Lead heading up court- your style?

[rotationslim]

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--

[gogumakilla]

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.

[SNIPERBBB]

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

[akmay20]

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?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by akmay20

What are your all's opinions on backpedaling?

I'm all for it.

No, sorry, I'm not.

[LRZ]

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

[RefRich]

Originally Posted by akmay20

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?

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.

[LRZ]

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by akmay20

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.

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

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by akmay20

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 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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[akmay20]

Originally Posted by Raymond

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.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

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...

[SC Official]

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.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

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.

[ODog]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Backpedaling will make you look like a rookie ...

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.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by ODog

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.

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