Fun With Out Of Bounds …

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Two person difficult out of bounds calls involve the front court endline opposite where the Lead is. He's responsible for out of bounds calls all the way along the entire endline, yet his primary coverage ends before the endline intersects the far sideline, that's the primary coverage area (but not the out of bounds responsibility) of the Trail. The Trail has to call a travel, or foul, an inch away from the endline there, but shouldn't call an out of bounds there if a player steps on the boundary line. This is where we often see the Lead sounding his whistle to stop the clock for out of bounds and asking for help (especially on a ball that flies out of bounds along the endline, a ball that originated from the Trail's primary coverage area).

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

... know when a player has stepped on the ... line?

Originally Posted by Mike Goodwin

Kinda weird, isn't it? Being able to call violations that close to the endline except out-of-bounds. In the NFHS manual at 4.4.1.A.2 it says that "typically an official should rule on violations in his/her PCA, but any violation observed should be ruled"

It appears that the NFHS and IAABO both have the same conflict with primary coverage areas and line responsibilities along the frontcourt endline (side opposite the Lead).

Technically, according to both the NFHS and IAABO, out of bounds is a violation (like any other violation) and should be called when it occurs in one's primary coverage area.

And yet, the frontcourt endline responsibility is solely the Lead's responsibility in both NFHS and IAABO mechanics.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is the Lead's line. The Trail should only signal if the Lead is asking for help ... a ball coming from the Trail being thrown to the endline.

Just proves that three heads are better than two.

[JRutledge]

This is from the NASO Mechanics Illustrated Book for 2021-2022.

Covering boundary lines is among the most difficult tasks using a crew of two officials. By correctly placing so much emphasis on off-ball coverage for the lead, some boundary-line coverage sometimes gets sacrificed.

The NFHS manual states that in the frontcourt the lead is responsible for the sideline nearest the lead and the endline. The trail is responsible for the division line and the sideline nearest the trail. While in theory that sounds easy, the actual practice is very difficult and sacrifices off-ball coverage in the lane area.

Here’s an example. A trouble spot for two-person crews is a player who has the ball near the sideline above the free-throw line extended and opposite the trail. The trail correctly moves toward the center of the court to officiate the action on the player with the ball, such as fouls, traveling violations, etc.

The problem: The manual states that sideline is the lead’s responsibility. Well, if the lead has to look beyond the free-throw line extended to watch for a potential sideline violation and the trail has to watch for fouls, etc., who is watching the other players? No one. There are too many off-ball problems that can occur if no one is supervising those players.

Referee recommends that the trail also have opposite sideline responsibility above the free-throw line extended. Sometimes, the trail must move well beyond the center of the court to see an out-of-bounds violation. Stay deep (toward the division line) on the play to get a good angle.

Even with great hustle toward the far sideline, it is a tough look for the trail. The problem compounds if there’s a swing pass back toward the other sideline. The trail must hustle back toward that sideline to get a good look there. Staying deep gives the trail a chance.

If you teach the lead properly and even the trail properly, the lead will widen out their coverage to cover the sideline. Staying close to the lane is not what the lead should do on plays close to the sideline. Is this ideal coverage, but how in the hell does the Trail see a player stepping on the line or a close tip near the sideline (similar to the play featured). I do not like this trend if this is what Referee is recommending.

Peace

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Do you have the passage from the mechanics manual that shows who is responsible for each sideline in a crew of two?

Raymond,

The first image is from the NFHS manual; the second is from the IAABO manual. In NFHS, the Lead has whole sideline nearer to Lead; in IAABO, line coverage gets split at the FTLE.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodwin

Raymond,



The first image is from the NFHS manual; the second is from the IAABO manual. In NFHS, the Lead has whole sideline nearer to Lead; in IAABO, line coverage gets split at the FTLE.

Thanks Mike. Glad I've been operating under the correct assumption.

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[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodwin

Raymond,

The first image is from the NFHS manual; the second is from the IAABO manual. In NFHS, the Lead has whole sideline nearer to Lead; in IAABO, line coverage gets split at the FTLE.

I just have to ask. Is this IAABO coverage for all line coverage or is it just for a ball that is thrown/knocked OOB? If for all parts of line coverage, how does the T know when a player has stepped on the opposite sideline? In my experience, there is NO way the T can see that with any certainty. That line must absolutely be covered by the L to have any chance of getting the call right. In fact, I've had trails call a player OOB across the court like that (not following correct mechanics) while the that player wasn't even close to being OOB.

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I just have to ask. Is this IAABO coverage for all line coverage or is it just for a ball that is thrown/knocked OOB? If for all parts of line coverage, how does the T know when a player has stepped on the opposite sideline? In my experience, there is NO way the T can see that with any certainty. That line must absolutely be covered by the L to have any chance of getting the call right. In fact, I've had trails call a player OOB across the court like that (not following correct mechanics) while the that player wasn't even close to being OOB.

