REFEREES, SCORERS TABLE AND COMMI SSI ONERS

REFEREE MOUNTAIN
CLIMBING
by Ronnie Nunn
Ronnie Nunn, a veteran of 19 NBA sea-
sons, he is the NBA's Director of
Officials. He handles the day-to-day
management of the referee staff,
including the daily instruction of the
officials on the interpretation and appli-
cation of NBA playing rules. He reports
directly to Stu Jackson, Senior Vice
President, Basketball Operations.
I am not a mountain climber, except for
some experiences in hiking as a Boy
Scout during the early developmental
years of my youth. Hiking with all that
gear was tough and demanding and it
took a long while to reach the top. It cer-
tainly doesn't compare with serious
climbing that documentary television
shows reveal, but it includes skill and
caution to reach the peak. Even for
those attempting facsimile mountain
climbing in some of the more progres-
sive fitness centers, it proves to be a
task as well. They've included this exer-
cise and feat as an additional way to
focus and concentrate in reaching a
goal.
Refereeing basketball has many of the
same principles as those needed to
climb mountains. First and foremost, the
accomplishment doesn't come quickly.
It requires strength in mind and body,
good footing, guidance, safety precau-
tions, and other quality traits. Mostly, it
is a step by step process. All of us wish
for immediate gratifications in our pur-
suits in life but, in reality, greater
accomplishments come after hard, dis-
ciplined and step by step work.
At various levels we all think we're bet-
ter than we are and think we should be
selected ahead of the other official cho-
sen for an assignment. Officiating is also
a STEP by STEP process.
Not one official I've ever seen has
impacted any division, any conference,
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FIBA ASSIST MAGAZINE | 13 2005 | PAGE 43
and any international or pro level catego-
ry with skills that reflected unprecedent-
ed value or expertise.
Players do most of the impacting in bas-
ketball.
Coaches, when they have talented play-
ers, can create an environment that
leads to winning results.
Credit should be given to those who
mesh talented people into winning
teams. Certainly, other coaches can cre-
ate winning attitudes though the results
may not be reflected in the win column.
Nonetheless, the best referees demon-
strate their value after being taught,
mentored and supervised in their climb.
Basic criteria for accomplished officials
are skills culminated in play calling,
game management techniques, experi-
ences in various venues and diplomatic,
yet firm, decision making to name a few.
One of the most important criteria is
ACCEPTANCE. Each of us forgets this
immeasurable piece. It's often found in
the minds and eyes of onlookers:
Coaches, Supervisors, Athletic
Directors, General Managers, Owners,
Media and Fans. Even when your skills
and abilities register high on the profi-
ciency scale, it's not until a certain peri-
od of time passes that the official gets
his/her proper respect.
Networking has its value on the referee-
ing climbing system. However, choosing
the right training programs will develop
your skills and will ultimately increase
your opportunities for success.
Sometimes the "Old Boy Network" looks
like the political way to go but, in the long
run your skills and continued experience
are your closest allies. Remember that
there are others competing against you
with "Old Boy Network" ties as well.
Secured and polished skills are two of
the safest ways to proceed.
Here are some recommendations for
successful "Referee Mountain Climbing":
SACRIFICE your time and money
when looking for the best training
program. Find the "Harvard" of
Officiating camps and attempt to sign
up.
LOOK for the training program that
provides growth in you as a person
and as an official.
NETWORK in your local area by find-
ing and asking for opportunities to
referee and hone your skills in small
venues - i.e. high school summer
leagues, year round recreation
leagues, etc.
COPY and /or MIMIC quality and suc-
cessful officials with respect to their
signals and court demeanor and call
selectivity.
NEVER attempt to move upward too
quickly. You may find yourself over-
whelmed with a lack of expertise.
Returning to that opportunity can
either be distant or never.
BE CAUTIOUS about presenting your-
self in competitions before getting
the proper instruction and proper
experience. First impressions are
lasting.
WORK towards unifying your per-
formance with your partners rather
than being a "know it all".
REMEMBER to review your game and
critique your abilities. You can never
be someone else so, build on your
strengths and minimize / eliminate
your weaknesses.
UNDERSTAND that refereeing at the
higher levels is a process defined by
slow and deliberate productivity.
REFRAIN from anxiety knowing
there's always a veteran official
ahead of you and he/she has the
believability and credibility that will
later be yours.
