Just a question regarding the area you are suppose to be watching while at trail. The other night in a J.V. boys game at the half our assignor took me and my partner out and told us that anything that happens in the key is leads responsibility and trail should never bail him out. Trail is to watch his side of the key and foul line extended on up. I dont have a problem with that but when the play goes underneath with 8 or 10 bodies inside should'nt 2 sets of eyes be looking at the key?

You are absolutly correct. As trail, when everyone is in the key and during rebounding actions, you should be watching the weak side of the key. If your partner is in the cadallac position, then you need to be down in a center position covering the back side of the key. When your partner is strong side, then you need to be up high more as a trail to cover the other side of the key.

Your assignor is correct in this. When the play is where the lead can see it, don't blow your whistle. Let him make the call.

3 Person
 

I am assuming you are talking about 2 person instead of 3 person?

To Rut...
 

I think the term "me and my partner" answers your question.

JRutledge: Yes sorry I did'nt make that clear, we only work 2 man here.

Re: He did not have to be talking about one person.
 

I mainly asked because Tim went into this thing about the center position, so that is why I asked.

When you talk about primary position, you are mainly talking about who has the ball and where. Yes, the trail very well might have to help you out with the off ball stuff and ball stuff depending on who has the better look. Now much of this is pregame stuff and if you really understand 3 person, 3 person will help you with 2 person. Why, because 3 person was designed to put an official in better position that 2 person could not cover.

J, I work exclusively with 2 man mechanics and yes I was talking two man mechanics above. When I pregame I often use 3 person terms because I understand 3 person well enough to know that I can explain in a pregame with those terms. Obviously with a new official I can't do that but with an official that has worked three man, or watched it on TV, I can explain it in those terms.