Basketball statistician

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is orphaned as few or no other articles link to it. Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. (April 2008)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008)

This article or section is written like a personal reflection or essay and may require cleanup. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (April 2008)

This article or section may require restructuring to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since April 2008.

Typically, many professional, college, high school, and even middle school basketball teams have one or two statisticians or managers that do statistics during games. These statisticians are usually females and there are usually two of them. One of the jobs of statisticians are to represent the team and school/league with respect, dignity, and pride. Statters must always look their best, especially on game days. This often includes wearing the team shirts, sweatshirts, or other clothing that represents the team from said school/league. Often, statisticians get team clothing for free. If your school/league for which you stat has a concession stand, you should get the food for free. I often use the phrase It's on coach's tab. Hopefully, your coach likes you enough to give you free food. Statters also bake cookies, cupcakes, and other assorted sweets for the team and coaches. However, these baked goods must not be distrubited before a game; only the practice before or after the game. Statisticians can also fulfill other miscellaneous jobs. Such as filming, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and other jobs at the request of the coach. A statter with respect for onesself NEVER does laundry. We will go to the ends of the earth to help the coach and team, but laundry is no mans land.

During the actual game, one statistician takes down the stats in the book, and the other does the individual statistics. When starting out as a young statistician, your coach may not request the individual statistics to be done. When such a situation occurs, one statter does one side of the book(home team) and the other statter does the other side of the book(away team). After a maximum of five games, one statistician should be able to do the whole book, by themselves. After three years of statting, you should not still be doing one side of the book. If said situation occurs, you are at an extreme risk of losing your job to younger, fresher statisticians. Next, be considerate of your coach and how he likes his stats. Does he/she like foul shots on the bottom and 2 and 3 pointers on top? Does he/she like "x's" or slashes? Each coach has their own personal preference.

Statters should also be respectable towards the opposing team and coaches, fans, and referees. Being nice to the ref is critical because communication during the game is vital to your statting and the entire game. Refs tell you, using a series of hand motions, who fouled, the type of foul, and how many free throws they will take. Another rule is that you should always be paying attention to the game and the referee. Always have both teams names, numbers, and miscellaneous information scattered throughout the book done before the game. Once the game starts, you want to focus and not worry about getting names and numbers. In order to receive the opposing teams names and numbers you must politely ask the other statistician(s). I often use the phrase "Excuse me, may I see your book for a moment please?" While simultaneously handing my book to the other statters. Statisitcians, by rule, are not permitted to yell, scream, or motion things from the stand because we are considered officials. You only speak to your fellw statter, the ref(s), the person doing the scoreboard, the coach and players. Interaction with fans during the game is prohibited; you will see them during half time and possibly in between quarters. If there are older statters who are at least a year older than you, and thus have a year's more experience, will often show you the ropes pertaining to your school/league. No matter how distracting your cell phone, fellow statistician, or hot boys in the stands can be, you are there for the team and must be devoted and focused. Basic math is critical for statting because in high school, college, and professional leagues players can score massive amounts of points. If you add a players stats wrong, even by one measly little free throw, they will be extremely upset. So unless you want to mess with a 6' 7" basketball player, triple check your stats by yourself and have your fellow statistician go over them as well.

All in all, statisticians represent their team, as well as their school/league and must do so with grace, beauty, pride, respect, and a great attitude!