The goal is to be a believable and
respected official. Remember to enjoy the
climb. There's a great view from the top.
CREW DYNAMICS / PARTNERING
The above title and concept is essential-
ly at the core of successful officiating
today. Neither the individual official nor
his / her crew can succeed in their
respective work without giving strict
attention to Crew Dynamics and
Partnering.
Crew dynamics include terms like
mechanics, primary and secondary cov-
erage, rotations, call selectivity, calling
the obvious, open and closed angles,
consistency of calls and game manage-
ment in naming a few.
Partnering describes the way we inter-
act with our fellow officials. It includes
our attitudes, character, demeanor and
the manner in which we work together
for the common good of the game and
ourselves.
There is a strong need for the assimila-
tion of these two components in every
officiated game. We are more involved
than ever with this thinking since the
"Three Person System" of refereeing bas-
ketball games has become more broad-
ened. We must refine it and sophisticate
it to meet the needs of excellence
required of officials today.
The most important and necessary piece
in officiating is to get the play called cor-
rectly. There's nothing new in this think-
ing at all. However, the method in which
to accomplish this goal needs fine-tuning
of the individual and the crew. A more
notable and obvious example in getting
the call right for officials and the viewing
public is often seen when a controversial
call is made that requires a conference
of the officials. We've all seen these on
particular plays like, out of bounds, a
score or no score concern, a rule inter-
pretation, etc. The process of coming
together must always continue. The
results of those conferences reinforce to
all that the officials continue to demon-
strate, that getting the right call is at the
foundation of the integrity of the game.
However, it's clear that officials cannot
conference on each and every call. The
concern now is, how can we make the
right call individually and as a crew, as
the game moves as its rapid pace and
yet, employ working methodologies and
dynamics to reach the lofty goals of mak-
ing correct calls?
As mentioned above, there are several
ways to optimize Crew Dynamics and
Partnering that will result in raising the
percentage of correct calls and correct
no-calls in a game. Let's review the fol-
lowing 10 steps:
1. Understand what's required of you
from all three positions on the floor -
Trail, Lead and Slot [Center].
REFEREES, SCORERS TABLE AND COMMI SSI ONERS
2. Understand, interpret and apply the
guidelines to the type fouls / violations
you'll encounter at each position.
3. Be clear on your primary coverage at
each position for yourself and your
crew.
4. Recognize secondary coverage and
apply yourself to help on those plays
that clearly require a whistle.
5 Recognize the Purpose of Rotation.
Give meaning to your movement and
know that you should rotate in the lead
to the ball side [strong side] as often as
possible.
6. Remove from your mindset a "sense of
urgency" in attempting to judge plays in
your primary or secondary that are
unclear and inconclusive. DEPEND ON
AND TRUST YOUR PARTNERS FOR
HELP!
7. Reinforce for yourself and the crew
that, all plays are either fouls/viola-
tions, or they are not. Inconclusive
[borderline] plays are not fouls or viola-
tions. THEY ARE INCONCLUSIVE AND
THEREFORE CANNOT BE JUDGED AS
INFRACTIONS.
8. DON'T GUESS!.... Refer to item 6 above.
9. Don't be offended by a whistle in your
primary blown by your partner from
his/her secondary. He or she should
not whistle the play unless it can be
clearly validated as a foul or violation.
10. Understand that some calls creep
through that are missed by all on the
floor at one time or another. It is the
nature of the business. However, we
must attempt to keep those instances
to a bare minimum and "make them the
exception rather than the rule".
In summarizing, it's more and more evident
to all those who watch our game, play in it,
coach it, scrutinize it, and follow it, that
there's a continued need and a demand for
excellence in our work as officials. We
must use the current tools available to us in
making us better by securing mentors,
using video tape, honing our skills work in
productive summer and winter leagues
and attending camps that teach, instruct
and develop the current edge approaches
PAGE 44 | 13 2005 | FIBA ASSIST MAGAZINE
that result in bettering our abilities and
chances to officiate basketball games at
all levels.
Crew Dynamics and Partnering are major
keys in the development of those officials
who wish to reach higher goals and meet
greater successes wherever their officiat-
ing schedule may take them.
Be encouraged to know that education of
the issues and individual talent will promote
you from within yourself, while the results of
your hard work, schooling and skills will
promote you to those who will undoubtedly
take notice.