For the first time in a while (I have a 6 month old son) I actually watched a college game last night. I noticed alot of double whistles with the 3 man crew, all on the same foul. Is this common?

ncaa is encouraging double whistles. The primary official will still report. I am still struggling with this, because i have a slow whistle. If i make a call out of my primary I am extra slow.

Rookie,

With three sets of eyes out there, there are a LOT of areas that overlap. Double whistles are common with the 3-man mechanic.

I'm sure you guys can understand my initial confustion. Since I am just starting out, the one thing that has been preached to me in 2 man mechanics is the evilness of a double whistle, and then to see it so often at the 3-man, I was just curious.

I agree. I think the reason a lot of fouls weren't being called is because they didn't want to call out of their primary. The hardcore "Don't call in my area!" guys are having to back down a bit! I love it! :D

Kind of interesting that when you watch an NBA game, there are a lot less double whistles and you still have three officials on the floor. They have learned thier primary and know when to call it I think that in a lot of ways double whistles are called in NCAA because there are all the conferences and each supervisor wants it a different way or something ...

I guess the nice thing about a double whistle is that it leaves less doubt. If two officials blow a whistle, then they both saw it and it makes it harder for Players, coaches and fans to question it. In two man it usually means one of the officials is not watching the proper area of the court. I have not called any three-man so don't know the areas of coverage. They have started three-man mechanics here in 6A but not 5A and below.

As you know Kelvin, in the NBA, certain contact will always be called a foul and other situations won't be called. That's to say, the officials are all on the same page. The officiating is more consistent since there's one supervisor and one accepted way to officiate the game. They officiate their primary and they trust their partners.

After a lot of double whistles this weakend, My partner advised me that to avoid the double whistle, hold your whistle if it is not in your primary. If your partner doesn't make the call, then you make it.

why would you be looking in an area other than your primary?

1- Because the all ten players may be in your partner's primary.

2- Because you have a closely guarded count that takes you into your parnter's area.

3- Because your partner has a trap in his primary.

You can't ignore play or contact, just because it's not in your primary.

Neither official is limited to calling fouls or violations in their own area of the court. Each official should call fouls wherever they occur and be prepared to help the other official(s) at all times.
From the 1999-2001 Officials Manual, p. 9 Section 19

I was joking. Sorry, sarcasim doesn't type well. :)

Sarcasm or not, that was a good answer.

I agree with everything BsktBalRef has said on this one!!

Double whistles on fouls are almost always okay.
Double whistles on trys are often okay
Double whistles on feet are sorta okay.
Double whistles on ball handling are rarely okay.
Double whistles on timing are very rarely okay.
Double whistles on Out of Bounds are never okay.

And never, ever is an Echo whistle okay.