Working Alone!!

[rainmaker]

Last night I did my first game alone. I've started a few alone, but my partner always showed up a few minutes into the game.

So right now, while the whole situation is fresh in my mind, I'd like to hear what others do in this case. What do you concentrate on? How do you position yourself on the floor? How do you talk to the coaches? How do you inbound the ball? Etc, Etc Etc.

[JRutledge]

First of all, I have heard that you stay from FT line to FT line. Well I am rather athletic and I tend to move mush more than that. I kind of act like a trail, with even more movement. I might cross the court, I might go lower, it all depends on what offense and defense are run. I have done games by myself during the summer (they scheduled it that way), and I have had games alone during two scrimmages (not scheduled that way). It is really not much fun and I do not allow coaches or players to say a thing. If they wanted more officials, then they need to make sure they have more than me.

[Tim Roden]

When working along, I first tell captains and coaches what the situation is and that I will need their help if we want a good game. I will miss a lot of calls and any OOB away from me will need their honest help in order to get right. As J mentioned, I work from FT line to FT line sometimes working higher or lower depending on the situation. I am center when the ball is on my side of the court and I may go as high as the circle when the ball is on the other side. As always, call the obvious and work with the captains and coaches to make an acceptible game of it.

[Brian Watson]

When this ugly situation occurs I work FT to FT, but I cheat lower when the bodies start banging underneath. I also stay opposite the table the entire game, with the understanding (Actually I tell them) that the coaches will help out with any OOB's on the table side. I have never had a problem, and the physical cntact seems to be less of a problem as well.

[donfowler]

Has happened many times over the years. The first thing I do is have a meeting with coaches and tell them that THEY will be calling the line tableside. If they don't agree we go to arrow. The second thing I tell them that there will be no complaining about calls. I admit before hand that I will miss alot of calls, so there is no need to complain.
Position on court depends on type of game. I just try not to stay in the same areas everytime down the court. May go lead to trail, then lead to lead, then trail to lead, but seldom just trail to trail.

[JAdams]

When there's about two minutes left in pre-game and it appears that my partner won't show, I get both coaches together and say something like "It looks like there may be only one of me tonight. Do you want to play it or postpone it?" Naturally they want to play. I then say, "Look, I'll do the best I can, but I won't be able to see everything."

Usually works like a charm. There's no way you can be criticized for missing stuff in those circumstances. The three times it's happened to me have been three of the smoothest games I've had. Just hustle.

[mikesears]

I worked two Jr High games at a school that is known for its poor fans and coaching staffs and worked those games alone one evening. I spoke to the coaches beforehand with the obligatory "won't get everything . . ." speach. During the game, both coaches were complaining about calls I wasn't making. I finally said during the first game "Anyone says another word to me about a missed call will get a technical foul. Consider this a warning to both benches." Didn't have a problem the rest of the game.

Before the second game during the captains meeting, I made it a point to emphasize that I wasn't going to listen to either coach or player complain about missed calls and had a coach say to me in all seriousness "Come on. Working alone is no excuse for missing calls!" I stuck to my word the second game and T'd him up early for complaining about a missed call and didn't have a problem the rest of the second game.

[JC]

I choose to work table side so I get the same view the coaches get.

[johnfox]

Has happened to me twice. I tell coaches and players to help with OOB. If they won't and I can't see it, we will use the arrow. Usually gets alot of cooperation. Once had both coaches agree not to complain, but in fisrt minute visiting coach was already wanting a 3 second lane call. I told him he had to be kidding, and that I had more important things to watch. Hope this doesn't happen to you again!

[Peter Devana]

This is a good question! Although I hate to have to do this -It happens sometimes. I agree with everyone about talking to both coaches and really like the idea of working the same side as the coaches are on so they see what you see. However, I try to avoid working Ft line to FT line as much as I can because I think working the baselines as much as possible will prevent the rough stuff from starting. A very senior and highly respected official,Dr. Phil Fox once told me -"CONTROL THE GAME UNDER THE HOOP AND THE REST IS EASY"( I Know this is big time name dropping but I had to pass it along).
YIBB,
Pistol