"Even if I leave, I will do this" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Oct 07, 2024
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Yoo Jae-hak (61), former coach of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis, who was called the best master in Korean professional basketball history, held an honorary retirement ceremony in March last year. As the head of Hyundai Mobis for 18 years, the coach who set the record for the most wins (6 times) and the most wins (724 wins) in the regular league dreamed of a complete retirement. I tried to leave the basketball world where I devoted my youth and passion for the time being and spend time with my family leisurely and leisurely.
However, his passion as a basketball player, which was ingrained in his bones, was not easy to calm down. He returned to 'Administrator'. He served as the head of the game division in the new KBL executive department. He is again burning his new passion to root out his dream of 'better basketball' by sympathizing with the referees who were at odds with him countless times when he was a coach.
The project that Director Yoo is most focusing on ahead of the 2024-2025 season is the so-called change in judgment criteria expressed as 'hard call'. It is an innovative change that can bring a new turning point in refereeing decisions, which have been pointed out as the biggest problem in the existing professional basketball world.
The key is 'Allow normal physical struggle'. In addition, the key point is to ensure that this standard is consistently applied to all teams from the beginning to the end of the season. Director Yoo said, `The part that I thought was the biggest problem in the field about KBL's decision is that foul calls come out too often. Due to the nature of basketball, physical fights are bound to occur frequently, and this should be allowed to make the game more dynamic and interesting. Intense physical fights make the game more interesting even when watching international games or NBA games. The referees also admit it unless it's a deliberate or malicious foul.'
Therefore, head of the headquarters Yoo said in advance that he would allow physical fights under the normal range ahead of the opening of the season and change the decision method to prevent attackers from intentionally trying to get a foul. It was not a unilateral declaration. On the 11th of last month, he already held a briefing session for judges for the media at the KBL Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and explained the criteria for the judgment.
In addition, since the end of July, when each club was conducting team training, they visited 10 clubs, starting with Changwon LG, and held a "mini referee briefing session" sequentially to explain the new decision changes and seek understanding. In person, he showed the video materials prepared in advance in front of the coaches, coaching staff and players of all clubs, explained the rules that would change in detail, and prepared a place to communicate with the field.
Through this process, the judgment based on the new standard was applied to the '2024 DB Insurance KBL CUP IN Jecheon' competition currently held in Jecheon. Players are responding in various ways by experiencing a significantly reduced foul call compared to the previous one. Director Yoo is also listening to the vivid reactions of the field by seeing firsthand how the improvement of the judgment method he promoted is applied in the field.
Of course, the response is mixed because it is in the early stages of implementation. Suwon KT star Huh Hoon said after the match against KCC in Busan on the 6th,"I don't know if it's basketball or martial arts. I understand the purpose, but I'm worried that the players will get hurt. There could also be abuse of this. We need improvement."
However, Yoo's conviction remained unshakable. "Many stories are said as the hard call method was applied in practice at the beginning of the Cup. But what is clear is that these changes can make basketball more interesting. In particular, the key is to ensure that the rules are consistently applied to all teams from the beginning to the end of the season. "Even if I'm criticized, I want to change this for sure." In the end, it can make basketball more interesting and increase international competitiveness. Even if I leave, I will do this and go."
wman@sportschosun.com
