Okay, so here I am back to two-person mechanics, and a new question arises. At 3-person camp, the calling official goes tableside 90% of the time. So that coach can bi!!h a little bit without getting Whacked. It's a godo plan because it gives the coach and the ref a chance to interact a little, coach stays a little calmer.
But in 2-person, how do I make that happen? I've got the words in my head but often find I can't make it over there to say them. Sometimes, there'll be a dead ball, a time out or something where I can take an opportunity, but a lot of times there isn't an opening.
Do any of you great, experienced folks every force a "rotation" in order to get a little face time with coach? What other possibilities exist for improving the communication?

Well, you're a human...and the coach is sort of a human...so I'm guessing you can tell when he has that "Whatdafugwuzat??!!" look on his face.

When I recognize that look on the coach's face in 2 person I kinda linger after reporting, maybe take a step or 2 towards the coach instead of running away, which gives me a chance to address his concerns and demonstrate what a clever, charming and loveable guy I am.

Then I jog off to my new position.

If you feel like you must speak to the coach, look at your partner (dead in the eye), give him a strong stop sign, then turn and talk to the coach.
mick

Last year, our state had the calling official go tableside in 2 person mechanics. While it did facilitate communication with coaches to some extent, it meant that no one had a good look at the benches during FTs. This seemed to me to be a Very Bad Idea (TM). I hope they will go back to the old mechanics this year.

Lotto,
Why was that a bad thing? I mean, we don't really pay much attention to the benches during other live-ball situations, why is it such a big deal during free throws?

I'm becoming very familiar with the when-to. And I have a pretty good idea of the when-not-to. I just don't always know the how. Right when reporting makes sense. So does mick's stopping play for a moment. I suppose each of these will have it's usefulness. Sometimes, I can make it work to just naturally walk past -- so that makes three different ways. And possibly one or two forced "rotations." That ought to be enough to get me through a game. I'll work on that.

Actually, Lotto, that is the old mechanic. When I first came up in the early '90s, officials stayed in the normal "box" position, even if it meant having one of the 2 officials tableside. This is still the pro 2-whistle mechanic.