One of the most important aspect to a good game is to be 100% connected to the game especially as a fan.  Believe it or not, sometimes fans can play a factor to players’ performances during the game.  Compared to players and officials, fans are usually connected on average 40% of the time in the game.  When there is a good flow to the game, it is easy for everyone to stay connected to the game.  It is very difficult to stay connected to the game when the flow is disrupted many times through-out the game.   We must understand the jurisdiction of our job on the basketball court.  Does our job start as we enter the parking of the gym?  Or does it start during the warmup?  How we management the game before tip, during game play and after last horn is absolutely key to the development of the game.

In a game which there are multiple delays due to non-playing issues becomes a nuisance to everyone.  At the pre-JV level of basketball, your typical game may not consist of a proper table crew such as a game announcer, book keeper from both teams, or even game and shot clock operator(s).  Sometimes at best, they only know what they’re doing half of the time thereby awarding scores and fouls to the wrong team.  It is here where it is very common for fans to fall asleep during the game.  Players lose their rhythm due to delays in the game.  Teams lose their chemistry to make the game flow.  Teams will need more playing time as the game progress to re-develop a proper chemistry.   Players will need more minutes to get warmed up again, thereby making the game a less interesteing to watch.    

So then, why is it our job as Referees to make sure the table tally the scores and fouls, and that the scorebooks are on point?  Why is it our responsibility that the two scorekeepers have different scores in the same game?  As a Game Official, we must ensure the proper administration of the game in its entirety.

During the pre-game, it is our job as a Referee to ensure that the shot clock horn and game clock horn are distinguished and in operation.  Your table crew understands and are capable of performing their duties competently during the game.  Develop your own technique with your table crew.   Understand their skill level and work with them.  Nuisances such as repeated phone usage by table personnel will increase your margin of error during the game.  Your fouls and violations are to be reports once in the game.  Very seldom should you have to repeat your fouls to the table.  For example, when you report your foul to the table, everyone at the table should repeat the same foul.  At that point, everyone at the table should know who the foul is on and what to do next. 

Come to camp.  We’ll talk more about strategies and techniques on how to improve your game management and always have a good game.

John Guerrero 

Game Management Specialist, IPABOA

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