Look for future games to be called closer again

[AdaSooner]

ESPN's announcers at the WVU-UT game said a notice went out today from, John Adams, the NCAA's coordinator of officials, instructing the officials to tighten the reigns again. The notification said some of the recent games were not following the new emphasis on the rules issued before the season started.

I couldn't find anything about the letter online, but I'm certain of what I heard.

 

[DenverSooner]

This is complete BS. It is unfair to teams to change the way the game is called in the middle of the season.

 

[p230]

This is complete BS. It is unfair to teams to change the way the game is called in the middle of the season.

You are right, they should never have loosened up. The head of officials should not have to be telling them to go back to calling it like they were told to at the beginning of the season. I saw the article and his quote was "The post play is the roughest I have seen" He also said they were allowing too much lower body contact.

 

[AdaSooner]

This is complete BS. It is unfair to teams to change the way the game is called in the middle of the season.

I don't see it as a change. Officials are simply being told to follow the instructions they were given before the season got underway. If I was the coordinator of officials I would do the same thing.

Besides, most of the officials have been doing what they were told. It's that small group of officials who decided on their own to go back to the way games were called before who are being unfair to the players and coaches.

Ask nearly any coach to name the #1 thing they ask for from officials, the majority would say: Consistency. It's impossible to achieve that when a few rogue officials are bound and determined to buck the system.

 

[StatGeek]

This is a joke. NCAA ruining the sport with its incompetence.

 

[tycat947]

This is a joke. NCAA ruining the sport with its incompetence.

The NCAA has been ruining the game for the last 10-15 years by allowing the game to become more of football game than basketball. It will take time to change that way of thinking just like it took time for it to evolve into the physical game it was.

 

[DenverSooner]

I misunderstood. I thought Ada was saying they going back to the old way and going to allow the hand checking and physical defense. Now that I think I understand this, I agree it is not a change but rather restating the new rules or interpretations of the rules this season.

For a moment I thought they were about to really screw OU because the new rules favor OU's lineup and style of play.

 

[WTSooner]

They should have never "changed it" so radically to begin with. You can't put an emphasis on a rule like that, and undo decades of how the game has been played/called. That isn't a change you can make overnight.

 

[MsProudSooner]

They should have never "changed it" so radically to begin with. You can't put an emphasis on a rule like that, and undo decades of how the game has been played/called. That isn't a change you can make overnight.

You can't make a change like that gradually, either. I suspect it will take 2 or 3 years before the college players all adjust to the fact that they are actually enforcing the rules as they are written. But it will get better every year. I hope it never goes back to the way it was before.

 

[AdaSooner]

The NCAA has been ruining the game for the last 10-15 years by allowing the game to become more of football game than basketball. It will take time to change that way of thinking just like it took time for it to evolve into the physical game it was.

I feel the same way. I'm glad the NCAA finally woke up to their mistake. In time, I think coaches, players and fans alike will see that this was the right thing to do.

 

[SoonerSpock]

The NCAA has been ruining the game for the last 10-15 years by allowing the game to become more of football game than basketball. It will take time to change that way of thinking just like it took time for it to evolve into the physical game it was.

Unfortunately you are absolutely correct. Basketball was intended to be a finesse game not a scrum and it will probably take a decade for everyone to again accept playing basketball instead of rugby.

Personally I would support putting the officials that arbitrarily decided to revert to calling a physical game that they were on probation and subject to being removed from the list of acceptable referees unless they follow the rules as instructed. Their needs to be consequences for intentionally disobeying directions from their administrators.

 

[MNsooner]

I suspect that they will never get the rules enforced the way they want them to be. Refs will always want minimize their influence on the outcome of games and that means letting borderline calls go. I am fine with that. The insane free throw fests from the beginning of this season have made me watch less college basketball than any time I can remember. In my opinion, the new rules emphasis was trying to solve a problem that wasn't there. If anything, constant whistles and referee involvement makes the game less enjoyable. Scores will be higher, but fans will become increasingly bored with the interrupted pace and feeling that refs influence can determine games. That or I am just projecting my feelings onto others.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I suspect that they will never get the rules enforced the way they want them to be. Refs will always want minimize their influence on the outcome of games and that means letting borderline calls go. I am fine with that. The insane free throw fests from the beginning of this season have made me watch less college basketball than any time I can remember. In my opinion, the new rules emphasis was trying to solve a problem that wasn't there. If anything, constant whistles and referee involvement makes the game less enjoyable. Scores will be higher, but fans will become increasingly bored with the interrupted pace and feeling that refs influence can determine games. That or I am just projecting my feelings onto others.

The insane free throw fests will diminish as the players and coaches adjust to playing defense with their feet and with team work instead of grabbing and shoving.

One thing that would help would be if high school games were called more closely. High school players would arrive at college without the bad habits that current college players have now.

