Hey guys,

I almost always have this problem when I'm new Lead and play is coming fast from backcourt to frontcourt, on my side of the court. I can't run backwards, for obvious reasons. But here comes the dilemma: If I turn my head to look at the play, I may run into some kind of hazard and if I look straight once in a while, I may miss a foul or an OOB violation...

HELP!!! Do you have some tips you can share with the world? Thanks!

I've found that once you bump into a coach, and miss a call that would have been for his team, he'll stay out of the way from then on.

It is easier when you can run wide (towards out-of-bounds) but sometimes there are space restrictions, so you may have to run just on the sideline itself, if the bleachers are right there. But safety first! There are worse things that can happen to you than miss an OOB call. Your partner can help, and at worst you go to the arrow. Sneak a peek down the line. Remember, you have to feed a family, and yes, we all want to call a perfect game, but take care of yourself first.

I try to us my peripheral vision for obstructions, But then I only worry about immovable objects...I figure a human has enough sense to get out of the way. I used to put my hand out to feel for the wall if there wass not much space when I was new. I have a better sense for the floor now and pick up the little painted hints that I need to slow down (top of the key for example).

QuebecRef87,
I think that "almost always" is way too often.
Maybe:
<LI> Work more on anticipating the play.
<LI> Work to get nearer to the sideline.
<LI> Work on your speed.
<LI> Work to freeze and follow.
mick

For some of us "hauling @ss" looks exactly like "freeze and follow". :)

Don't run backwards...... right Brandan?! :D ;)

1) Bend over
2) Put your head between your legs
3) Say <i><b>"Calise..Tabernac"</i></b>
4) Kiss your a$$ goodbye :D

Thank you all for your answers.

You're probably right... Thanks for the cues!

Oh! And by the way JR, that's not really funny... Just in case you think you are. ;)

No problem, QuebecRef. I just won't respond to any more of your posts. That way I won't offend you. Doesn't matter to me one way or t'other. Shrug.

I'm sorry God, this is all my fault... What, are you waiting for me to beg you?! Do as you wish and I'll deal with it one way or t'other.

Now go ahead and shoot me from the top of your mighty 6000 posts. "Shrug".

When I have the room, I like to run a bit out of bounds so I get a good angle on the line when looking over my shoulder. Now having said that, I have had 1 crash with a coach. I wasn't hurt and I don't think the coach was, but he stayed the hell outta my way for the remainder of the game :).

QuebecRef, what school are you attending??

HELP!!! Do you have some tips you can share with the world? Thanks! [/B][/QUOTE]

QuebecRef87,
I think that "almost always" is way too often.
Maybe:
<LI> Work more on anticipating the play.
<LI> Work to get nearer to the sideline.
<LI> Work on your speed.
<LI> Work to freeze and follow.
mick [/B][/QUOTE]

For some of us "hauling @ss" looks exactly like "freeze and follow". :) [/B][/QUOTE]

That's funny!!

Sometimes it can be tough, you gotta anticipate but don't leave your partner to referee rebounding on his own. If they get even with you in transition, just slow for a moment and then follow where you've got a good angle. If they take it to the rack, you've got a good look, if they slow up then you can get by to the baseline. This should only happen a couple of times a game...maybe.

"Living on the edge" in anticipation of bumping into some unforeseen hazard is what makes the game so exciting....that and the great pay, bountiful post-game buffet, and the everlasting admiration and thanks of countless coaches, players and paying fans!

I try to keep looking over my shoulder as much as possible, but I occasionally take a quick glance down court to make sure I'm not going to hit anyone, especially if I'm on a tight court. For the most part, if I run right down the sideline (or just outside if possible) I don't have too much trouble. Earlier this year, however, I was working on a court where the people in the front row have their toes on the court and they can't do anything about it. I took off in transition once, looking over my shoulder, and felt myself bump into someone. It didn't feel like I hit them very hard and I just kept going. After I got down the floor, I could look back and see the 10 year old girl that I had knocked clear to the floor. Had to go apologize to her at half time.

