Coach Concern over Rough Play

Mike Lawrence, presumably a quality high school basketball coach and person, previously asked some interesting questions about officials’ pre-game preparation (see these by clicking here). My response resulted in Mike sharing some comments and valid concerns. I hope this will present a real-life learning opportunity for officials and coaches alike.

Mike wrote:

My ‘previous’ questions were spurred by a comment made by one of our local referees. He said he felt the job of the referee was to make sure the better team won the game. I was just wondering at what point and how does a referee determine which is the better team?

I understand there are rules and a rule book for a reason. I’m just not sure about each referee’s individual interpretation. It is hard to teach kids when the foul or violation criteria changes from game to game or ref to ref. I try to teach solid fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship. I’m concerned that our obsession with winning makes these skills secondary. Over the past few years we’ve seen the trend where the more aggressive, physical, hands-on type teams are winning our divisions. More and more, referees are allowing this style of play. I would like to see us get back to more strict and consistent officiating.

Wow! I am so glad that you took time to explain the reasons for your questions. I presume you are a coach and from your communication, I can tell you are a good coach focusing on the expectations placed upon you to teach the game in accordance with the rules.

First of all, you are not alone in questioning the true role of officials. Without going directly to the rulebook for a response, I can only state that officials represent the integrity of the game and are expected to call a game in accordance with the rules (every rule–leaving none out). It’s about “fair play”, not making sure that the better team wins as an official told you. As an official, you should never leave a game feeling that roughness contributed to a team winning a game. Please don’t confuse this with aggressiveness because basketball is a sport where players move at full speed and contact is going to occur. Sometimes contact is a foul and sometimes it is not. The rules cover contact very well and the “incidental contact” rule (4-27, pg. 36) helps everyone understand when contact is or is not a foul.

In the state of Maine (USA), we are blessed with Peter Webb, Maine’s basketball commissioner and national advisor for IAABO basketball rules interpreters. He also happens to be our local basketball association rules interpreter. From listening to his presentations, I know that there is a nationwide concern that allowing rough play gives an advantage to teams not playing by the rules. The rules committee and rulebook have tried to address these concerns by stressing such things as hand-checking, rough post-play, body bumping, etc. I think we all know that finesse and sound fundamentals should win out over physicality.

Please continue your teaching fundamentals, teamwork, and good sporting behavior because it is proper and it will win games. Push your local officials’ associations to rely on the rulebook and use that only when making rulings in high school games. Sometimes top officials who also work college games allow their philosophies to creep into their mentoring/teaching of other officials. Every player is entitled to her/his space on the court free from contact/touching such as leaning, pushing, chairing, holding, bumping. Defensive players get a distinct advantage from touching. Just ask a player to play defensive with and without contact and you will see that they have to adjust their position to see the player they are guarding.

Much of the game is about advantage and disadvantage which control what we now use as we rule on incidental contact (4-27). In my opinion, this is the most important rule in the rulebook. It speaks of favorable positions and hindering opponents. Spend some time reading and use this rule to communicate with your local officials. If you get an advantage by illegal contact, it is not incidental and therefore a foul. Fouls result in free throws and foul trouble forcing players and coaches to adjust to the rules of the game of basketball.

In closing, the rules committee agrees with you that we must get back to more strict and consistent officiating. Whether your official’s group is an IAABO group (www.iaabo.org) or local NF association, we all use the same NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) rulebook. IAABO appears to have purposes beyond that of NFHS. IAABO can do this because it focuses solely on basketball.

mike lawrence <mike_27577@msn.com> writes:
Hi Shawn,

Explore posts in the same categories: Basketball Rules, Commentary