3 Pointer Mechanic
 

Think about this one logically for a suggestion at the High school and below level.

NBA Change for 3 point mechanics:
1. Covering Official will have the Three Point Attempt Signal.

2. Covering Official always Stays Connected to the Shooter and Contesting Defender.

3. Unique Mechanic: If the three point shot is successful, then only Trail Signals the Three Point Goal is Made.

This would remove the mirror that center has to do on all made 3 point shots (when they are not the covering official).

This would clean up issues in 2 person and 3 person games and allow officials to focus on the players, not whether the 3 pointer was good or not. Remember also the lead is not supposed to be looking at the basket in most attempts.

Don't Look ...
 

Twice in my career this caused problems for me as the lead.

Once had a (successful, but unknown to me as the lead) try "shoot" out of bounds across the endline through a very loose and torn net. I sounded my whistle for an out of bounds violation. My partner had to straighten me out.

Also had a try appear to move the net in such a way that I thought that the try was good and then continue out of bounds. No whistle from me. I waited for an opponent to take the ball out of bounds for a run the endline throwin. Player looked at me like I was from Mars, and my partner had to set me straight.

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.x...=Api&h=220&P=0

Not following how this cleans up much of anything. Because the NBA officials are better trained than HS officials. Many officials are signalling 3 point shots that are not in their primary. So you have to do that first. ;)

Peace

Wait What ...
 

I once had an extremely high ranking partner as the lead (two person) signal a three point attempt and a successful three pointer from their opposite endline corner, for a shooter that was literally a few feet away from me as the trail. Never asked, but my guess was that they were looking for a possible out of bounds on the distant endline.

Two Person Boundaries ...
 

When I started more than four decades ago, NFHS mechanics had the trail (two person) responsible for their sideline, the division line, and the backcourt endline.

The lead had the frontcourt endline and their sideline all the way back into and including the backcourt.

Many years ago, the NFHS (and/or IAABO) changed boundary responsibilities on the lead's sideline: lead up to the free throw line extended, and trail free throw line extended to opposite sideline all the way back into and including the backcourt.

Made a lot of sense since it matched the primary coverage areas on that side of the court.

But IAABO never made any change on the front court endline, the entire endline was the lead's responsibility, despite the fact that the lead's endline opposite of their position was not in their primary coverage areas.

Never made any sense to me that if a player on that side of the court is one inch away from the endline and double dribbles, it's the trail's call, but if the same player touches the endline, it's the lead's call? (Rookie officials have problems with this all the time.)

If there are four eyes on the player with the ball in that position, who's watching the other nine players?

I wonder why IAABO never followed up and made all boundary responsibilities the same as primary coverage areas.

As the lead, most of my requests for OOB help from my partner come on this opposite side of the endline.

👍

MTD, Sr.