Crown REFS
Nov 5 · 7 min read

The CROWN REFS Pre-game content pack

For full NCAA pre-game pdf click below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GOKOZ1FdMnFOIOgrOy5TadOfSXadNhwi/view?usp=drivesdk

The pre-game pack is the collective series of content providing additional context and perspective from some of the notable content in the pre-game card (pdf). Designed to help you facilitate and improve your pre-game presentation. Find which content is appropriate for your current game and partners.

For officials, this is the hierarchy of the game. This is our order of importance. If we align ourselves with this principle, we will assure fairness and uphold the integrity of the game.

Focus on being the greatest partner possible and having a unified vision as a team. Then, and only then, can we individually perform at our highest level. There are no players, coaches, referees or fans that are bigger and more important than the game itself.

The ability to manage the gray area plays is one factor that separates a good official from a great one. We cannot match plays that are black and white. If I have a 50/50 block call on my end, and you have a similar play, then we would have the option to match calls on each end. One of the worst things we can do is match incorrect calls. At the end of the day its all about getting the calls correct.

Believing our team can handle anything that the game throws our way, provides us with a foundation to help overcome any challenge. No matter the difficulty of the moment, as long as we stay poised, take our time and trust each other, there is no obstacle we can’t overcome.

The game of basketball produces such intensity, emotion, and passion amongst its participants, that some situations can be extremely challenging and overwhelming to handle. Good thing we’re part of a team too. Our team should have the same unity and cohesiveness as a championship team does. Trust the system. Trust your partners. Trust yourself.

Don’t come out of your primary to paint the corner. Make sure you throw it right down the middle of the plate. There might be a few times per game when the crew will need to come out of their primary. Have the awareness to know where your partners are and what they might be seeing at the time. If they are refereeing in a high traffic area with multiple matchups, you might have the best look. Primary isn’t always proximity.

It’s very difficult for the lead to find the point of contact, when they’re positioned behind the end line, on a play that’s in front of the rim. The basket, the backboard and having to look through players creates an obstruction.

If you don’t know…don’t blow. Trust the two outside officials when the plays are up in the sky to make the call.

Was that illegal. contact or an illegal action?

Illegal actions are the body movements that players do usually resulting in a foul. For example, the swim move with little or no contact is just an illegal action. A jump shooter kicking his feet out with no contact is just an illegal action. The same with a defender not having vertical arms. For screeners, setting them too wide, or sticking the butt out, moving forward or leaning to the side are illegal actions…but without illegal contact it’s not a foul. Too many times we are calling illegal screens just because there is an illegal action in the screen itself. Make your determination simply on Illegal vs. Incidental contact. Make it obvious.

This does not mean to pass on a foul or everytime that you anticipate a foul coming to talk the players down. This should be used at the right time with discretion. Using your voice to proactively officiate is a strategy to help you manage the game effectively, promote freedom of movement while reducing the amount of stoppages.

Here are some examples of what to say: ”Hands off, easy, don’t hold, let go, clean it up, don’t push, enough.”

If the temperature of a situation rises up and you have to get in between the players, it might be a good option to send both teams to the bench to cool off. A double technical foul or a flagrant foul with retaliation are two examples when you could use this. Step in there and loudly redirect them to their respective bench area. It should be a group effort.

This gives both teams time and space away from each other, it allows the coach an opportunity to handle the situation and it gives us the privacy to discuss the administration of the play. Once the moment has settled, then we can resume back to playing basketball.

If the temperature of a situation rises up and you have to get in between the players, it might be a good option to send both teams to the bench to cool off. A double technical foul or a flagrant foul with retaliation are two examples when you could use this. Step in there and loudly redirect them to their respective bench area. It should be a group effort.

This gives both teams time and space away from each other, it allows the coach an opportunity to handle the situation and it gives us the privacy to discuss the administration of the play. Once the moment has settled, then we can resume back to playing basketball.

It’s so important to step in between each competitive match up to see the potential point of contact.

Feet-Did the offensive player travel? Is it a 3 point attempt?

Foul-Did the defender foul the shooter in the air?

Floor-Did the defender let the shooter land free of contact? Did the offensive player kick his feet out?

Flop-Did the shooter flop?

Restricted Arc block/charge plays are one of the most challenging calls a college or pro official has to make. It’s important to locate the legality of the defender before the contact occurs. Focus on the feet in relation to the RA. If you have information, and you’re 100%, bring it!

Having next level clock awareness can set you apart from others. Find reminders on the court that prompt you to look up at the time. Sneak a peak at midcourt and the end line to be in sync with both clocks. Also, during a change of possession, rebounds, throw-ins, interrupted dribbles, fouls, violations etc

Basket interference and goaltending are usually committed by a secondary defender who jumps a split second after the shooter leaves the ground. Very rarely will it be a primary defender and most times they do not jump straight up. Based on this information, we can anticipate these types of plays before they happen. Use self-talk to stay locked in and hyper-aware.

The vast majority of the time, the trail or center will have the best look on these types of plays. However, there will be a small percentage of times that the lead will have the best look. BI/Goaltending are two of the most challenging calls for us, due to the rapid speed of the play and lack of processing time we have. If we blink we can easily miss one. Keep your antennas up and anticipate the play. The right official makes the right call at the right time.

#servethegame

#crownrefs

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