Deseret News | Both 4A and 5A hoops to go with three officials

Reader comments
Both 4A and 5A hoops to go with three officials

REFS | 9:04 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

It sounds better to have 3, but thats not the case.

When you have three refs, 6 eyeballs watching, there are far too many calls being made.

Was there a study done on fouls called from 2 Ref's games verses 3 Ref's?

A foul is a foul. Not really, as it is a fast paced game and a judgement call. Last year I was at countless 5A games where the momentum, pace of play and bad calls against both teams were made because of the 3 Ref system. It ruined the games.

Wait and see-it wont work as well as people think.

what? | 10:37 p.m. Nov. 11, 2009

They can't even find enough decent officials to have 2 good at each game. Where are they going to find a third? Wow, glad all my kids are done playing. This is going to be a circus..

RE. what? | 6:40 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

It appears that you are very quilified to assist in this project. With the apparent experience you portray you would be a valuable asset. So go ahead and put on those stripes and help the kids out!!

Comments continue below

hmmm? | 6:51 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

What will happen in Region 9 with the split 3A and 4A region?

high school coach | 6:55 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Having coached with both "2 man mechanics" and "3 man mechanics" I can honestly say that this is the best decision for the game of basketball. The game has become so physical that 2 officials cannot take care of the physical play away from the ball, which leads to players getting frustrated and rough play escalating in games. There is a reason why three officials are used at the pro level, collegiate level, and at the high school level(in every state except one). It is better for the game! And from a coaches perspective it creates better communication with the officials during game situations which is ideal for both coaches and officials. Kudos to the UHSAA for getting this one right!!

Changes | 6:56 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

This will be a good thing for younger officials. It will help get more officials involved and maybe just maybe get rid of the "good ol boy system" that Mr. Petty is and was part of. The same officials working the tournaments in every classification. Now at least more young officials will get a chance.

Did you know that it is easier to do a varsity game than jv or soph game. That is because there are better players. The hardest games in the world are the jv and soph games, every thing that can happen in a game, will happen. Things that you never see in a varsity game. I only hope that the veteran officials take the younger guys under their wing and help them, and do not consider them a threat to take their so call games.

Young officials are not and have not been the problem, the good ol boy system that Mr. Petty and Mr. Barnes are a part of is the problem with high school officials.

EGO is the key word for officials, you just have to know how to control it.

Girls | 7:34 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Will this be for the girls games too? I thought it was just for the boys?

One suggestion | 7:43 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

As a coach, I would like to see the third official moved to the other side of the floor rather than putting him directly in front of the team benches. I think the officials think it is a good thing to communicate with coaches. I think it would be better if that communication were limited.

JAMMER | 8:19 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

As a younger official, I am excited about this new rule. It will allow me to move up quicker and to gain more experience. I've officiated for 10 years, but this is my third in high school. What people don't realize is that we just don't come into high school from officiating church ball. It takes a lot of hard work, time, and training to do what we do. If someone thinks they can do better, then tell them to join us because the more officials we have, the better the basketball product will be on the court. I'm excited about this upcomming season. BASKETBALL IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

Costs | 9:09 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

5A programs can handle the costs as their enrollments are largest (1600+). With most students paying $35-40 for activity fees and much larger gates, they should have no trouble picking up an extra $150/game (x 20 games..girls/boys).

4A schools have to absorb the same costs...a bit more difficult but probably will cover it.

I just hope that trend doesn't go below to the smaller classifications. Their enrollments are less than half of the 5A schools...but the costs will be the same.

Regions should decide | 9:10 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Why can't the regions determine who has three officials? Home teams can choose to do so. I can see that tournament play would benefit, but it always seems that the officials pool is small and schools have trouble getting officials to show up.

DHS DARTS | 9:11 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

I think this will separate the disciplined teams from the non disciplined teams. Mistakes will become more critical. A foul is a foul, unless it's a foul. Eliminate errors ==> become a better team.

Anonymous | 10:21 a.m. Nov. 12, 2009

People think that using 3 officials means more fouls and violations called...the opposite is true. With 3 refs, more calls are missed because each of the 3 expect the other 2 to make the "obvious" calls. I have seen it for years...

JAMMER | 12:19 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

TO: REGIONS TO DECIDE
If you actually read the article, it says that the 4 regions on the 5A & 4A classifications voted.

re anonymous | 12:31 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

no. not at all. Refs are there to hear thier whistle and make a call if they see it. What you are saying is that the refs will defer calls to one another. We all know that didnt happen last year.

Other problem is, if you get a Ref that has never played, making bad calls it can kill you. In the Tournament last year, the game before ours had a small ref that blew the whistle 11 straight times down the floor as we counted and were thankful he didnt do our game. The other 2 refs were great.

One bad ref eliminated a team from the tourney last year by trying to show how good he was and call everything he thought he saw. Just the opposite of deferring to another ref to make a call.........

@ Change | 12:59 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Why the reference to "Mr. Barnes?" He wasn't mentioned in the article. Maybe Mr. Geddes still has an axe to grind!

JAMMER | 2:10 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

TO: re anonymous | 12:31 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

What exactly do you mean if you get a ref that has never played? It takes an official atleast 4 years to make it to the varsity level, and then have to work hard to be eligable for post season.

I never played high school ball, but I have played and been around the game for a long time. Does that make me a bad official? No. I officiate because I love the game. I wanted to be involved in the game, so I became an official. Do you think we like calling fouls and violations? No because the disrupt the flow of the game. So your claim that refs are there to hear their own wistle is rediculous.

TO "re anonymous 12:31" | 2:19 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

Did you look at the plays that the small ref had whistles on? Tell me about one of them and explain the rule that he messed up. Better yet, try working a ball game (non church ball) before you vent. It might give you some perspective...

Ditto to Jammer | 7:49 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009

If you have to be a good player to be a good referee, is the opposite also true? I doubt it!! I have seen some great HS ball players try and referee, and they are just this side of clueless. Playing and reffing require totally different skills. It's possible to be a good referee without having played, but it does take a lot of work and study. I'm thrilled with this decision - maybe I'll make I to varsity before I die now.

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