Commonly Used Terms
Advantage – a benefit that puts one in a favorable spot.
Aggressive/Physical Play – vigorous or energetic play
Anticipate (don’t) – particular plays or situations need anticipation, others do not, this is a judgment call. Be careful!!!
Areas of Intersection – places where picks, screens and action intersect
Body Language – the message you convey with your body language is key to communicating and conveying positive/negative information.
Closed Look – this is a look when you don’t have proper coverage of the play. This means you can onlysee bodies, you have no angle.
Common-sense Officiating – this is a philosophy of using good judgment and common sense. If everyone in the gym sees it, you better see it. Also, if it is not a call that fits, you probably should not make the call
Communication – a very important part of the game. Communication to your partners, the table, players, and coaches is key. This may be the #1 item in game management
Competitive Matchups – this is a one on one or two on two that involves a match-up that could give us problems. It is potentially the match-up that will be a factor in the play.
Creating Angles – This is an act of looking between players at an angle to see the play. You may have to move onto the floor to do this.
Curl Play – play where the offensive person goes around a screen or defender to get to the basketCutters– players who are cutting around screens and cutting thru the lane to get to the basket
Dead Ball – this is when the action could get tough. Be alert on all dead balls. 90% of the time, this is where trouble occurs.
Diffuse Conflict – diffusing the situation by comments, warnings and sometimes silence or gestures can lead to good rapport.
Disadvantage – an unfavorable condition or circumstance
Displacement – to change or move the position of someone
Enter Play – it is so easy to make a call when you see the entire play from start to finish
Flight of the Ball – do not watch the flight of the ball on a pass or shot. You already know where the ball is going, no need to watch it.
Freedom of Movement – this is the ability to move freely or to be in a position to move as you wish
Game Content – what the game consists of, fouls, surroundings, players, coaches, etc…
High Certainty Calls – this is a new term that simply means, make sure of the call. You must have high certainty in order to make this call.
Impact of Contact – did the contact have an impact on the play? Did it affect their rhythm, speed, balance or quickness? This is what we need to ask RSBQ
Initiation of Contact – who made contact? Whose fault was this contact? Was it incidental? Also, great question to think about in split seconds.
Mentor – a person used for advice and guidance.
Mirror the Ball – this term is used during floor positioning. We always want to mirror the ball and it’s movement on the floor.
Obvious Call – this is a call that everyone in the gym sees. If all 12,898 people thinks and knows this is a foul (including the fouler) it is a foul.
Officiate in the future – this means to anticipate where the play is going, what the offense is going to do next. This does not mean to anticipate a foul.
Post-Game Conference – This is the after-game conference where we talk about things that happened, both good and bad. This is a de-briefing, the only way we can get better at the current time.
Pre-Game Conference – this is your meeting to discuss different objectives and strategies before the game. A sharing of ideas and philosophies manual for more details.
Primary Area – this is an area that is your primary responsibility. It varies depending on the game you are calling. Check your mechanics manual for more details.
Primary Defender – this is who you are responsible for in your area of the floor coverageRe-Route– changing the direction or speed of the opponent that someone is guarding
Rough Play – different form physical play, this is action that is violent in nature. It is the action that causes someone to be put at a disadvantage.
Screeners – person or persons who is performing an act to free a teammate for an opening or opportunity
Secondary Area – this is an official’s second area of concern. Where there is no competitive match-up in your primary area, this becomes the focus.
Self-Assessment – act of reviewing your performance through file or written correspondence. Look for ways and things to get better.
Wide View – this is the view that helps in most all cases when making judgement on plays. This view gives us a better view to see the entire play. It is a broad view that allows us to see the entire court area, benches, players, and our co-officials.