"Let the Lead Have 1st Crack"
 

I am sure there has been a ton of debate on this in the past, but I want to first say that I have long struggled with this concept. In every pre-game meeting I have been in over the past few years, the R states (2 or 3 Man) "Let's have the lead get 1st crack on anything coming to the basket."

I was looking for something else today and across the NFHS Officials Manual (I was looking at the 2013-2015 manual) Page 62, 3.3.2 C

1. When a player with the ball starts a drive to the basket from an officials primary area, that official has primary coverage of the player and the ball all the way to the basket - even if the ball moves into another officials primary area.


Is this a case where officials are disagreeing with the way NFHS states how this should be handled or has it just become the popular way of handling this over time (institutional/tribal), etc.?

Thoughts?

From my limited experience I can tell you when there is a "blarge" call to address that the majority results when the lead is "coming out strong" and "selling" his call. Having the outside official (C or T) hold for a bit when they blow their whistle avoids the conflicting calls. If that means we are "letting the lead have 1st crack" so be it. I would rather do that than have a blarge.

Not sure what area you're in, but around here, if the drive comes out of Lead's Primary, then he has that drive all the way to the hoop. The only situation where the lead should have first shot is in the case of a secondary defender, such as if the dribbler has beaten the original defender, and a secondary defender steps in and tries to take a charge. That would be Lead's first crack.

This is where using terms primary defender and secondary defender aid in those areas. If the play originates in the T's area then the T should ref the primary defender. If that defender fouls then the T has the call. The L will identify secondary defenders and if they foul the L will get that.

...involving a secondary defender. Everyone I work with says the C or the T should take drives all the way to the basket and have 1st crack if the primary defender is involved.

I think you may be misunderstanding what is being stressed here. I've never heard the bolded part suggested in any of the different areas/levels I've worked. And I think what is being stressed is avoiding blarges once air is put into whistles rather than who has first crack at calling the play.

As others have said, its pretty common practice to pre-game that the outside officials should take plays that originate in their primary all the way to the basket and get first crack at contact involving the primary defender. The Lead usually has the best look at a secondary defender so outside officials should generally give the L first crack on those, especially if they are strong side.

In terms of avoided blarges we say that for double whistles on block/charge plays the outside officials should try to hold off on the preliminary since the L is more likely, for whatever reason, to come out with a prelim. This is different than saying the L should have first crack at plays coming to the basket and is hopefully avoided more when you follow the protocol above of letting the T and C take plays to the basket.

We have been told that if the drive comes from the C or T, to let them take the call. The lead should be secondary if the C or T passes on it for some reason.

It seems the old guard wants to have the lead take it and I understand why. It's coming right at them.

The new way seems to be letting the T or C take it. That's how we do it.

Simply not true. Top D1 clinicians give secondary defenders to the L. The old way was to give EVERYTHING to the L. Newer way is what you described. That's evolved to differentiate between primary and secondary defenders.

/\ THIS /\
And it makes perfect sense. Assuming the lead is not ballwatching on the dribbler outside of his primary, he has all the time in the world to assess legal guarding position in regards to that secondary defender. The center or trail does not have that advantage because he has been focusing on the primary competitive match up that originated in his area.
This is a beautiful mechanic when it works. And with good officials on the crew, it works wonderfully.

It's easier for me to get a typical block/charge call when coming at me. I am improving at picking it up from C (or at odd times even T). It makes sense to me that the primary official has the play "all the way", but on the court it seems L more often than not can see this as well or better, even if keeping an eye on an off ball matchup.

we'll give Lead "first crack" at fast breaks, and Center can come in late if they had a look at something the Lead might not have had from their angle, like a push in the back, or a foul on the arm opposite that the Lead could easily miss in transition, even while in position.

lately i've personally been trying to get more calls from Center. and double whistles aren't a sin, just be sure to hold your prelims and be patient, release to the primary and/or be strong with your call...
many reasons here why a good pre-game is so important.

