I just wanted ask about people's experience with going table side so far. I have already been at one camp where I worked and attended another camp to just watch. I thought I would hate the table side for HS. I always liked it at the college level, because the coaches for the most part were more intelligent about their complaining as a whole. The camp I worked was with HS teams and HS coaches (not always the varsity coaches) and the I barely heard a whisper half the time. I think this was a great change in mechanics. Of course this was just a very small experience, but I see what is likely to happen. The coaches are not screaming and yelling across the court at you for making a call. The coaches tend to be more reserved and measured when you are standing next to them. In some cases they did not say anything at all.

I have to say I was wrong so far about what this might bring. Of course it is early, but it sure seems like there will not be that many problems with this mechanic. I was at a camp and watched an official get rid of both head coaches during a championship game. But that was AAU, that does not count. :D

Peace

I like it better also, HS and college level.

"Constructive dialogue" at close quarters is much better than a shouting match across the floor.

I worked HS tableside at a camp last weekend and I like the switch. I think it facilitates better communication between the official and the bench and it allows the official to directly address the coach, rather than risking concerns to fester. I had some howlers at my camp and I really thought it was good to be able to address them discreetly, although some coaches are gonna have to learn quickly. I predict that overall the switch will be positive, but we'll see a spike in technicals early on because of beligerant coaches and poor communication by officials.

I have worked NBA mechanics for years and this is a good change. However I personally think that calling official would be better off always being trail not table side.

Because....

I like going table side at buffets.

I've worked at many camps and summer games and believe that table side will work great for communicating with coaches who coach and ask cordial questions. On the other hand, I belive there will be a large increase in the number of Ts for those other coaches.

I think its a good idea, we shouldn't punish the coaches who behave and want to talk nicely to us just because of coaches who abuse it.

Maybe its a personal preference thing... I dont know I can jusustify it as more consistent but it just feels better when I have done both.... In current scenario You go trail on FT's and when it is on one side of floor, you go C when the ball is coming in from the other side.

Table Side Is Beautiful !!

Have any of you done the experimental two-had reporting mechanic for player numbers? It's not bad-- pretty cool, actually...

??
 

I have not attended camp yet, so I am unfamiliar with the term "tableside." I think i know but would like a clarification.

Please explain.

The terms are also in the Mechanics Manuals.
 

It means the side of the court that an official will go or stand depending on what they are doing.

I would suggest that you get into the Official's Manuals to get more familiar. This is just one term and you will need to understand all of them when you are at camps or talking about mechanics.

This is also about 3 Person Mechanics and might not be something you will use if you are not working a lot of varsity (unless you live in one of those states that have lower level 3 Person games).

Peace

Two handed number reporting is NBA only right? You cant get away with that in college or high school correct? I use it during summer league and only because the numbers for AAU dont have any restrictions for how high they can go. Its even more interesting because unless I am doing girls basketball I dont use a lanyard. Why? Its just too hard to stay focused in most of the girls games I've called this summer to use a lanyard ... I did have one this saturday where I was able to do a quick switch at the first dead-ball. The game was intense. (a girls game at that too!) only had 1 jump ball. Score was like 56-54 on two 16 minute stopped clock halves. I was impressed.

The NBA guys that go without a lanyard do it to slow down, just how does that improve your focus on a "just a girls" game?

Oh, Juulie.

Interesting, I have been coaching rec and parks for about 4 yrs, and after this year, I felt I would want to advance to another level. I stared studying the books and began applying the “official” rules in the summer games, but the other officials, became threatened, and started backing out. So now I'm going to get into a camp and move onto high school...

It's an experimental NCAAW mechanic -- to be used only this summer, then evaluated and possibly put in place for the 2005-2006 season.

Yea, just for the camp where I'm already at sea. Just terrific....

Huh? :confused:

Re: ??
 

BBgirl - And in this context we are talking about a change in 3-man mechanics: reporting a foul, then staying tableside. In the past, after a foul was reported, the official would go opposite tableside. Comprende?

I'm going to a 3-person camp where I need to do this, but to develop the habit just for camp, along with all the other habits I need to change, and then have to unlearn it again, after only three days, just feels overwhelming to me. I'm annoyed.

