[Softball Fan]

I think the whole conversation about Tara pulling players too quickly when they foul, as if this is some kind of punishment for the player, is completely off base.

It is my understanding that Tara pulls players after they foul not to "punish" them for fouling or even to teach them how not to foul (although that might be a side benefit) but because statistically it is far more likely that they will pick up a second foul quickly if left in.  Once a ref starts watching a particular player, they often call two fouls in a row.  Taking the player out--even if only for a short time--breaks that ref's immediate attention to that player.

The players must know this.  It is in their own interest to come out of the game after each foul to stop the refs watching them too carefully.

This is just another example of what Tara knows that most fans do not.  She was deeply into analytics before that became a word in basketball.

Once a ref starts watching a particular player, they often call two fouls in a row.  Taking the player out--even if only for a short time--breaks that ref's immediate attention to that player.

Do you have some statistics to support that?  Common sense tells me all refs would publicly say they apply rules in an even-handed manner throughout the game.   It would be helpful to see statistical proof that refs are more inclined to call two fouls in a row on a player.


...because statistically it is far more likely that they will pick up a second foul quickly if left in.

I'd be interested to see statistics on this. The premise goes against human nature.  Usually a foul is considered a mistake.  Generally speaking human beings are less inclined to repeat a mistake when the mistake is fresh in their mind. At best I would expect a random distribution of the time intervals between when a player fouls and then commits a subsequent foul.

[Softball Fan]

I think the whole conversation about Tara pulling players too quickly when they foul, as if this is some kind of punishment for the player, is completely off base.

It is my understanding that Tara pulls players after they foul not to "punish" them for fouling or even to teach them how not to foul (although that might be a side benefit) but because statistically it is far more likely that they will pick up a second foul quickly if left in.  Once a ref starts watching a particular player, they often call two fouls in a row.  Taking the player out--even if only for a short time--breaks that ref's immediate attention to that player.

The players must know this.  It is in their own interest to come out of the game after each foul to stop the refs watching them too carefully.

This is just another example of what Tara knows that most fans do not.  She was deeply into analytics before that became a word in basketball.

Once a ref starts watching a particular player, they often call two fouls in a row.  Taking the player out--even if only for a short time--breaks that ref's immediate attention to that player.

Do you have some statistics to support that?  Common sense tells me all refs would publicly say they apply rules in an even-handed manner throughout the game.   It would be helpful to see statistical proof that refs are more inclined to call two fouls in a row on a player.


...because statistically it is far more likely that they will pick up a second foul quickly if left in.

I'd be interested to see statistics on this. The premise goes against human nature.  Usually a foul is considered a mistake.  Generally speaking human beings are less inclined to repeat a mistake when the mistake is fresh in their mind. At best I would expect a random distribution of the time intervals between when a player fouls and then commits a subsequent foul.