Staying In Our Primary

[Adam]

More often than not, we miss the call out of our PCA. If you think your partner didn't see the contact you called, go get it. If you're sure he saw it and just didn't make the call, there's a good chance he saw it differently and considered it incidental.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Adam

More often than not, we miss the call out of our PCA. If you think your partner didn't see the contact you called, go get it. If you're sure he saw it and just didn't make the call, there's a good chance he saw it differently and considered it incidental.

My post + this one.

If it's one where you're guessing, then obviously you're trusting the primary official and his judgment. But if you work to get an open look and see a foul, go get it.

One thing I had reinforced in a camp last summer was that it's better to not rotate and pinch the paint and get an open look than to rotate late and have everything pass before your eyes. If you can't get over, you still have to officiate that play where a post player on the opposite block takes it to the hoop. I know others may disagree, but I think it's putting an awful lot on the C to put that play 100% on him just because of some invisible lines on a court.

But if you're not closed down and in position (and you should be) then you're reaching way to far and should lay off it.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Adam

More often than not, we miss the call out of our PCA. If you think your partner didn't see the contact you called, go get it. If you're sure he saw it and just didn't make the call, there's a good chance he saw it differently and considered it incidental.

Agreed. Another way to look at it is if C could see it, then you leave it alone. If C couldn't see it, then you get it.

And, yes, some assigners have the opinion expressed. It is, imo, an over-reaction to some things that happened in some high-profile games.

[Camron Rust]

We are hired as a crew to referee the game. Coaches and administrators couldn't care less about primaries if a call is missed. Primaries are a mechanism designed to ensure the right official is looking at the play most of the time so that we get most plays right most of the time. Some times, plays happen that are not well covered by primaries and good officials will cover each other's back to get the play right.

As others have said, there are right times to go out of your primary and there are wrong times. Are you judging a play differently than your partner when they could see what you saw or are do you see something they couldn't have seen. If the former, leave it alone. If the latter, go get it.

[LRZ]

I've never worked 3-man, and will likely never do so. But I do like to learn, so here's my question: how do you know what a partner saw or could see? That is, how do you know when to pass and when not?

[MechanicGuy]

Originally Posted by LRZ

I've never worked 3-man, and will likely never do so. But I do like to learn, so here's my question: how do you know what a partner saw or could see? That is, how do you know when to pass and when not?

If it's out of my PCA, I'll avoid anything that could be deemed marginal. I'll only go get fouls that are, from my perspective OBVIOUS and NECESSARY. Like others have said, don't guess. Of course, sometimes the ability of your partner may require adjusting what you will or won't call as well.

[just another ref]

Primaries are guidelines, not impenetrable boundaries. I think they should be drawn with more overlap.

[pizanno]

Ask your assignor or send a clip. If he says lay off of fouls out of your area, then so be it (or don't take those games).

There's a reason why there's two (or three) officials, and until I can see 360 degrees around a match-up, I'm always thanking my partner for getting a foul i couldn't see.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by LRZ

I've never worked 3-man, and will likely never do so. But I do like to learn, so here's my question: how do you know what a partner saw or could see? That is, how do you know when to pass and when not?

How do you know in two-person?

Same answer.

[Dad]

I'm trying to think of a good official that thinks you should miss a call before calling out of your primary. I can't.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Dad

... calling out of your primary.

In regard to calling out of our primary, we are taught to: Be a little late (give your partner a chance to make the call). Be right (100% sure, not just 90% sure). Be needed (ant versus elephant).