Podcast Script + Pictures

^ I believe this is a perfect picture for the podcast.  This is an example of what referees are under every single game they officiate.  

^ A picture with me and my team who are from the ages of 7-10.  This is an example of what grade school teams look like.

^ A picture of a young referee who, like Chuckie, is trying to make it up the ladder in the referee rankings.

SCRIPT TEMPLATE

Module III: Podcast Script

High School Referring vs. Grade School Referring

Complete Show Length in Minutes: 6 min 50 sec

Episode 1: Topic: The challenges of referring high school basketball

Intro Music Clip: Title: “Lets Get Ready to Rumble!” (Michael Buffer) Time: 20 sec

Intro: The Opening Tip-Off: Time: 1 min 30 sec

Welcome! I am Eric Ely, and this is my podcast, “High School Referring vs. Grade School Referring”, where I will discuss the differences between the two, and why one is harder than the other. In today’s show, I will explain the different challenges that arise before the game, during the game, and after the game. For anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to referee a competitive basketball game, it is a lot harder than one might think. I have been referring seven to fourteen year olds for the past two years and let me tell you, it works up a sweat. You might think I mean running and sweating, but not that. I mean the pressure and comments I receive from the players, coaches, and parents. Right when I thought I had it hard, I interviewed a high school referee who has experienced a lot more from referring older players. For today’s show, I will relate my interview with Chuckie Hughes and his thoughts on referring, with my thoughts and compare the two together. Chuckie Hughes has been referring for a total of eight years. He has referred grade school basketball for 5 years and high school basketball for three years.

Segment Music Clip: Title: Get Ready for This (2 Unlimited) Time: 20 sec

Segment: Importance of Controlling a Game: 3 min

Before the game, a referee will stretch out around center court to get ready for the competitive game that is about to be played. This is very important for the referees to do because although they might not be running as much as the players, but they will be constantly running up and down the court to make sure that they catch every little detail that takes place. The first comparison I will talk about is how many referees are present for a grade school game versus a high school game. The standard amount of referees for a grade school is usually two, but can sometimes require three if it is down to the division championship. High school games always require three referees for a game unless one referee becomes ill or injured while the game is being played. This is very important to make sure that almost every violation is called and to make sure the game flows at the right pace.

The most important part of referring a basketball game, or even any sporting event, is to control the people around you. An example of this would be when a coach gets upset about a call and starts to get out of hand, his players will get out of hand, and that will cause the parents and fans of that team to start to yell and argue about certain calls. When a player or coach gets way out of line, the referee will have the option to give that person a technical foul, which will result in two free throws and possession of the ball. Sometimes receiving a technical foul can pump up your team, but at the same time, could cost your team two to five points.

One of the biggest questions that sports fans ask is, “What happens when two different referees blow their whistle at the same time but have no different calls?” The answer to this question can be confusing at times because of the conflict that can arise from the two teams. In a grade school game, the two referees will talk privately about the two calls and the lead referee will have the final say in what the call will be. For a high school game, all three referees will meet and ask the referee who didn’t make a call to make a decision to what he thought it was. It is very important for the referees to make the right call when this happens so the pace of the game stays the same.


End Segment Music Clip: Title: Space Jam (Theme) Time: 20 sec


Ending: The results of the Basketball Game: 1min

The results of a game that a referee does should never reflect the way the referee called the game. There have been so many scandals in the recent past on how referees favored a certain team in order to win a bet or to help out a team. A referee should always call a game the same way for every game no matter what. The style of a referee will be known by many coaches and players, which will result in no drama from the outcome of a game. I believe that not only refereeing a game is a job, but also a privilege. When refereeing a game, make sure to always recognize both team’s coaches and players before and after the game. I would like to thank Chuckie Hughes for letting me interview him and to discuss his answers on this podcast. Remember listeners, next time you are watching or playing in a sporting game, consider what is going on in the referee’s head.

Ending Music Clip: Title: The Final Countdown (Theme) Time: 20 sec