Agree.

This is very good when what you're getting are those calls in C's paint. An engaged C can get more primary matchup calls/no-calls correct in that, his primary area. When L calls over in C's paint, especially with a quick, impulsive whistles, that's when call accuracy suffers. This is the hardest thing for Leads who are trying to make the transition from 2-person to 3-person to learn--to let C have that call over there, unless, of course, something is missed and secondary cadence whistle is called for. Wish you the best on your pursuit as an engaged, play-calling C!

If you are speaking to me, I was referring to high school ball.

I agree, it's a hard thing to do and it would make sense to let the lead take the call when it comes from the trail. At least when it comes from the C, it's on the other side of the lane. The C should have a great view of that play.

I understand both sides of the debate.

Well said!

thanks guys.

honestly, i say it before every game...that, "tonight i'm working on being better from C"
but it wasn't until i actually worked with a guy who was the epitome of the "well engaged C". that's when you can actually see it, and put practice to paint, noticing the calls he was making, etc... it was rather eye-opening to be honest. because as Lead, you can certainly appreciate a well engaged C, and he might even bail you out once or twice when you have those brain-freezes at Lead. (hey, it happens!)

and i think it can act as a pay-it-forward type deal....where the crew notices how well you did at C, and they make it a point to get better at C, and so on....

So was I. D1 people teach at high school camps.

I mostly like letting Lead have first crack but it kinda screwed me on a recent play I had: https://streamable.com/hck2. (Ignore the sound, the timing of the whistle is off)

In my opinion this should be Slot's play despite being semi-transition.

What do you mean screwed you?

Cuz I ended up having to call across two lines and guess on a play that definitely needed a whistle and Slot didn't get.

This is a perfect example, thanks for sharing. Primary defender with ball handler going to the basket.

Agreed. Luckily you had a strong partner at lead to bail you out. :D

Did you ask him why he didn't have a whistle? Just curious what he thought of the play.

To be honest, we have pretty much the same view as the C in this video and its pretty hard to tell how much contact if any happens on this play.

If you are guessing then you probably shouldn't have a whistle.

Nothing makes a crew better than a great C.

The C has great looks at illegal screen, rebounding action, and drives in the paint. As the C you should get your share of calls in a game if you are active and are a good official. That's not to say you go looking for calls because sometimes you have a game where things just don't happen. For the most part, a good C will make the game better for everybody.

Unfortunately, not in my area.

The NF mechanics are only a guide. Many states do not even use this book at all. There are philosophies and practices that are used all over the place that are not written or discussed across the board. This might be one of them and often taught at camps or discussed between officials. This is not the first time and certainly will not be the last. This is especially the truth when it comes to who makes a call and where.

Peace

Yeah Slot in that clip didn't blow cuz it was a transition play and said Lead should get all transition plays. He also thought it was a secondary defender play and Lead should get all secondary defender plays.

I think we can all agree that this play was something -- certainly not a no-call with both players on the floor. So I had a delayed cadence whistle from Lead and came out with a charge based on my view of the defender being legal initially and moving obliquely to maintain that legal position. I think it's a block however and also think I should have come out much stronger.

First, let me say this again, thank you for posting. You are opening yourself to critique, but these plays and video make us all better.

I am sure there are differing opinions on this, but one thing I noticed on your table reporting mechanic. You called opposite table, then ran baseline, presumably past your partner to go to the table. I was always taught to go outside of the players on a play like this, not inside. A couple of reasons for this, this keeps the majority of the players in front of you as you are going to the table. Your T is watching this, but if your partner started to rotate, it places more responsibility on your T. It also in this situation, prevents you from running directly in front of the bench and keeps you more front and center to the table.

The other thing that makes this challenging is your transition rotation, assuming your throw in was on the table side of the lane, presumably you went to the new L, your C became the T and your T became the C. NFHS officials manuals never show positioning for a throw in from outside of your PCA. Sometimes these become the most challenging, or at least for me they do.

