Here's my take from camp so far this summer. According to Hank Nichols, officiating mechanics are the foundation of all officiating skills. Officiating mechanics comprise "a system that places three officials on the floor, in a precise manner, to put them in the best position to accept the play and make the right call". (Yes, I took careful notes
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If your mechanics are bad, your calls will be bad even if you have good judgment; b/c you will be out of position and not able to see the whole play. Rule knowledge is great, presence is great. But if you're consistently looking at the backs of 4 guys while the shooter is being creamed on the other side of those guys, you're gonna suck.