[proref27]

Originally posted by M&M Guy

Let me give you a perfect example. The first year IL went to using 3-whistle in the post season, I was assigned with two other officials, both from a little outside my area. I happened to know one of them from doing JUCO ball, but the other I did not know. It turned out the official I didn't know had been working for years, but finally decided to apply for the post season and got his first ever assignment. It was also the first game he ever did 3-whistle. His "clinic" was in the car with the guy I knew on the way to the game. The game went along ok, with no big problems, but we had to continually adjust for his positioning, point to where he needed to go, etc. In any type of intense game this would've been a disaster.

That said, I agree if I had a choice between a shot clock and 3-whistle, I would pick 3-whistle every time. But there will be the problems with finding that many more experienced officials to cover all the available games. There will be the ones that have worked 2-whistle for years, but will be a "newbie" when it comes to 3. There will be that adjustment period for the experience level of the "pool of officials" to catch up.

There will be an adjustment period for any big change, but the sooner everyone learns it the better. In most major areas it is the standard. They have been using 3 person for several years now at the high school level in my area. They guys who know it are varsity officials. The guys who don't are JV officials, and you have to build a system to bring people up through. From learning at the freshman/jv HS level, to becoming more porficient at 3 person and moving to the Varsity level, and then possibly into college and pro level. Everyone has to start on the bottom at some point. Granted, this official had no business getting a tournament assignment if he couldn't work 3 person. The system in your area needs to be fixed to where this would not happen.