Jewel,
Don't over think this stuff. :)
mick

Without a lanyard I'm more likely to rush as soon as I blow the whistle. In a girls game theres atleast one trip down the floor when you can drop your whistle and let it just hang there for a little bit while one team holds the ball at the division line and the other team wont come out of zone. The intesinsity is also not there for MOST (not all - I went no lanyard for a game Saturday) of the girls games I've called so I have need no extra "crutch" to help myself slow down and not seem rushed. I've had some sleeper boys games before where I've dished the lanyard out of my pocket and made a switch.

I'm going to an NCAA camp Friday and dont have a set mechanic... meaning, its up to the crew what mechanics to use so Julie, I've got two sets of new mechanics (to me atleast) to think about. I've worked both mechanics this summer and almost all three man using both sets of NCAA mechanics.

John,

What are you babbling about here? :) Not sure what direction you are trying to take here but leave the 2 hand reporting at home and bring your lanyard with you to camp.

Brendan

awesome
 

talking 2 man mechanics. This is awesome info, keep it coming!

mick -- I'm not even close to over-thinking yet. If I don't think about it at all, it won't change and I won't move up. Period. I already know that for sure. The thinking I need to do is to figure out how to get the new mechanics and signals under my belt so that I can use them when I need them. I've been trying for several weeks, and it's just not happening. Now to add in this two-handed reporting -- AUGH!!

Juulie,

Don't concern yourself with the two handed reporting as it is not approved... at least it wasn't at the camps I have attended and where I referee. One handed number reporting is still the practice.

Stop grunting.
 

Jewel,
I cannot see what you are doing, but visualization is often useful for practicing reactive motions.

For each different contest, one mechanic leads to another and to another. Understand the flow.
Merely go over the immediate specific mechanics before the game in question. You know them all already.

Be concerned about one game (Men, Women, Fed) at a time.
Don't think about how one level is different from another, but think about how each system works.
Relax.

And remember, that part of knowing the mechanics is being able to cover for a partner that may kick a positioning or signal.
That is a two-way street. :)
mick

Re: awesome
 

Huh? Conversation is about foul reporting of player's numbers with both hands, not 2 man mechanics.

Re: Re: awesome
 

Actually, there are two discussions going on. Well, in reality, three. Going table side, two-handed foul reporting, and having to learn new mechanics for a single camp. I believe that bbgirl was talking about going table side. She was acknowledging that she works 2 man mechanics, which means that she doesnt' need to worry about going table side.

I have to agree about learning mechanics for camps. It'll almost certainly be years before I have to work 3 man on any kind of regular basis. So the last camp I went to and was working 3 man, when I realized that I was messing up because of a habit from 2 man, I wasn't exactly in a hurry to break the habit. The last thing I need is to come away with 3 man habits than I have to turn around and break when I go back to my 2 man life.

On the other hand, they spent a lot of time at that camp talking about the lead coming ball-side in 2 man. We were encouraged to do it anytime the ball was likely to come into the post. That's one 3 man habit that I'll be using a lot.

Consistency?
 

I just wish the Fed would have some consistency in their philosophy. I've never worked 3-man but am going to a 3-man camp in a few weeks so I've been reading up on the mechanics. In one breath, going tableside, they say it facilitates better communication. In another breath, they want the non-calling official to notify a coach of a DQ which is just awkward. The reasons for both seem to me to contradict each other. Sure the coach may be more upset when his/her star player is DQ'd on #5, but making my partner tell him isn't going to appease him. This has bugged me since they started that last year. :(

Mregor

We pregamed at camp that all techincal fouls and the 6th (special tourny rule that we were officiating) that we'd go opposite the table. Evaluators made some weird comments about it because we didnt tell them before we got on the floor but at half-time they thought it made perfect sense. I had a hard time remebering to stay opposite if I was already opposite. And new mechanics... I went to a college camp and worked mens mechanics for the similarities to high school. The high school camps around here couldnt fit my schedule. I also did work a few games with womens mechanics and REALLY like them. The leads converage is alot like 2 man. And I think with some minor changes about the little things would be better for high school.

Re: Consistency?
 

I do not think the 5th foul mechanics remains anymore. I think someone found something on the NFHS website that suggest that not to be true. And if I am not mistaken, this was just a recommendation, not a requirement. I still told them last year in most cases. Honestly, just because the NF says it, does not mean we have to follow it. We were using the "kick" mechanic long before last year they put it in. Do what you feel confrontable with and the people you work for.

Peace

Re: Re: Consistency?
 

Rut,
I would like the "trip" signal.
Could be same as the kick.
mick