[Andy]

AZ has used a crew system for the last several years.

The way we work is to assign different partners for the first part of the season and holiday tournaments, then primarily assign set crews once league play begins.

This system has good points and bad points.

Good points:
- Crews enable officials to become familiar with one another so they are comfortable with each other on the court. This is one less thing for each official to worry about near the end of a barnburner game.
- The early season games provide mentoring opportunities for experienced officials to work with newer officials.

Bad points:
- Officials can become complacent with each other or incorporate "unofficial" mechanics and signals that only the two partners understand. When they have to do a game with anyone other than their "regular" partner, proper mechanics and signals may be rusty.
- Crews can stay together too long. I recommend that a crew stay together no more than 3 seasons.

I like the crew system, myself. I think the good outweighs the bad, if the system is run properly. I like knowing what my partner was doing or where he would be near the end of a tight game.