1. GPOA Basketball Training/Philosophy
Ideas for Effective Responding

2. Discussion Ideas for Effective Responding
Attributes and Basics of Good Responding
Fundamentals of Responding
Practice Non-verbal Communication

3. Attributes and Basic of Good Responding
Have an aurora of control
- Avoid being defensive
- Be the voice of reason
- Try and give people a chance to come down
- Recognize the level of tension or anger
- Defuse animosity
- Always maintain your dignity
- Demonstrate empathy and respect for coach and players

4. Fundamentals of Responding
Listening
Never Have Automatic Reactions
Know Your Audience
Don’t Worry About Being Wrong
Responding to Comments About Your Partner
Know When to Drop the Hammer

5. Practice Non-Verbal Communication
Don’t’ Make a Face in Defense
Watch How You Talk With Your Hands
Ask the Coach to Come Off the Ledge and tell what he wants because I will listen

6. Remember Your “A” Game
- The more you say the less it means (no clinics! The less said the better)
- Respect and communication is a 2-way street
- Try and bring closure to each incident

7. Conflict Resolution/Responding Skills
Be aware of your environment
Understand diplomacy
The goal is to negotiate a resolution
Have a presence that represents your there to assist with the concern
Be a responder not an initiator
Diffuse
Bring the concern to a “discussable level
Listen and find out exactly what the problem is

8. EXAMPLE OF Listening/Acting
Listen and find out exactly what the problem is:
“hit on the arm”, “pushed from behind”, or “in the restricted area”,
Open your ears and then your mouth
a. Statement – he was hit on the arm
b. Question – didn’t he get hit on the arm?
c. Baiting – we get hit every time, hit, hit, hit, no call, we breath don’t hit and they shoot free throws

9. Example of Listening/Acting cont’d
Take control. Get the environment safe, to help insure a civil interaction. (walk back to the box, get away from the media). Get behavior under control first, then engage topic matter. Don’t initiate contact with players and coaches
Interact with some degree of eye contact and body language that exhibits confidence . Respond with the coach and don’t let the coach command the situation.

10. Basketball 101
“Keep it simple! When you get too complicated, you forget the obvious”. (Al McGuire) GPOA’S RESPONSIBILITY Put the game first, your partners second and yourself last. You are a GAME MANAGER and you should take pride in yourself and your work as an official and an ambassador for the game. GPOA motto: Remember Always Bring Your “A” Game!

11. 12 Standards of Excellence
Play Calling
Court Presence
Fitness
Personal Qualities
Body Language
Demeanor
Presentation
Areas of Awareness
Mechanics
Team Officiating
Lead
Center
Trail
Points of Emphasis
Career Path Oriented

12. Play Calling & Court Presence
Positioning
Accurate Calls
Consistent Calls
Professionalism
Game Awareness & Control
Communication
Team Officiating

13. Fitness & Personal Qualities
Physically Fit
Athletic Appearance
Preseason Job Preparation
Game Preparation & Review
Rules Knowledge
Self-Awareness
Attention to Improving Performance
Mentoring/Leadership
Integrity/Image

14. Body Language & Demeanor– Be Professional and Confident
When you enter the court
During pre-game
At the captains meeting
When you take the court
Work relaxed
Stay focused and poised
Take charge in the game
Work with effort and purpose
Use clear communications

15. Presentation & Areas of Awareness
Movements should have SNAP but not mechanical
Strong whistle
Good pace to the table
Strong presentation at the table
During timeouts and free throws
Monitor clocks on all whistles
Understand substitutions and how they affect your game
Monitor the mood of players and coaches during timeouts

16. Mechanics & Team Officiating
Do not put air in the whistle when an infraction has not occurred (be 100% sure when you blow)
Get correct angles and call the obvious.
Distinguish between LEGAL and ILLEGAL contact
Have a patient whistle on plays to the basket. Let plays start, develop, and finish
Be consistent, don’t guess on plays, and don’t get surprised on plays
Have certainty on all plays. In the last 4 minutes, have high certainty
Put yourself in a position to get the first foul in a matchup
Use technical fouls as a tool. You must be able to defend it!
Position adjust to get angles for open looks
Maintain a position as L, C, & T, which allows you to see as many of the players as possible

17. Career Path Oriented Have a goal oriented mindset
Approach the opportunity with a purpose of quality development.
Attend camps with the purpose of improving as an official.
Become a by-product of what you know about the craft and what you can perform.