Never get Foul reporting Wrong Again!-The Preload -

It’s a big high school varsity game and you are in the lead position. There is not much time on the clock and it’s tied. A player drives to the basket and you call a blocking foul, and you sell it loud and meaningful, still, the crowd goes crazy, and the environment is buzzing.

You go through the mechanics and you look flawless. Your partners are shaking their heads in agreement as you hustle to the reporting area.

Suddenly you have completely forgotten the jersey number for whatever reason?

You do the old rookie mistake and turn completely around while everyone is looking right at you and the crowd, players and coaches pick up that you are indecisive. You don’t want to make up a number, but sadly you look toward the players and pick one and present.

After presenting the coach says "Ref, he wasn't even in the area how is that possible?"

You walk away and get to your area on the court. You try to be confident in your court disposition, but you know you blew it!

You are the official and what you say goes, so you have to get this right!

As I have said many times before, pausing after the foul and getting the information is like being a witness to a car crash, and providing that info to the board as if they are the insurance agency is vital.

A simple solution to never getting this incorrect is called the “Preload”. What is the preload? Well, let me clarify.

After the mechanics are perfectly performed, I use my right hand for the first digit and the left for my second, while my arms are smoothly at my side. As I hustle to the board (in running form), they are preloaded for delivery with the appropriate numerals in the correct hands.

Getting this right comes with executing the sequences of the foul mechanics. If you don’t rush, you will get it right every time. Do everything in the power you have to present the appropriate numbers to the board, it’s the correct thing to do!