This is my third year reffing and one thing I have been working on is staying in my zone. My first year I watched the ball too much-this year I have called out of my primary very rarely. However I wonder know if I have gone too far and am too reluctant to call the fouls inbetween the zones or just beyond. When I am working with a similarly experienced ref or a vet that I have worked with a lot and built up a rapport things are fine. But I didn't do well last night working with a new partner with 10+ more years experience than myself. Tommorow night I am working with one of the top officials in our area with a lot of pull on who gets assigned where. I have not worked with him since I was a rookie and want to show I have improved. I'll start by pregaming the following scenarios but before I do can I get some vets experience on the following scenarios in my last game (all 3 man):

1. I am L and see a shooting foul near the lowest block on the far side of the lane on the C's side. If I had initiated a rotation it would have been my primary but the ball just recently got there and I hadn't. Make the call or defer to the C?

2. I am T and the ball is low on the same side-near the second position on the lane line. Not much happening in my zone. I see a foul on the shot. I am inclined to not call it as it is definitely L's zone-but the foul came from the back/side of the player and L might have been straightlined and missed it. I (probably) got the best look at it. Call it or hold your whistle as I shouldn't have been looking there anyway?

3. I am T. Foul near the free throw line. A couple feet past the halfway point and definitely in C's zone-but only a few feet. I waited a second to give my P a chance then called it. Player complains about late whistle. C backed me up and says good call. Ignore the player, warn them, or T?

[Edited by oc on Jan 15th, 2004 at 01:09 AM]

3 man I do not reach across the lane, heck even 2 man I don't like to reach across the lane. What kind of foul was it that you saw and the C could not see?

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2. I am T and the ball is low on the same side-near the second position on the lane line. Not much happening in my zone. I see a foul on the shot. I am inclined to not call it as it is definitely L's zone-but the foul came from the back/side of the player and L might have been straightlined and missed it. I (probably) got the best look at it. Call it or hold your whistle as I shouldn't have been looking there anyway?

Again, what did you see that the L could not? If it's legitimate and obvious take it. If it's a drive that came out of your area take it. Otherwise...I dunno, maybe it's a strong push in the back on the shot?

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3. I am T. Foul near the free throw line. A couple feet past the halfway point and definitely in C's zone-but only a few feet. I waited a second to give my P a chance then called it. Player complains about late whistle. C backed me up and says good call. Ignore the player, warn them, or T?

I can see grabbing this if you got something the C missed. As far as the player...T for what? warning for what? Ignore or use your considerable people skills to get the player on your side - (quietly man to man) "Late? I got it right didn't I?!" is almost always answered by "yeah it was right but..." and you get him focussed on the *yeah* part until he disconnects from the *but* part. ;)

The unwritten rule we go by in 3-man mechanics is this:

If it's out of your primary, have a patient whistle and defer to your partner. If your partner doesn't make a call, be 110% sure before making a call yourself.

Sometimes, however, you must go outside of your area. In this years women's NCAA instructional video, they noted a number of occasions where the C properly went and grabbed a foul on the opposite side of the lane...

Remember, if your partner has a no-call on action in his primary coverage area he has passed on a call for a reason. Continue to rely on fact that your partner got it right and reassure yourself that you did the right thing also by not making a call.

Let me make a suggestion that you also have a postgame. Take a few minutes to talk to your partners. They know you are relatively new to officiating and from your post you definitely want to improve.

1. Evaluate your own performance. Positives and things you might have done differently.

2. Get feedback from your partners on your mechanics and judgement.

3. Talk about the plays that happened during the game. The same questions you asked on this forum you could have asked your partner directly what he saw and ask why he had no-call.

I spent 18 years evaluating Div 1 officials and I can tell you that the best were great at knowing when a no-call is better for the game than making a call that is what I call a "game interupter".

That is their job.
 

Many of the C's call are outside of the primary. That is what the C is there for. Because if the ball comes on their side, the L is usually going to rotate. If the C has a good game, the crew has a good game.

Peace

One more thing OC.

Tomorrow, go to the game with the attitude that you were assigned this game because your assignor has confidence in your abilities. You are doing something right to be paired with one of the top officials in your area. Your job is to be an impartial judge of the action on the court. Keep your focus there, not on "impressing your partner".