If a no show or something like,
What is the best way for one man to
do a game and what level just don't try?

"One man?" I think you're getting into the realm of women's work here. 0:

Seriously? Talk to the coaches, and explain that you are going to call what you see, but that you won't necessarily catch everything. Work the whole game as Trail. Get done and get out.

It sucks when that happens! I've only had it happen a couple of times.... once for a boys varsity jamboree.

"Coaches, I appear to be going this one solo. I'll do my best, but you know that we miss calls even when there are two of us, so I'm guessing I might miss a few by myself tonight. I'll work as hard as I can to get angles so please bear with me."

Both times it's happened, the coaches haven't said a word during the game and thanked me afterwards. If they are reasonable, they'll understand that it's an impossible task.

Z

"Coach, I've got good news and bad news.

"The bad news is that I'm working alone tonight.

"The good news is that is won't be the worst partner I've had this year." ;)

Take advantage of this opportunity to work "one man".

A Veteran once told me:

He showed up to do a Frosh game. That particular night there was also a J.V. game scheduled in the schools other gym. 3 officials 2 games. Well, this official was low man on the totem pole, so he got the Frosh game, all by himself, while the other two guys did the J.V. game.

The Athletic director told the official that he had done a better job doing "one man" than any two other officials all year. The next year the AD put the official on his Varsity list.

Look at these situations as oportunities...he did.

RD

one man crew
 

I've done MS girls (fall) and MS boys (winter) for about 15 years now. My AD told me a long time ago to not play any game w/o two officals. He said it puts the one present official in a liability spot. It's happened countless times and the opposing coach (and sometimes the one offical) have been less than happy with me for refusing to play. I just tell them it's not my call, just following the AD's directions.

I think what you are looking for is where to stand. I've had a few and I just go from the top of the key to the top of the key. I'll move out to the side of the key lower if necessary.

Good Luck :)

It stinks,but you do the best you can.I usually work it like I'm the C in 3 person,only in reverse,I stay low if the ball is my side or in the lane,then go to trail if it goes away.

One man mechanics
 

First inform the captains and coaches that there will be no inbound play in the front cout on the end line. All will be on the side lines.
They won't like it but will live with it.

Then position your self out from the top of the key. You would be surprised that you will see most of the action. You a little side to side to move with the ball and occasionally you can step down on one side if needed.

During transition, move to the sideline and allow the players to pass, then position yourself out from the top of the key going the other way. On fast breaks, you can move with the ball like the C does, and stay away from the end line so you can observe all of the players.

I've had to do this several times and it works.
The good news is that you don't need to run a lot,

Hope this helps.

Damian,

I disagree. You put the ball in play where it goes out of bounds. Teams have set in-bounds plays depending on where the ball comes in. You can change referee mechanics and positioning, but I don't think you should change the rules of the game. I'd just bounce the ball to the thrower from the free throw-line extended and put the ball in play where it's supposed to be.

As far as not needing to run a lot. ?????? You may only be going FT line to FT line, but you're always responsible for every breakaway so there is plenty of running and then some if you're working at it.

Z

Not only that, you're also going from side to side as the ball goes back and forth and inside to get the best vantage point. I think working a game alone is quite a bit more running than working with a partner.

How bout' the parents who took time off work to see little Johnny or Susie play?
JMO...but I think this AD is being over paranoid.

Zebraman, I have a little problem with bouncing the ball from the free throw line extended if it's one man. What do you do if a kid gets in the way of the ball as you're bouncing it to the thrower? Do you T him up or give a throw-in warning or what? Or tell everyone to stay out of the way till the ball's in the thrower's hand? What I've done is go down to the end line, and stand on the corner and bounce it all the way from there then slide back up to the free throw line extended as I'm doing the throw-in count. Sounds awkward, but prevents any problems with the bounce and gives you a "moving" view of the throw-in situation.

I have had to work a couple of games solo this year. Here is what I have found to work best for me. As others have said, work free throw line to free throw line. I stay on the sideline opposite table. I give the same speach to the coaches as others have already stated. I also tell them that if I get screened on a OOB on "their" sideline, and they are not in agreement as to who last touched, then we go AP. I only tell them this incase it is an obvious play that everyone else in the gym saw but me.

Hustle your @$$ off and try to give them the absolute best game you can.

In our association it is required (I think it is a state rule FHSAA) that a varsity game must have two officials. Otherwise I will work any game that the coaches agree to haveing one official. BTW almost without exception, the coaches (even the howlers) have become as quiet as a church mouse as far as saying anything to me during the game.

Had that experience...everyone was quiet as a mouse. There were a few uncertain looks from a couple of players and coaches, but they didn't say a word.

When having to work by myself I just
tell them to look at the brite side,
there will only be 1/2 as many bad calls
this game.
Carl

I've never had a problem with a player getting in the way when bouncing the ball to a player. If I did, I'd just blow my whistle and have a "do-over." Your way sounds reasonable too.

Z

I hustle top-of-key to top-of-key, then try to drift down a little lower (FT Line-ish). I try to cross-over to always be on the right or left side. The cross over part seemed to let me see the same thing for both teams, but is not easy and you can get caught in the middle of things.

As for the baseline inbound play, I would get right in the middle of the players, announce that the ball was live on my whistle, give the ball to the in-bounder, take my position, then whistle the ball live.

<b>If this happens in rec-ball, you will have to tell a lot of players you are not interested in their opinion.</b>

Zebraman, glad we could agree somewhat. SamIAm, like your idea too. Might give those ideas you two offered a shot next time I get into a one man situation. I just hope it doesn't happen on a Saturday when I've got 3 or more games to work (kids' parochial athletic league).

Against the WIAA (WI Association)
 

At the HS level, grades 9-12, our state assoc. has specific rules prohibiting a game without two officials. As much as I would want to do the game, I would tell the school (AD/game management) that I cannot work the game, as per the WIAA. I am not willing to open myself to a lawsuit.

Thanks All!
Some great notes.

I too have done grade school (7-8) alone and did it by running to the L all the time. One great reason to keep in good shap! If you cant give the teams a good job by doing this then don't do the game. Ask to play at a later date! Now for the older kids, no way, I havent seen anyone in that good of shap.

Had the "opportunity" to work consecutive games. A boys 9th and a boys 8th. I normally work Girls games.

I was lucky to receive some advice about positioning a couple of days before my partner stood me up. Yep - you have to call your partner.

The advice was to work as a trail on the coaches side so that you can see what they see (for the most part). Where I got into trouble early in the first game is when I went too low and got blocked out on a major collision. Quickly learned my lesson and stayed high and sorta worked the arch but stayed out of harms way.

The games actually went very well. And, in our association, I get paid for four games.

I agree 100%. You know you're really a ref, inside and out, when you actually kinda feel good that your partner didn't show, and you step up and get the job done alone. The end of my third season, I applied to get my varsity certification a year early and was turned down. I totally understood why, but it was kinda disappointing. I worked a whole bunch of spring ball and in late May, I ended up working two 4A JV boys games alone. They were three of the four top contenders in this spring league and the games were fast, tough, and emotional. But I managed. Did better than manage. One of the coaches, who goes to state year after year after year, told my commissioner at camp the next week that I'd done a great job, and he was really glad I'd been there. Within two days, I got my varsity certification. So you just never know. You never know if it's opportunity knocking, if you don't open the door.

Who are you?
 

Are you Sam888?

No, just <b>SamIAm</b>. (Sam is not my real name, an uncle gave me that nickname when I was a young child. I thought my name was Sam until kindergarten.)