[ace]

I had my first two 3-person mechanics game today. Working an 8th grade tournament (dont laugh ok) The head of our "association" has been around all day. Former Big 12; SEC; Div I Official; He helps out our varsity assignors by filling in last minute cancelations and the like... He knows my parter and I are moving up in a respective state chapters and asks how familar we are with 3-man... I've read about it, did one night of it at camp this summer, sat through discussions and hanging out here and the nwatching other officials work it... Well my partner was the same - done some 3 man scrimmages and such. Supervior/HOA was like - ok we're doing three man... you'll guys benefit from it sooo much...
So we did the 3/4th place game as a practice almost- got the basics down- got together on everytime out to see what we needed to work on and such. After the game he sat down with each of us and critiqued us. I was a bad C. Need to be a 3-man T and not a 2-man T... something I probably could have worked on and fixed if I had had one more game (his comment not mine) My L was OK; but really good considering I didnt have real post play to focus on so I wondered a little bit. All of our rotations were smooth and none all of the coaches said it made for a better game having the extra guy. It was a great experince to learn and have fun at the same time. It did get rid of the same ol same ol 8th grade ball we had been watching all day.