I traded IAABO mechanics for NFHS mechanics in 2015, so I'm not quite current and will have to wait for someone (like BillyMac, perhaps) to tell us what they do as far as stepping on the line. I do vaguely recall having Trail covering the ball that gets knocked or thrown out. But you're absolutely right, Camron, actual sideline coverage has to come from Lead, who gets wider than usual when necessary (and it's something we cover in pregame, because we work in crews of 2 on occasion here).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Is this IAABO coverage for all line coverage ... how does the T know when a player has stepped on the opposite sideline? In my experience, there is NO way the T can see that with any certainty. That line must absolutely be covered by the L to have any chance of getting the call right.

Agree. Yes, it's for all line coverage except press coverage (and I assume fast break transitions). The IAABO rationale is that the Lead, under many situations, shouldn't even be looking there (unless he's ball watching). What makes matters worse is that, half the time, the coaches often have the best look, better than either official.

While I've always disliked this "new" IAABO line responsibility mechanic, I do find myself doing less sideline above the free throw line extended ball watching as the Lead.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree. Yes, it's for all line coverage except press coverage (and I assume fast break transitions). The IAABO rationale is that the Lead, under many situations, shouldn't even be looking there (unless he's ball watching). What makes matters worse is that, half the time, the coaches often have the best look, better than either official.

While I've always disliked this "new" IAABO line responsibility mechanic, I do find myself doing less sideline above the free throw line extended ball watching as the Lead.

The lead isn't actually ball watching. They're only watching the line, not the defender and offensive player. When the L see the ball hit OOB or a player step OOB, the L makes a call. This is not unlike screen coverage.

[Raymond]

Watching your sideline does not mean ball watching. It means being aware when the ball goes out on your sideline.

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Watching your sideline ... means being aware when the ball goes out on your sideline.

Agree. Sound your whistle.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... the Lead will sound his whistle to stop the clock, make a call if he has one, or ask for help if he doesn't have a call.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... see the Lead sounding his whistle to stop the clock for out of bounds and asking for help (especially on a ball that flies out of bounds ... a ball that originated from the Trail's primary coverage area) ...

But does it also mean knowing how the ball got tipped (possibly deflected) out of bounds, or seeing a ball handler step one quarter of one inch on the sideline forty-one (or maybe forty-six, or eighty-three, or ninety-three)) feet away (especially with players between the Lead and the ball handler)?

That sounds a little more like ball watching, maybe not exactly the same, but close.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Agree. Sound your whistle. But does it also mean knowing how the ball got tipped (possibly deflected) out of bounds, or seeing a ball handler step one quarter of one inch on the sideline forty-one (or maybe forty-six, or eighty-three, or ninety-three)) feet away?

No it doesn't mean knowing who tipped the ball. It means knowing the status of the ball as far as being in bounds or out of bounds, and properly stopping play with your whistle. And yes you should be responsible if somebody steps on your line. If you're looking up the line, you can see, even if it's 40 ft away.

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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

It means knowing the status of the ball as far as being in bounds or out of bounds, and properly stopping play with your whistle.

I think I now see Raymond's point. I believe that he's saying that Line Responsibility, as defined by NFHS and IAABO mechanics, only means a responsibility to stop the clock, and that the responsibility of actually making a directional call lies primarily with the primary coverage official.

Interesting take. Especially when one throws in asking for help, and offering help. Not sure if that's what the NFHS and IAABO actually mean, but it's still an interesting take worth discussing.

One thing that I always tell my partner in our pregame conference it that by working together, asking for help, and offering help, we should get almost every out of bounds call correct.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... it's still an interesting take worth discussing.

Have served twice on my local board's mechanic training committee and have never taught it any other way, we just teach, "This is your line responsibility, you sound your whistle, you make the call, ask for help it needed, offer help if needed as non-calling official".

But that doesn't mean that we're right. How do other trainers teach this concept?

One thing that I believe that we can all agree upon is that when the ball goes out of bounds, somebody, anybody; line responsibility, or primary coverage area, has to sound a whistle. While a cadence whistle and giving one's partner a chance to do the "right thing", is alright to use, don't wait too long. After that, teamwork should take over, and both officials should, hopefully, not end up pointing in two different directions.

Yet another reason we get paid the big bucks. Officiating high school basketball is tough, especially with only two officials; it takes skill, it takes study, it takes practice, it takes hard work, it takes teamwork. We should all be proud of the outstanding service we provide to student athletes.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I think I now see Raymond's point. I believe that he's saying that Line Responsibility, as defined by NFHS and IAABO mechanics, only means a responsibility to stop the clock, and that the responsibility of actually making a directional call lies primarily with the primary coverage official.

Interesting take. Especially when one throws in asking for help, and offering help. Not sure it that's what the NFHS and IAABO actually mean, but it's still an interesting take worth discussing.

One thing that I always tell my partner in our pregame conference it that by working together, asking for help, and offering help, we should get almost every out of bounds call correct.

I think you are making this way too complicated. Most plays are really not that close. You know when you the ball goes out of bounds. If you need some help as to the proper direction, ask for that help. But the lead has the line down the sideline and that is hardly an issue most of the time.

Peace