Running Backwards

[SC Official]

The only reasons I have ever seen officials backpedal are because

(1) they are new(er) and haven't been taught otherwise,
(2) they are ball-hawking, or
(3) both 1 and 2.

You can see all you need to see (and keep yourself safer) by turning your head over your shoulder, and you won't look like a rookie either.

[LRZ]

I agree about not running backwards.

But there is a related issue. As I've gotten older (or, rather, old), my peripheral vision has narrowed and my neck is not as flexible as it once was, so it's harder to get good looks at the action as I'm running downcourt, looking over a shoulder. But I would not "fix" the problem by running backwards.

[Raymond]

Those who run backwards or back-pedal are either new to basketball officiating or are ball-watchers.

[Camron Rust]

Not mentioned above (I think) is that there is no way you can run as fast while running backwards.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Those who run backwards or back-pedal are either new to basketball officiating or are ball-watchers.

Or were defensive backs in a former life......but they soon learn a basketball court is much less forgiving than a turf field.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by LRZ

As I've gotten older ...

I always have problems looking over my right shoulder as opposed to my left shoulder.

This probably goes back to the old "Cadillac" position days, when (other then when we were working "opposite", which was seldom), we were almost always, as the new lead, running up the right side of the court looking over our left shoulders.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I always have problems looking over my right shoulder as opposed to my left shoulder.

This probably goes back to the old "Cadillac" position days, when (other then when we were working "opposite", which was seldom), we were almost always, as the new lead, running up the right side of the court looking over our left shoulders.

As someone who has far more experience working Cadilac than anyone in this Forum, "running backwards" and working "Cadiliac" are mutually exclusive.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

As someone who has far more experience working Cadilac than anyone in this Forum ...

Back when I was growing up, our neighbor had a red Cadillac convertible. Being a professional bookmaker must have been a very lucrative position.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Back when I was growing up, our neighbor had a red Cadillac convertible. Being a professional bookmaker must have been a very lucrative position.

It was also a deadly profession for "Cadillac Charlie" Cavallaro, a well known purveyor of games of chance and wholesale grape salesman in my home town of Youngstown, Ohio, who evidently had dissatisfied grape customer, because when he turned the ignition of his Cadillac on the morning of Friday, November 23, 1962, a bomb detonated which sent Charlie to an early grave.

MTD, Sr.

[ilyazhito]

"Denotated". That's funny. IMHO, backpedaling is not a valid basketball officiating technique, because the Lead has responsibilities he could miss by backpedaling, whether in a 2 or 3-person crew (sideline, last defender, assisting with pressure, etc.). Looking over the shoulder and/or running sideways open up the Lead to the court better than backpedaling, and are not as hazardous to life and limb.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

It was also a deadly profession for "Cadillac Charlie" Cavallaro, a well known purveyor of games of chance and grape salesman in my home town of Youngstown, Ohio, who evidently had dissatisfied grape customer, because when he turned the ignition of his Cadillac on the morning of Friday, November 23, 1962, a bomb denotated which sent Charlie to an early grave.

MTD, Sr.

Mark, you aced the history essay but bombed on your spelling test...