[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by Back In The Saddle
Dan_ref, your reply sounds to me like exactly what I need. Thank you. May I pose some follow-up questions?

No! Now go away or I'll taunt you some more!

Second, let me see if I understand the a b cs. If b position is at my lane line extended, and c is the far lane line extended, then where is a position? Is it out near my-side 3 pt. line extended?

generally no, the 3 pt line is way to wide for A IMO. Think more like a good 3 to 4 ft or so in from there & you're about right for 2 man. In 2 man I will go out to the 3 pt line but that's only when the ball is settled & pressured on that sideline. And I pregame this, tell my partner he's got the rest of the floor while I look for OOB.
A's kinda your starting position, the ball is moving down the court or is not being pushed in the front court. From there you can watch the lane, your side & keep tabs on ball location.

Assuming the above about a position, when the ball swings wide, I should be moving out to a? As the ball moves toward the top of the key, I should begin closing down to b? I should be moving back and forth as the ball moves? Where should I be when the ball is on the far side of the lane?

If I am at b position, should I still let my partner have the first call on any drives from his side? How about c position?

As Bob said mirror the ball, but do so gracefully - as you incorporate this into your game you might start to look like a yo-yo, but that's OK, you will get the feel.
2 man primary still applies: T has his side of the floor up to the lane line and dual coverage in the paint on drives from T's area. You do not go to C to referee his side of the floor - you're there to get a good look at the post action on that side.

This tells your partner at T (assume 2 man) that you have the lane and he should go wide to cover your side better, it gets you a better look

So the trail's primary then becomes everything except the lane? Or at least he extends his area to include my non-lane primary?

What do you mean by the T going wide? Since we are "boxing in," do you mean back further toward backcourt to get a wider view? More over toward the middle? Surely not further away from my side?
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yep, you got it. The T moves to get a better view of your side of the lane to referee pushes, holds and also rebounding action (other than over the back which is the T's primary responsibility anyway) that you are now most likely screened from.

Under what circumstances would I want to go to c position? I have heard discussion about coming to c position (and further) to get a look at the post play when the ball is coming from that side. It sounds like you're describing a situation when the ball goes there. Do I only want to go to c if the ball is right there?

Go to c when:

- there's a low post matchup you need to referee regardless of where the ball is (not typical but it happens)
- the ball has settled on that side & you don't have a good look of a play that is likely to develop on that side

Don't go to c if the player with the ball is about to shoot or is about to drive or is driving the basket - ie you can see their face or they are driving.

If you're at c get back to your side quickly on a made shot in case there's defensive pressure or the team scored on is going to push the ball.

If I go to c position, how should T respond? Have I initiated a kind of switch? Or are we simply both working strong side?

2 man = no rotation, certainly not a switch. you are working strong side, he is covering the area you left. remember, he's still responsible for his side line & action on his side, you're at c to referee the post. You are also still responsible for your sideline & the entire endline. A good T should be able to help on OOB calls that you miss. That's why it is important that the T gets a good position, he's got a lot to cover!

If it's not a switch, then I would guess that I'm headed back to b or a as soon as the situation that brought me to c position is "resolved?"

you got it! and this includes a made basket or turn over.

Also, don't be afraid to take a step into the paint area to get a *great* look when the ball and 5 bodies are under the basket.

Warning: Ignorance and fear at work. My fear here is that I'd potentially get myself trapped in the middle of a play. Or worse, become somebody's screen. So I would want to limit this to only those plays coming straight at the basket, perhaps?

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oops, my mistake. when I said go into the paint I was referring to the area OOB directly behind & under the basket. As Chuck pointed out you can be aggressive about this (go into this area to get a good look) or not be aggressive (take a step into the area anticipating that you are going to c. used to be if you took that step you had committed to going to c, now you can step back). In any event keep your @ss off the playing floor! )

This all sounds a little like taking-it-to-the-next-level mechanics to me. Should I be overly concerned if my partner isn't paying attention to my position and adjusting?

Where can I go to read up on all of this? I don't recall the NFHS mechanics book covering this kind of movement with the ball. Perhaps it's there and I just missed it? Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last. Feel free to give me the old RTFM, if I deserve it!

Pregame this. Tell your partner you're experimenting with these new techniques. Have him try it too.

Find a good camp & go there. Watch some of the vets in your area, I would be surprised if they did not use this technique in their 2 man games. Have someone come watch you. Watch 3 man games, a lot of the same reasoning for going ball side position apply. Much of this is covered in the 3 man manuals (NFHS & CCA), take a look there. As you watch games try & anticipate where the ball is going - there's only so many things a trained offense can do, regardless of what the coaches will tell you!