Lead heading up court- your style?
 

Question on style/mechanics-- you become lead as A1 dribbling up floor fast Do you:
1) try sprint up along side him/her, looking directly sideways to monitor ball/player. Problem is to do this you are basically sprinting and have slightly less control of your body

2) let him/her run out in front, and travel up court a bit slower, more in control looking slightly forward as player/ball move up court faster than you then slide around onto baseline as you arrive

I find myself doing both, sometimes depending on my mood/how tired I am/hot moms in stands/conditions/level of players, etc. I am just wondering how others do it--

If I know I can sprint fast enough to the end line and still get that angle on the drive, go for it. If I know I'm beat, I will stay behind the play and make sure I get the right angle on that drive. Key is to get that open look. I will generally know from the pace/speed of the players if I should book it or stay behind on these situations.

Main thing is to get an angle so you can see any possible contact. How you get there is irrelevant.

What are your all's opinions on backpedaling? My step-father has always strongly advised me not to backpedal on the court because "that one time you're gonna bust your ass out there."

I know for this specific scenario, it's not an option, but for those times when the ball is sideline and you're ahead of the developing play, I find backpedaling gives me a square view of the action. I am still pretty agile with decent footwork thanks to great DB coaches, so I am comfortable doing it. I know with time/age, I'll stray away from it.

Does anyone else out there open up on the court, at certain times, to get a better angle?

Backpedaling will make you look like a rookie, in addition to being dangerous on an unforgiving surface. Save that for when you’re a deep wing or back judge in football.

Whenever I see an official backpedal, guess what he’s doing? Watching the ball.

I consider it a successful transition from T to L if I can make it to the End Line without tripping over my two left feet!

MTD, Sr.

I'm all for it.

No, sorry, I'm not.

There is a story going around here recently about a ref who fell while backpedaling and lost consciousness momentarily.

I might backpedal the last 5 or so feet if there is a play right in my lap that I need to square up to, for example marking a 3 point shooter in the corner during transition.

The last time I back pedaled was when I was in high school and was reffing elementary league on a Saturday morning. My sweatpants, the old flared ones, got caught under my shoe and I went over pretty hard.

If you can't see where you're going, you never know what may be behind you.

I try to avoid backpedaling. However, my peripheral vision has narrowed with age, making it harder to run sideways and still see the fast break action clearly.

Good Angles, Old As Dirt ...
 

(Two person game) I backpedal when I walk, like when, as the new lead, I hold back to help with the press, but then turn and jog (age, and orthopedic problems) to the endline, looking sideways as the ball moves into the frontcourt. At my advancing age, I'm looking more and more for good angles, whereas many years go I would just sprint ahead of most of the players. For some reason, it's easier looking over my left shoulder than it is looking over my right shoulder. Go figure?

Here’s my question....why are you monitoring the player? In this transition I’d go back to what is your primary area? And what should you be watching in your primary? If there are players out front you need to be watching off ball. My opinion it’s better to get to the end line and watch the players come to you.

This ^.

To me, it's akin to wearing a belt or signaling 3-point attempts wayyyy out of your area because you misunderstood the "mirroring" concept.

If you can avoid backpedaling, do so.

If this had an "Unlike" button, I would click on it.

I still work with the occasional veteran who wears a belt or mirrors the attempt signal.

Where Belts Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Belts ...
 

We've got a few (not a lot, but more than most would think) veterans (including me) here in my little corner of Connecticut that wear a belt. I tried beltless pants several years ago. Back then (before I discovered treadmills with televisions at the gym) my weight would fluctuate up and down during the season (number of consecutive games, and doubleheaders, some trips to fast food places for late night convenience (that I have now completely avoided for a few years), colds and other illnesses) and I would occasionally discover that my beltless pants felt like they would fall down in a game. So I went back to belted pants, and stuck with them.

