Imagine that the buzzer to end the first half has justsounded. The game is going to be a real barn burner.The teams are tied at halftime and there is no sign ofeither team gaining an advantage any time soon. Thegym is filled with spectators, and the atmosphere iselectric. You can’t wait to start the second half.Now imagine another scenario. The buzzer to endthe first half has just sounded. The spread is 20 pointsat halftime, and the score is much closer than theaction on the court suggests. Few fans occupy theseats; most of them seem to be more interested in theconcession stand than the game. It could be a longsecond half.
Undoubtedly you have officiated both types ofgames. While those two games may seem worldsapart, the fact is that they are not. Both games haveone thing in common — the success or failure of theofficiating crew depends on what happens in theofficials’ locker room during the halftime conferenceand on the court in the second half.
Every official learns the importance of the pregameconference as one of the foundations of successfulofficiating. There are even laminated cards thatorganize all of the items to be addressed in thepregame conference. Postgame analysis receivessimilar emphasis. Videotape and postgamebreakdowns have become very valuable tools toofficials.
With the emphasis on pregame and postgame inofficiating, one critical point is sometimes overlooked— halftime. While it may be brief, halftime is a crucialpoint for officials. At halftime, officials are given theopportunity to communicate in the privacy of thelocker room and take time to discuss the events of thefirst half. The officials can also use that time to refocusand concentrate on making the second half of thegame even better. How many times have you heardbefore taking the court, “That was the easy half.”
While there are many things a crew may cover athalftime, three topics should always come up:
1. What plays stood out in the first half?
Were those plays handled correctly, or could they be improved upon? Perhaps there was a block/charge call that was very close or a three-point attempt that could have been more effectively covered. (Officials in the professional leagues even have the technology to watch a play from the previous half right there in the locker room.) Discuss the type of offenses involved and how those might affect crew positioning. Understand the defenses being used and how those might relate to the tempo of the game. Halftime is a great time to discuss plays. It is not, however, a time for argument. Any discussion that isn’t positioned in helping the crew improve should be eliminated. Save it for after the game.
2. Are there any players or coaches that deserveattention in the second half?
Perhaps one of the crewmembers has spoken to a coach or a player aboutsomething, but hasn’t had the chance to tell the rest ofthe crew. Now is the time to do it. If there is aparticular match-up between players that is closelycontested, the crew should be aware of it for thesecond half. Talk about the demeanor of the playersand coaches, how it may change and how the crewwill handle such a situation.
3. What might the second half hold in store?
If thegame is close, and you expect a barnburner, make sureeveryone in the crew stays focused and reviews rulesregarding overtime. Games in which the margin islarger require particular focus and attention. The crewshould discuss what is expected in the second half andmake sure that everyone is focused and prepared.
Don’t let a well-timed cheap shot catch your crew off-guardin the waning moments of a blowout.
If a crew can thoroughly cover at least those threetopics in their halftime conference, the chance forsuccess in the game increases greatly. Hopefully, thecrew held a thorough pregame, and will do thenecessary post-game analysis as well. A thoroughhalftime conference, however, is the best chance a crewhas to address issues during the game, when it maymatter most.
What's Your Call? Leave a Comment:
Note: This article is archival in nature. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year.
This article is the copyright of ©Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. The article is made available for educational use by individuals.
