The game is played so fast, that officials are going to miss calls. Officials are going to have bad games too, but for the most part good officials will usually have good games. Watch an NBA game because those officials also miss calls and that is their full-time job, mind you.
  
  That said, before every game officials hope to and try to call the absolute best game they can call. They will not give certain coaches calls because they like him better than the opposing coach. Integrity is part of the game, and if that happens, it is not fair to anyone involved in the contest. Your assumption is a joke.
  
  There sometimes can be a breakdown in communication between coaches and officials. They are taught to acknowledge coaches when they have a question, not when they are ranting about a call that was missed. A call that the coach had a better view of from 45 feet away...The breakdown you are referring to probably happens when coaches are yelling about a call, not actually asking what the call was or why was it made. If coaches have questions officials will address them all day long, and as long as it does not interfere with the flow with that game. Ranting and raving gets coaches no where, but a seat on the bench.
  
  I have noticed the complaining has gotten worse and worse over the years. Good coaches seem to complain less and below average coaches always want to blame the official first. Watch a game as a neutral fan and you will realize that officials are not out to get coaches. They want to give back to the game and they want do it in the fairest way possible.
  
  My solution. Have a zero tolerance policy against blatant complaining and verbal abuse, just like the NBA did. It will be better for everyone.
• Sonofanump

  rogandjohn;765508 wrote:We looked further into the officiating problem and discovered a communication breakdown. For example, the majority of coaches’ believe that officials don’t receive enough training to do their job. Also, coaches don’t think officials communicate with them the way they should. All three officials agreed that communication is a problem, but they don’t seem to be doing anything about it. With coaches thinking this about officials, you would think they would at least consider increasing the training, and interaction between coaches and officials.
  
  The solution: Coaches and officials need to get on the same page. Three times a year coaches and officials should meet together to improve communication and expectations. All the power cannot be with the officials; however it can’t be with the coaches. There has to a solid balance. Achieving the balance of power, egos will have less of an impact, communication will be good, and the quality of games will sky rocket.
  
  
  
  (This is not directed to all officials as we realize there are good officials out there.)

  
  When I officiated high school level, we always invited coaches to our meetings, don't think anyone ever showed up.