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Too Low as Trail and Center
At one of the camps I went to this summer and in my 3-person fall league games, I got feedback that I was going too low in the Trail and Center positions. This often happens when I come into the position from transition and close down, or if I have already stepped down to stay connected to a play, and I close down.
What do you do to ensure the right balance between an aggressive mindset of staying connected to plays and being in a good position (between the 28' mark and the 3-point arc as Trail; within the free-throw circle as Center)? I'm trying to control my strides so I stop at the 28' mark as Trail and at the free-throw line extended as C, but there are times that I overshoot the mark. Are there any suggestions y'all have? Thank you! |
The NFHS Officials manual prescribes that, "Trail's home position is at or below the top of the three-point arc extended..." Then, he "may move down toward the end line to obtain a better angle on plays..." it seems apparent around here that being too low as Trail and Center or as Trail in 2 person is not the problem. Not remaining connected with the play or not stepping down on drives and shots from the field and being too high and detached it's more of a problem then what you are mentioning. Of course, like everything, this can be overdone. But the good thing is that if it is overdone, that presupposes that it at least is being done.
There is a good article in Referee magazine from earlier this year on this topic entitled "Walk This Way" which has reappeared in the preseason Referee magazine basketball prep publication. Exceptionally well written. |
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I have seen people get too low in the C, but as a hard habit, I step down in the C when I have to make a decision which way to go. |
There is a strong push at the higher levels for officials to be sideline-oriented in the T position and get out of the old-school habit of going way out on the floor. (Why did that ever become a thing?)
There are, of course, old-timers that push back against this, but the research from the NBA has shown call accuracy is better when we go underneath the play rather than over the top. Without film there's no way for us to give an opinion on you specifically. My guess is you likely just had an old-school clinician who hasn't kept up with the evolution of officiating. |
Mechanics are for the most part guidelines to get you in the proper position to cover a respective play. Some clinicians have very strong views about certain movements and others do not care. The goal should be to figure out who you are in front of and who you want to impress and do what they like. Otherwise, there is no real right or wrong about this for the most part. Just do what they say when you are on the court, then later go back to what works. At least you can try what they say and realize it does or does not work for you.
Peace |
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Peace |
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll look to incorporate that into my future games. |
well I for one can say that "thanks a lot" for making the good effort to 'get under' and not settling out in the "28 foot mark wilderness" when action is going on 15 feet away from you!
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Don't know why the old school method was for Trail and Center to be stationary in 3-person mechanics. Modern college officials do position adjust to see through players, and the younger generation of NBA officials might as well. I don't care where I end up, as long as I get the best possible look at plays in my PCA (or when needed, assisting another official when there are no plays in my PCA).
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I try to be stationary once I'm in a good position and anticipating that I'll have a decision to make. We miss plays when our eyes are bouncing.
As the saying goes, get to where you need to be to referee the play. |
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Great example! The C is in perfect position to see the gap between the pass receiver and the defender. It is unconventional, and an observer might chew him out if he's one of the old-fashioned guys, but the C is there to see travels or fouls by the on-ball matchup, and is in great position to anticipate the next play as well.
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Follow The Bouncing Ball ...
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https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.2...=0&w=176&h=170 |
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I am a big big big proponent of sideline oriented Trails. Those who choose to learn with/from me, that's the number one thing I talk about.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk |
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Embedding is your friend. Peace |
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Peace |
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On the slot, I see why he ended up there. The closest competitive matchup was on the far lane line with the next competitive matchups were on the far side of the court outside the 3-point arc (with the ball being covered by the trail and the other off-ball matchups covered by the lead). If he had stopped at the FT line, he would have been straight-lined to pretty much anything worth looking at and staying high wouldn't have fixed it. So, he went under. Just as he got to a reasonable spot, the players shifted, taking away is open look he had and driving him lower still. It was a tough spot to be in and he maintained an open look at the expense of getting a bit too low. Better would been to reverse at 5 seconds and get back to the FT line as that angle opened back up. Once the skip pass occurs, the L is slow to react. I'd like to see the L move immediately to closedown when the skip pass is thrown. The L doesn't move until after the skip pass is caught and a new post is formed on the opposite side of the lane. If there was an immediate entry into the post, he couldn't get there to see it. He needs to be rotating across as the post matchup moves across the lane, not after they get there and are set up to receive the entry pass. |
Yes, the Lead is definitely late in reacting to the skip pass. Also don't like him flat to the end line. I'm a staggered stance/45 degree angle proponent for the Lead.
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The lead IMO moved too fast. He did not anticipate or close down to make the rotation. But at least he rotated.
The Center was too low before that pass. I would have had no issues him moving there if the pass came in and was guarded close, but not in that situation. Neither is a big deal. At least there is an understanding of the situation. Peace |
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We still teach a "home base" for T/C officials, but we want them to go where they aren't straightlined. T on the sideline, C on the sideline -- and working low is typically better than coming over the top. tl;dr - Get better clinicians at the HS camps. |
Sage Advice ...
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Rich, the nonsense about get to one spot and stay there was exactly what the guy at the Cardinal JV summer league said. |
Take this from someone that goes to many camps and teaches at camp. If you do not hear the same thing by multiple people, then it probably is not something you should automatically pay that much attention to. This is especially true when you hear things about positioning or philosophy. If the advice is solid, you would hear it multiple times from different people. You have to know when to hold onto something or when to throw it away.
Peace |
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Let's Be Careful Out There ...
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