Fun With Out Of Bounds …

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

2-man mechanics for ... line coverage.

Two person difficult out of bounds calls involve the front court endline opposite where the Lead is. Lead'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 JRutledge

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

Edit: Above is true for both IAABO and NFHS line responsibility mechanics.

I hope that you three person guys appreciate how lucky you are.

[Mike Goodwin]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

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).

I hope that you three person guys appreciate how lucky you are.

BillyMac,

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," though I can't recall a time where a Trail (or Center) ruled out of bounds along the endline, other than perhaps, a first-year official. The IAABO manual has no corresponding provision that I could find.

Even in a crew of 3, we also have the Lead occasionally asking for help just as you described, except the Center official would be right around the FTLE (and probably officiating what's happening immediately prior to the ball going out), rather than at the 28-foot mark. (Well, that and Trail could still be watching their own PCA, so yes, I'll admit we're lucky).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mike Goodwin

I can't recall a time where a Trail ruled out of bounds along the endline, other than perhaps, a first-year official.

Agree. Working with a rookie (I'm what'cha call a working with a rookie expert, being available for mid-afternoon middle school assignments), as the Lead, I would later discuss this situation with him and "straighten" him out.

However, now, after this thread, I might rethink my constructive criticism, possibly toning down my criticism.

Also, as a member of my local board's mechanics training committee, I'm wondering if we should rethink our training methods.