Yeah, it's hysterical. . . until you're actually at camp with Dan and you're going from C to C and you pass him while he's trying to get to the new Lead in transition. :D

C'mon now, I usually beat you to mid court...sometimes....once.

:)

I heard Dan would be quicker if he was only carrying one of his partners.
mick

YEAH! WHAT HE SAID!!! :p

Now THAT'S funny...... :D

Was at a BV game last night where the new lead tried to out-run a breakaway. He ran to the baseline and turned to find the offensive player on the ground and the defender with the ball. Missed a great hatchet job on an attempted layup.

Why the trail didn't make the call I don't know. Maybe he was blocked or didn't want to call in his partner's area. I know that's a call I make if I see it realizing that my partner is out of position.

Had a collision last year in a Boys frosh game. Running as new lead, looking back over my shoulder and glancing forward periodically. Player flares outside the arc and ends up right in my path. I end up on all fours with the whistle still in my mouth! Player didn't even hit the floor.

I'm attending Cégep de Trois-Rivières (college). Why do you want to know that?

Take a look at what your primary is. Even in transition someone has off ball coverage and someone has on ball coverage. Most of the time in a quick transition the new lead has off ball coverage. Although the sideline you describe is your line, it is just like the line above FT line extended in the front court in a half court game... Lead often times (depends on associations and officials) has first shot at that. More often than not the new lead is not watvhing off ball and trying to watch the ball coming down the floor. If you are watching off ball in these situcations you'll find yourself refereeing the defense more on the and when there is a block charge you'll get it right more times because you reffed the D and not the guy with the ball.

What foul you going to miss that your partner watching on ball should not get? OOB? your partner helps and you keep going?

In a press the new lead helps out ffor traps but in a fast transition the trail has best view of most plays... lead should be in positon for the play to come to him or past him for the lay-up etc...

You could choose to not listen to JR and tell him to go ** off (which is what you have done). But then you would miss a bunch of good advice from an official with 30 + years experience simply because you have been highly offended (God, I bet anything upsets you if you are upset over this one)

Kelvin -- I'm lost. Completely. Could you try this again in more simple language? Pretend you're explaining to a coach....

Did someone rearrange the keys on your keyboard while you weren't looking? Oh wait - it's French. I think it means snail appetizers! :p

I took 2 years of French (God forgive me) and I never heard of a French word Cegep. Maybe it's misspelled. :p

Cegeps are similar to community colleges, I think, TM.

Don' get me wrong. I never said I was offended. JR's comment just didn't fit at all in the current thread (even if it was an advice from a 30+ years-experienced official... :rolleyes: ). What upsets me, though, is that after that, he's expecting me to apologize when he just shot me for no obvious reason... probably sitting on the fact that he's well known among this community.

With that said, I'd love to hear some of JR's (real) advice. I just don't want look like I'm submissive or anything... And you all, as fellow officials, know that the image you send to others is very important! :)

Now, Jurassic, with all due respect, I don't think being experienced and well known gives you the right to shoot anyone for no reason.

No, I don't think it's eatable :D. It's an acronym: http://www.acronymfinder.com/af-quer...&Acronym=cegep

I'm from Ontario, and I know we've got nothing like that here. You guys finish high school in grade 11 right?? And then Cegep is like a university prepratory thing?? That's how I understood it. I was just wondering, because I was looking into some Quebec universities, mainly McGill, and was just wondering if you might attend there.

You got it all right! We have 6 years of primary (elementary) school, then 5 years of secondary (high) school. After that, there's college (Cegeps are public colleges — those that cost 1000$ less than private colleges...). Anyway! At collegiate level, we can either choose a 2-year pre-universitary program or a 3-year technical program (which leads directly to a job).

I must admit I'm surprised that Ontario folks are interested in attending school here! What motivates you to be?

McGill is a good school, it's one of the out of province schools I was looking into. Another was STFX. I'm probably gonna stay in Ontario, but now the big question is where??