Cadillac Position ...

[BillyMac]

This is a photo of one of my friends on the cover of the May 2025 IAABO Sportorials magazine.

It's the same photo that appeared on all of the Power Point title pages at the IAABO Fall Seminar.

Perfect positioning and posture going from old trail to new lead, running up right sideline looking over her left shoulder.

Not backpedaling, not looking forward.

Perfect, probably why it’s on the cover.

Back in “ancient times” the lead found themselves running up the right sideline 95% of the time.

“Cadillac Position” mechanics and the importance of not “working opposite” dictated that.

Back then all free throws had the lead on the right side of the thrower and the trail on the left side of the thrower, with no regard to tableside, or non-table side.

Back then, some officials hated working opposite (lead on left side of court, trail on right side of court), sometimes forced by a throwin on the "wrong" side of the court.

The trail would always dictate when to recover (cross over to “Cadillac Position”), and some officials in the trail position would cross over as quickly as possible, even at times that were not advantageous for proper court coverage.

Other trail guys would comfortably stay working opposite for far too long, leaving the lead scratching one's head thinking “Please cross over so that I can rotate to my comfortable lead position on the right side of the court”.

One’s willingness, or unwillingness, to “cross over” was always discussed in pregame.

Always.

Even referees with the shortest pregames, “Good eye contact. Don’t f**k up. I don't like working opposite”.

When the NFHS (and IAABO) switched away from “Cadillac Position” mechanics, I often had trouble as the new lead, running up left sideline looking over my right shoulder.

Still feels awkward, looking over my right shoulder, to this day.

Old habits die hard.

Anybody else remember the “Cadillac Position”?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

[QUOTE=BillyMac;1053805]

"Anybody else remember the “Cadillac Position?"

"Surely you jest?"

MTD, Sr.

[ilyazhito]

I don't believe it was even mentioned in my cadet class. I started in 2015, so I doubt that anyone was around who taught Cadillac by then. That said, we only switched over to 3-person for varsity games in Montgomery County (MD) this past season.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

"Surely you jest?"

I was certain that Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. would take the bait.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

I don't believe it was even mentioned in my cadet class. I started in 2015, so I doubt that anyone was around who taught Cadillac by then.

The change was made back in the twentieth century.

As I said, many, many years later, I still find it awkward to look over my right shoulder when going from old trail to new lead, especially with transitions and fast breaks.

I actually think about the "olden days" when it happens, which is why this magazine cover photo had such a strong effect on me, first thing I thought of when I saw it.

Discussed it with her, but as a relative "young'un" she had no idea what I was talking about.

So I came to the Forum "fishing" for some comments, and sure enough, as expected, I "caught" Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

He's not a "keeper".

I'll throw him back in.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I was certain that Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. would take the bait.

MTD, Sr.

[Rich]

I started in the 1980s. I remember this all too well along with having to "score" every basket and using the wrist flicks to count.

Some things belong in the past. For example, I've worked one 2-person game in the last five years (it was during COVID and one of the crew tested positive too late to get a sub).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

I started in the 1980s. I remember this all too well along with having to "score" every basket and using the wrist flicks to count.

I will occasionally and absent mindedly put up one finger (one point) after a successful free throw.

Remember when the numerals one and two were illegal uniform numbers?



IAABO guys and gals in Connecticut still use the wrist flick to count ten seconds for a free throw.

When I get to ten I continue to eleven and so on and so on ...

Originally Posted by Rich

Some things belong in the past.

Amen.

As we've all well learned in all the Jurassic Park franchise movies.

[JRutledge]

Over the years, this has meant different things to various people. The gist of it, honestly is was, "I do not have to do anything."

I am sure that was not the intent, but that is how it was often described. Not directly, but it was used to convey that "I am staying where I am and not moving much."

I came at the time when 2 person for varsity games were turning into 3 person almost overnight. There were a lot of personal philosophies people had and did not use things or to confuse themselves. Many treated 3 person as easier because they did not have to move. I am sure that is not what it was, but just remember how it was talked about by some big old-timers. And I am kind of that myself, but came in at a different time than many of them.

Peace