Pre-Game Responsibilities

1. Pre-GameResponsibilities

2. 72 hours prior to game U1 & U2 confirm with the R Use email (or phone)‏ Carpool to game? Include time & place to meet? 48 hours prior to game R confirms with assigner & school by email (CC your partners in that email)‏ Subject Line = Confirmation: Date/Location/Level Ex: Confirmation: 12-08/Holt/Boys Var Date & Time: 12/8/2009 Tue 7:00 PM Sport & Level: Boys Basketball, Varsity Site: Holt High School Home: Holt Away: Grand Ledge Officials: Mike Brya, Jeff Spedoske, Rob Stanaway Communication Countdown

3. Communication Countdown • 24 hours prior to game • Pack your bag • Check the weather What is in the bag? Jacket – name on tag & needle in pocket Black & white vertically stripped v-neck shirt Black pleated pants – no belts Black socks Black shoes with black laces Black lanyard Black whistle – no metal or pee whistles (preferably Fox 40)‏ Important contact phone numbers Pregame board & outline Rulebook Towel

4. On Arrival to Game Site • Check in with Game/Site Administration • R's responsible to have crew mentally & physically read to walk on the floor to work a game, especially a younger crew • Could be partner's first varsity game (ever, that year, etc.)‏ • Sit as a crew to watch the previous game • What type of offense does each team run? • Motion, Flex, Post-play, etc. • What does the defense look like? • Zone, Man, Full-court pressure, Half-court trap, etc. • Other tendencies?

5. On Arrival in the Locker Room • Go through pre-game script • Talk about conditions & situations that could occur • Fighting for first place? To stay out of last place? • Talk about crazy/unusual plays that have occurred recently & how the crew will avoid or handle a similar situation • A solid pre-game is a tremendously important mental exercise • If the crew can visualize these types of situations, they will have a better chance to handle the plays consistently from the first possession

6. On Arrival in the Locker Room • Talk about personnel & team tendencies • One playing zone? One play full-court man? • If so, we'll need to work hard at being “consistent” • Does one or both teams press? • If so, C will have to stay and help • A lot of motion or flex? • If so, screens & illegal screens should be a major part of pre-game • Any bigs or will there be post-play? • If so, defense may try to double • 3-point shooting teams? • If so, chances are the game will be played around the perimeter & crew will need to return shooters to the floor

7. On Arrival in the Locker Room • Talk about personnel & team tendencies (continued...)‏ • Pressure defensive team? • If so, an offensive player may get around the defender • If this happens, we may have a secondary defender; be ready to officiate the defensive play • Perimeter shooting team? • If so, this may lead to long rebounds • This could lead to rebounding fouls & a very fast transition game • T has to support in the frontcourt but must be ready to react in a fast break scenario

8. On Arrival to the Floor • Go directly to spots opposite the scorer's table • Take a position approximately on the 28-foot line • 3-man: R stands at half-court, U1 watches Home team, U2 watches Visiting team • 2-man: R watches Visitors, U watches Home team • U1 & U2 count your players • Are they going back into the locker room? What time? • Mentally prepare yourself • Go through your “check list” • Jewelry, illegal uniforms, under shirts, headbands, wristbands, medical braces/wraps, etc.

9. On Arrival to the Floor • Be alert to any pre-game dunking; be proactive • Definition: Dunking or stuffing is the driving, forcing, pushing or attempting to force a ball through the basket with the hand(s).Rule 4-16 • Be observant: shooters, jump-stop, spin-moves, identify the pivot foot, return shooter to the floor, etc. • Assess the court conditions • Markings on the floor, end line clear of obstruction (photographers, spectators, cheerleaders, etc.), basket cables/supports, etc. • Get captains at the 12-minute mark • R goes to scorer's table at 10-minute mark • Crew does coaches' introductions at 1:30 • visiting coach first, then home coach

10. Captain's Meeting • KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid • Avoid unnecessary dialog with captains • Avoid the obvious • Avoid rephrasing the rules book or POE verbatim • Don't say anything a captain could use against you later in the game • Keep It Short • Attention span: you will have approximately 30 seconds or less to get your point across before the captains lose interest • Get the Numbers • Each team should have a speaking captain

11. Captain's Meeting • Be Careful with Humor • A lot of times high school athletes will not get your (or any) humor • If you use humor, use it wisely • Be sure it does not offend any of the players or teams • Put the Onus on the Captains • Remind them about sporting behavior • The consequences of unsporting behavior will be much better if captains deal with their own players before the crew has to • Entrust them with this responsibility of controlling their own team

12. Scorer's Table Meeting • Official Book (Scorer)‏ • Count the number of players in the book for each team; this should match what U1 & U2 counted • Starters should be noted • Inform crew on all bonus & double-bonus fouls • Make eye-contact with crew when fouls are reported • Put crew's names & numbers in book • Timer • 15-second warning horn on everything (between quarters, timeouts, disqualified players, injured players)‏ • Start clock for timeouts, disqualified players, injured players when instructed to do so by the official • Coaches have 20-seconds to replace disqualified players & injured players • Alternating Possession Arrow Procedure

13. Scorer's Table Meeting • Visiting Book • Similar procedure as Official Book • Designate & Check Game Ball • Announcer • Starters? • National Anthem? • Anything special? • Inform the Crew on the Sequence of Events • Starters then National Anthem? • National Anthem then Starters? • No National Anthem?

14. Questions???