[ilyazhito]

In 2-person mechanics, the officials become Lead and Trail after the initial jump ball ends. However, those positions leave much to be desired when it comes to court coverage, because there is no good way to cover plays on the side opposite the Trail without sacrificing Lead coverage in the post. Plays above the free-throw line extended opposite the Trail are also difficult to cover, because the Trail might not have a good angle.

Transition is another difficult area for 2-person crews, because one official will be ahead of the players and the other behind (with no-one in the middle to watch the middle 3rd of players and recover should there be a quick change of direction). For these reasons, I have thought about modifying 2-person mechanics to include a Trail and Center instead of a Trail and Lead.
I think that Trail and Center would be easier to work, because there won't be as many long transitions (C hangs back as T, T would move to C). Switches on fouls would be easier (just cross the court, official who administers throw-in will be trail; C administers free throws and watches shooter/opposite spaces, T watches opposite spaces and perimeter. Rebounding responsibilities will be T strongside, C weakside). In the frontcourt, T will move to C and officiate off-ball if the ball and multiple match ups leave his area. C will become Trail when the ball enters his area and he has multiple matchups. This will be akin to the movements of a 3-person crew during a rotation (initiated by Lead, except for high pressure on the ball).

By encouraging proper off-ball coverage, and keeping the PCAs similar to 3-person, a Trail and Center system would provide better court coverage than the current Trail and Lead system, where neither position truly resembles their 3-person namesake. A T-C system, along with teaching officials how to work and move as the Lead, would significantly ease the transition of officials from the 2-person system to the 3-person system. What do you think?