Your play happened outside the paint and the C had a clear view of the defender's positioning, he should have had that whistle.

I would've made the same call you did from either angle if I had to blow my whistle. Don't agree with your partner and I was a bit let down he never even made an attempt to get a better angle.

I think no-call is an option here. Angle isn't very good and after watching it once the offense could've made contact and the defender flopped. Some offensive players make it look like a car hit them on drives, so just because both players are on the ground doesn't mean I'm definitely blowing a whistle.

Anyway, good call with the information you did have. Hats off to you for posting your plays on here and letting us take a look at them.

awesome clip! good on you for sharing it!

my 2 cents...
at least you had something. and it's easy to go back and decide on block when you see it on tape vs. live action. something i've done many times..."man, that looked good live but now....i'm not so sure." your takeaway needs to be that you had a call when there was contact.

i'll agree with what Dad said as well. it's tough at Lead or Center to see if there was even contact or if the defender flopped....tough one. but at least you had the call.

i'd argue with your Center's logic on his no call. i wouldn't call that a fast break, but i also wouldn't call it a set play either. kinda right in between.
still, i like this to come from Center...
also, i know i'm splitting hairs here and that the defense appears to be setting up in zone (maybe) but if the dude that took the charge is the secondary defender, then who was the primary defender?

I agree its the Cs call as the entire play happens in his primary, its a "secondary" play and not really transition, and he should have picked up that defender. That's what he needed to anticipate to have to referree as the offensive player is headed toward the basket.

I agree with Arem's second opinion that its a block. But do think the play needed a whistle and the reasoning he gave for the call were valid. I would not like working with a partner who thinks the L should get "all" transition plays as was apparently said here. Whats the point of 3-man if you don't have a strong C for plays like this?

And I'd ignore any issue with the route you took to report. As you said maybe you could have been stronger with the prelim but I would have gone the same route, especially since the C should be replacing you as the L and you will be the new T tableside.

I also thank you for posting this. It helps us all get better. A strong C will have this play. From L you did what you needed to do by having a patient whistle. Are you guessing? A little. But you articulated why you had what you had and I like the thought process. I know there are strong opinions both ways, but I like having a whistle on all crashes. It was close to a 50/50 and a case could be made for a block or shipping this. Bottom line, if C stays with the drive and steps down to get an angle he can be in the best position to make this call. Some people seem to have this thought that as C they can't go below the FTLE. I'm stepping down to get an angle.

Did you mean to say stepping down? I'm going the other way and getting a great angle.

Going the other way will cause you to be straight-lined.

Upon further thought I think it's a block if C calls it, but should be a no-call from Lead. Tough play on the weak side block (where we miss the most calls) and since the ball goes in a play-on if preferable to guessing and possibly calling a weak charge and wiping the shot.

My route to the table was simple in my mind: swing by the offensive player to grab the number, go around the players instead of through, and head to new Lead (long switch). Had the benefit of taking me by the bench where the coach was questioning the call.

Moving down is just going to give him the same or worse view.

What did the defense do wrong for the C to call a block?

I'd call this "in transition," but definitely a call that C should make.


My question as well. Again, why I think that this is C's call.

I'm fine with you putting a whistle on this. The contact put the shooter on the ground and I'm not comfortable calling it incidental here.

As the L, I likely would've pinched the paint here -- likely about halfway into the lane to receive this play. Still not a great look, but not entirely straightlined, either.

That said, C's call.

Defender starts falling early and trips the offensive player with his legs. Plus defender may not be legal because he is no longer in the 'path' of the opponent.

Looking at it again, I think neither up nor down is going to help. Stepping directly on to the court 2 steps would get the best look.

Agreed.

@Aremred: May not be legal isn't enough for me with all the rules punishing defense. Unless I know the defense did something wrong I'm going no call or PC. As I said, I think you made the right call given your angle. Maybe with a different view it could've been a block.