I know that I'm a dinosaur. I spotted a rookie official with belted pants last week and suggested to him that beltless pants had a more professional look.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.2...=0&w=300&h=300

Since the fall, I've dropped over twenty pounds, and two belt holes. It's cheaper to drop a belt hole, or two, or three, than to buy new beltless pants every time I drop several pounds.

Note to IAABO members. Do you all realize that IAABO International outlawed belted pants a few years ago. The only reason that we're allowed to wear belted pants here in my little corner of Connecticut is that we passed a local board constitutional amendment allowing black belts for those that prefer to wear them.

The constitutional amendment passed unanimously.

We're outlaws I tell you, outlaws.

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.D...=0&w=369&h=174

Rookies, Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them ...
 

We have rookies, and other inexperienced officials, doing this, not veterans. These young'uns seem to confuse the three point attempt signal with the successful three point goal signal. Sometimes they just want to incorrectly mirror everything.

Two person game. The three point attempt signal (three fingers) is only used in one's primary coverage area. Period.

If the successful three point goal comes from the trail's primary, only the trail gives the successful three point goal (touchdown) signal. Period.

If the successful three point goal comes from the lead's primary, both the lead, and the trail, give the successful three point goal signal.

It seems difficult for rookies, and other inexperienced officials, to understand this signal progression.

Here in Connecticut we have an additional "Connecticut only" signal. In our primary coverage area, we point to floor for a two point field goal attempt when the shooter has a foot touching the three point line.

We also used to have a not closely guarded "Connecticut only" signal (arms spread wide apart), but IAABO International made us give it up, saying the correct signal was just not counting.

I thought that in 2 man mechanics the lead never signaled a successful 3-point shot (just marked), but I browsed through the manual and couldn't find a definitive answer.

In the book on pg. 200 the not closely guarded signal is shown (IAABO).

Incorrect. If you mark it, you finish it. The trail only mirrors the successful signal. If the lead doesn't give the signal for the make, what would there be to mirror? Until the ball goes in, I've got other stuff to be looking at.

I do not have a "style." I do what the play requires. Walking the ball up requires a different reaction and movement than if they are running immediately off of the throw-in.

I try to stay close.

Peace

I know individuals that got hurt rather badly because they feel and broke wrists or hit their head where they had serious injuries. Never backpedal. Take a step or two back is not the same as backpedaling either.

Peace

Unannounced Changes ...
 

Interesting. It wasn't in last year's mechanics manual but it's there this year. Maybe it's one of those unannounced changes that often occur. I'll check with our State interpreter. Thanks for the information.

I do #1 even though it’s technically not “approved” because it saves me from having to deal with the “was that a 3?” dumb question from the table. If we’re not signaling touchdown then obviously it’s not a 3, but most tables in my experience can’t grasp that concept.

I never use the “not closely guarded” signal. If I’m not counting, then obviously they are not closely guarded in my judgment. Difference from the other signal is that the table is not involved.

In the NF book it's on page 46. 4.3.4 - B.3,4,5,6

This, sans the orthopedic issues.

Same.

Backpedaling looks absolutely horrible. What purpose does backpeddling serve? When you're back peddling you're moving away from what you're looking at. And when you're back peddling you're not looking at your primary, you're looking back at the ball. Backpedaling is a ball watcher's technique.

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Thanks I trust everyone. I'm guessing that I was reading the mechanics section at some point and it said the lead never signals a successful 3-point try not realizing it was only referring to 3-man. Fortunately I only work about five 2-man games per year.

Not Closely Guarded Signal ...
 

When Peter Webb was IAABO national Coordinator of Interpreters, he did not believe IAABO should use the "no closely guarded" signal, so it was not in the IAABO manual, even though the NFHS had adopted that signal. IAABO interpreters were told by Peter Webb to tell members not to use it.

However, the new four IAABO co-interpreters decided IAABO would use this signal and put it in this year's handbook. However, it was not discussed at the IAABO national interpreters meeting, so most state, and local, interpreters didn't include it in their new rules review meetings.

