Seeing the play is only half the job of a basketball official. Processing the play correctly is what separates officials from getting 10 games to the ones getting 100 games. This sublesson focuses on slowing the game down mentally, understanding play sequencing, and making disciplined decisions based on advantage and disadvantage rather than reacting to every instance of contact.
The difference between average and elite officials is decision-making discipline. Officials are going to see contact every single game, but the key to officiating is being able to determine which instances of contact warrant a whistle and which instances contact should be permitted. Let’s be honest, if you called every moment contact occured in a game, you would want to stop officiating after your first game. An important concept for discerning the contact versus simply reacting to contact is understanding what types of contact are permitted within the rules.
Average officials:
Great officials:
Ask yourself:
Not all contact is a foul. You must become a discerner, not a reactor.
To properly process plays, use the Start - Develop - Finish - Decide framework. Perhaps one of the most important tools for sequencing plays, this framework allows you to process plays in real-time to make the most accurate decision for the game. As you progress, each step to the framework will become second-nature as you implement it quickly in real-game scenarios. Here is the broken-down framework: