Approach of the game for refs...

[TRexSmarts]

I'm interested in hearing how refs approach certain types of game? Now, I don't want to accuse refs of cheating or anything that's not my intention here. I'm just interested in hearing how refs approach games. Does a league mandate refs in anyway? For example, like protect upper level teams in the league? It seems like when a upper level team with talent plays a lower level team in the league that refs sometimes protects the upper level team? This is just my opinion and I don't want to say they cheat but sometimes their calls are very suspects. It's almost as the refs are thinking that a player with talent can't be stopped by a player from the lower level team without being fouled or something? It's just disheartening if you ask me. So, how does refs approach the game when 1) the two teams are top rated teams? 2) two teams are lower rated teams? 3)one team is top rated playing a lower level team?

TRexSmarts

[lighthouse]

They approach them all the same. And to answer your question about a league asking officials to protect higher level teams, the answer is just flat out no.

About an hour before each game, the crew of officials meet to have their pre-game conference. The things discussed are floor coverage, switching on fouls, how to cover if a team presses, etc. They will also go over any characteristics of each team, do they push the ball or are they a half court team, do they mostly play zone or man to man defense, do they have a dominate inside or outside presence, what are the coaches like, and their bench coaches. The league assigns who will be the "referee" and the other 2 are umpires, but unlike posted on another thread, after the ball is tossed, they have the same authority. The only time the "referee" has the absoulute authority is approving the final score,going to the TV monitor to make a decision, or some other timing or scoring issue.

[TRexSmarts]

Thanks Lighthouse. Just trying to understand ref's side when preparing for these games. It's easy to blame them for things but I think mainly because people don't have the insight from the refs point of view. If that make sense?

TRexSmarts

[lighthouse]

It makes perfect sense. I used to be aweful toward officials, and especially when I was playing, so I know why and how fans come to the conclusion they do. But since I've been there, it takes on an all together difference in the way I watch a game.

[TRexSmarts]

lighthouse wrote: It makes perfect sense. I used to be aweful toward officials, and especially when I was playing, so I know why and how fans come to the conclusion they do. But since I've been there, it takes on an all together difference in the way I watch a game.
I know I have seen myself noticing a change as well. I'm still critical of the refs but then I come on here and ask you to get your opinion because I know that you will tell me from ref sense what they where kind of thinking in a way and it calms me down. But I have been noticing for some reason that it seems like the lower rank or bottom dwellers are getting shafted a lot. I don't know if that's good or not? *lol*

TRexSmarts

[GeorgiaBlue]

Now I am only a football official - not basketball - but the premise of which you talk about is laughable.

Football is football - doesn't matter who is playing. The only 'difference' might come in the way of playoffs in HS football. We talk about calling the 'trainwrecks' and not every little foul that has occurred. In the playoffs, you generally have better coached teams, and less fouls anyway - however, the 'marginal' fouls find a way to disappear. The only thing that will get called every time are safety fouls (facemask, chop blocks, block in the back, etc). But holding is subjective in that a player must make an effort to rid himself of the block - otherwise, I ain't callin it.

Hope that lends some insight.

[boomdaddy]

Maybe I look at games through a fans' eyes, but it seems to me that some games have one team getting calls inthe 1sthalf and the other team getting the calls in the 2nd half. Or, it could be just that the coach tells his team to drive to the basket more to get the fouls evened up, during his half time speech?

[lighthouse]

Boomdaddy, things certainly sometimes change at halftime. Coaches will change defenses of offenses, or they will recognize how the game is being called, and make adjustments. Then some games that's just the way it happens. I've been in games where I would go forever and never blow my whistle, and I would begin to wonder if I was really watching the game. Then some noghts, everything happened right in front of me and I was blowing the whistle all the time. It's a great game, and things just happen. You can only call what you see.

[VIIBanners]

lighthouse, it is awesome to have a guy like you on this board... I read every post of yours that I see... because I know it will be even keeled and informative, especially here in the officiating forum.

[lighthouse]

It's my pleasure to be here among the best and most knowledgeable fans in America. Thanks a bunch.