I’m a basketball ref. During basketball games (FIBA Rules), there are situations called alternating possessions on jump balls. I need a technique to remember which team is to get the ball next.
Example:
The team colours are Gold and Black. Gold got the possession on a jump ball in the 1st quarter. Black will get the next possession when ever that happens. After that will be Gold and so on alternating.
I keep losing track in my mind about whose gets the ball next and I hate using a physical item to remind me. What techniques do you all suggest I try to remember this?
…any particular reason for that? I was gonna suggest to just use a smartwatch with two different watch faces (gold / black background) and just swipe back and forth between the two.
Can’t wear watches or any other type of gear on wrists while reffing. We often use a coin and switch it from pocket to pocket, but the best refs just remember … and I want to be included in that category. lol.
One idea: have some kind of peg list, maybe a number-shape system (1 = pencil, 2 = swan, …) or an alphabet peg system (A = alligator, B = bear, …). Each time there’s a jump ball, imagine the next item in the list with a mnemonic image incorporating the team colors.
For example, say Gold has first possession on a jump ball, imagine a golden alligator, or an alligator snapping at a block of gold. When Black gets the possession, imagine a bear eating a lump of coal (representing Black), or a lump of coal hitting a bear on the head.
When there’s another jump ball, figure out the last item you saw, and what color was associated with it. “Have I seen the elephant yet? No, but I have seen the dog, and it was covered in black dirt. So next it’s Gold’s turn. Let’s imagine the elephant standing on a pile of gold coins.”
I am British - I do not understand Basketball, however, your description was good so I’ll give it a shot.
Firstly, as far as I understand it, what you’re asking saying is;
There are two teams (G & B). An event occurs that gives one or other side the ball, let’s say G gets the ball first - when that event happens again, the other side get the ball. It’s your job to remember who get’s the ball next. In our example that would be B. Let me know if I have misunderstood.
I would go about this one of two ways, but before I go into either - how many times do you expect this “change” to happen in one game? What would be the maximum +5%?
Let’s say, the first team wins is gold.
1, Image that you are shaking hands to one of the significant member in that team.
2, Or hug all of them.
*Look carefully on their face.
*Better think of 3 more movement to interact with the begging
Since, it is alternative possession, I suppose you can count on what’s about next team.
So I don’t know how far along you are (if you’re even interested) in memory training - If you know about linking, journey’s & Memory Palaces then this is a pretty simple task but assuming you are just starting - here is something that should work just using what you’ll have at your disposal at any given game.
Wikipedia tells me that there are at least 12 players on each team. 5 on the court and 7 on the bench - that’s 24 total, just enough to cover the 20 maximum times this event may happen. I’m assuming they all have shirt numbers (Jersey numbers?)?
Do you want to remember who had the ball last, or who is getting the ball next? It’s an important distinction, so pick one and stick with it. For the purposes of the below example - I want to know who is getting the ball next.
Event 1 happens, team G get’s the ball - We know that team B will get the ball next time, when the event happens I want you to imagine something unpleasant or hilarious happening to the individual with the lowest jersey number on team B.
Event 2 happens, I want you to think back to the unpleasant/hilarious thing that happened, which will lead you to the team that gets the possession. Now imagine the first individual bursts into flames, this signifies to you that you have dealt with it. Pick the person with the lowest Jersey number from Team G and do the same thing.
Let me know how you get on - if it’s not working, post here and we can work on troubleshooting.
OK. Interesting idea. Yes … I am quite familiar with most memory techniques and have dabbled for fun in many of the memory disciplines over the years.
re Sharma idea: Each team uses different number schemes on their jerseys and they do not go up in even increments … so I think that idea might cause issues.
You did give me an idea though:
I’m thinking of assigning odd and even numbers to each team. ie. Gold is always odd and Black is always even. Then I can use either loci or images for numbers starting at one … and then as I use each loci or image, I can destroy it in wild and wonderful ways. Would take a bit of practice to do in the heat of the game, but that just might work.
Well 0-50 should be sufficient for what you’re trying to accomplish. Imagine all the odds lined up on one side of the court and the evens on the other - and then destroy away.
You’ll probably want to do a handful of dry-runs to make sure there are no “leech” points.