We will be using this "not closely guarded" signal in Connecticut next year.

It's Tough To Get Old ...
 

Bone spur, and osteoarthritis in right ankle. Femur-patella pain syndrome in left knee.

They shoot horses, don't they?

I guess this is an absolute in a few minds, which I find ridiculous. Maybe for the "veterans" that I've seen 100 lbs overweight wearing their belts, it looks horrible. What I think looks horrible is the 70 year old geriatrics working high intensity Varsity games and they can't run half the length of the floor twice without being gassed, but hey they don't backpedal!

So what do you do, as the new lead, when you have a fast break with the ball handler out in front dribbling up the sideline? From there, the rest of the players in the game are chasing/following and are effectively straight-lining the trail in this situation. Looking over your shoulder blocks some of your view. Squaring up a little bit gives you full vision of the ball handlers position, sideline to nearest defender, which provides the best possible angle until partner can recover their field of view.

Those lines they have on the court usually are good indicators of your position on the floor.
Better watch out for pot holes though...

Either get to the end line and ref the play, or square up to the sideline and ref the play while adjusting your position to see what you need to see. Backpedaling does not improve your vision on any play and eliminates the ability to position adjust to see in between defender and ball handler.

If the Trail is being straight-lined (which means they are not moving and/or hustling to get a better position), then stay and ref the play until they can get to where they need to be. Then bust your ass down the rest of the court to get where you are supposed to be.

And unless you are Frankenstein or wearing shoulder pads, how are your shoulders obstructing your view? :confused:

I watch a ton of basketball. I watch it on TV, I watch in a gym. I watch it on video. I never see an experienced official at any level back peddle to get into position. It is even rare to see a lower level official do this. The last time I saw an official do this, he was not very athletic anyway and he was not getting into position better by backpedaling in the first place. Just like you do not see officials wear white shoes when they referee. Kind of stands out when you do.

Simple, you turn and run like an athlete would and look over your shoulder. Kind of how most athletes do. Even as a football official that backpedals, there is a point you turn and run full speed. You only backpedal as a back judge or deep wing for a moment, but at some point, you have to turn your hips and run. You are running a lot faster in most cases on a football field than you are on a basketball court. You might only have to run hard for 50 or so feet anyway (even in 2 person). Also, you are running near or on the sideline. What view is blocked? You are not running up the middle of the court for God's sake.

But you have to watch out for players that could be behind you. A coach that might be just slightly out of the box. A cheerleader that is not exactly in the right position. A person on the first row that had their feet on the actual court. A lot of things that can happen when running and you have no balance to catch yourself if you trip.

Peace

Go to any camp (high school, college, etc.) and backpedal and report back to us what your clinician says.

Exactly. Basketball is not soccer or football. We have different mechanics, different positioning, different coverage, different matchups, and different player/ball movement.

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You asked a question, got lots of answers all saying the same thing that you don't like, now you try to justify it using insults.

As a wise man once said, "Lah me."

I referee the defense. I know where the the player and ball are heading.

I think it is interesting that you talk about 70 year old officials...

Have you looked at the demographics of officials?

See https://www.naso.org/survey/portfolio/demographics/ and realize it’s the old guys that continue to officiate. And they may not be able to run but based on my experience, they can work with coaches, have great judgment, and can still officiate no matter the insults here

That's all well and good till you have a coach a step onto the floor who you back into.

If I see an official I like otherwise backpedaling, I would be kind enough to tell that official that it's not done that way.

If I am blown off, then I know I never have to hire that person to work games I control.

Officiating Basketball 101 -- don't backpedal.

It's not in the job description to be able to run like a deer. I'd rather take the geriatric or overweight official who knows how to play call, talk with coaches, and manage a game....ANY DAY.

Yup. And some of us are starting to resemble that remark. Well, at least I feel like I'm 70 sometimes.