 

[WTSooner]

The insane free throw fests will diminish as the players and coaches adjust to playing defense with their feet and with team work instead of grabbing and shoving.

No it won't. I'd still rather foul a guy, and make him shoot free throws, than have to play 'ole defense and give him a layup or dunk. The new rules make it very difficult to stop a player from getting to the rim if he is so inclined.

While I agree the game needed cleaned up a bit, I think they went overboard with the changes. Maybe they did that knowing not all of it would stick, but I don't think getting the game called they way they want is the answer only.

 

[campbest]

These "letters" or bulletins from John Adams come out every few weeks, there have been 7 or 8 this year. Definitely not a one-time thing.

One thing that would help would be if high school games were called more closely. High school players would arrive at college without the bad habits that current college players have now.

There is a push for this and it will probably happen within the next few years. Problem is the enforcement, tougher to do at the HS level with a shortage of officials and the poor quality of play.

Personally I would support putting the officials that arbitrarily decided to revert to calling a physical game that they were on probation and subject to being removed from the list of acceptable referees unless they follow the rules as instructed. Their needs to be consequences for intentionally disobeying directions from their administrators.

That may work, but coaches and athletic directors specifically request most of the veteran officials. They would rather have someone they are "comfortable with" than a new guy enforcing the emphasis, especially during conference play.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I played high school basketball before most of you were born. In three years as a starter I fouled out once. And other people were not fouling out in droves. They followed the rules and the games did not turn into foulfests. The major difference is that players are slicker with the ball now. More one on one drives. You could reduce that with more stringent enforcement of the no carry rule.

The alternative is the thugball played by UCLA, West Virginia and Texas A&M women. Don't enjoy that either and it is winning by breaking the rules rather than with skill.

I'm all for the new rules but wish the officials would also stop making the anticipation calls. In other words calling a play the way they thought it was going to happen. And also favoring the stars. Keith Smart and his ilk go to the line everytime someone breathes on them. Some no name gets hammered and it is a nice block. And on defense allowing O. Sims and her ilk to drape their body on the offensive player with no calls.

 

[tycat947]

I played high school basketball before most of you were born. In three years as a starter I fouled out once. And other people were not fouling out in droves. They followed the rules and the games did not turn into foulfests. The major difference is that players are slicker with the ball now. More one on one drives. You could reduce that with more stringent enforcement of the no carry rule.

The alternative is the thugball played by UCLA, West Virginia and Texas A&M women. Don't enjoy that either and it is winning by breaking the rules rather than with skill.

I'm all for the new rules but wish the officials would also stop making the anticipation calls. In other words calling a play the way they thought it was going to happen. And also favoring the stars. Keith Smart and his ilk go to the line everytime someone breathes on them. Some no name gets hammered and it is a nice block. And on defense allowing O. Sims and her ilk to drape their body on the offensive player with no calls.

Great post! I agree!

 

[CoachTalk]

The whole United States needs to get with European basketball. FUNDAMENTALS. Defense without mugging, without both hands on the ball handler, Its such a better game to watch than the most athletic, most physical team winning.

 

[oketex]

Guys, my crew and I would always start out calling the game very tight and once the players got into the flow of the game then we would relax a little but not to the point to where the game would get away from us. If officials would just follow the book at the beginning of the game and then allow the flow of the game to dictate the calls everything would be just fine. The problem is some officials are to tight one way or the other then when they lose control of the game they want to bring it back and you can't. Once you, as an official, lose control it's gone for the balance of the game.

 

[AdaSooner]

Unfortunately you are absolutely correct. Basketball was intended to be a finesse game not a scrum and it will probably take a decade for everyone to again accept playing basketball instead of rugby.

Personally I would support putting the officials that arbitrarily decided to revert to calling a physical game that they were on probation and subject to being removed from the list of acceptable referees unless they follow the rules as instructed. Their needs to be consequences for intentionally disobeying directions from their administrators.

My thoughts exactly, except I don't believe a decade will be necessary for the players to adjust to playing defense without fouling as much. Keep in mind, some coaches are still resisting these changes. Guys like Izzo and Self, who have been the beneficiary of loosely called games their entire career are not happy to see their bread and butter physical defense taken away. Those two, as well as a few others, complained when this idea was introduced, and they're still complaining.

It's important to remember that this new initiative was brought on by the ADs, coaches and college admins in every conference, because they realized the game had become so physical on the defensive end, offensive players were at a huge disadvantage.

I'll give the NCAA credit, director of officials, John Adams, appears to be determined to make the new emphasis on the rules stick. I agree with what you said about removing officials who refuse to follow their instructions, only I would suspend them in the beginning to get their attention. If that didn't work, I would go a step further with a longer suspension and by making them ineligible to officiate during the post season.