I had another official see a HS game I worked last Saturday. He stated there were no more long switches in either two person or three person HS Games. Did I miss a memo?

By official FED mechanics, you are correct -- switch on all fouls in 2-person.

It's common, and in some areas (states, local associations) it may even be endoresed to not have a long-switch in two-person.

I guess states and/or associations have the ability to change certain mechanics.

In our chapter, for example,we have no long switches, 2 or 3 person, and now this year, even in 2 person, the calling official for a shooting foul goes tableside. This will negate switching if you are already trail and call a shooting foul on the defense in the front court. Supposedly it's to improve communication with the coaches,etc, etc, etc, but in 2 person, as trail, you can't hang around the mid court line...you have the 10 second count, watching the flight of the ball, watching the lane spaces opposite you, not to mention the shooter.

Frank,

Are you in Texas? If not, what other state is doing to trail to tableside in two man mechanics? Thanks.

yes, Houston

Will you be an official at any tournament basketball games in Houston, Dec. 28-30 for Vision Sports?

I don't like the no long switch business in 2 man. It doesn't make sense. If the lead calls a player/team control foul he can move toward the table, report the foul, and his co-official will be ready for the throw in on the baseline or whereever. IF the co-official senses trouble brewing on the walk down, then they can make eye contact after the foul report and adjust according to what they decided in pre-game. But a blanket no long switch business looks and feels awkward and the non calling official might have to keep looking back and forth to keep his eyes on all players. If he's down on or near the baseline setting up a throw in, he has a view of all players.

Calling official turns around after the report, ball goes in play, and we are back. It would save 10 seconds a foul minimum.

Even in three-person, the T is supposed to be in the...trail position on the last free throw. I make sure my inside/lower foot is on or around the hash mark (or where a hash mark would be) and I'm open so I can see the players that aren't lined up. If you know someone who is hanging around mid-court, tell them they aren't doing anybody any good way out there.

Long Switches
 

For our local HS games most people do not do long switches.

For things like Adult Rec, Jr High ball most of the refs don't switch at all. There is this attitude of exerting the least possible energy and picking up the paycheck. I mean people will scream the color, number from across the parking lot before even considering moving towards the reporting area. It is pretty sad.

In VA, we switch on all fouls in 2 man. We bump and slide if the foul is committed in the back court in 3 man.

johnny1784 quote:
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Originally posted by FrankHtown
yes, Houston
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Will you be an official at any tournament basketball games in Houston, Dec. 28-30 for Vision Sports?

I assume you're referring to the Academy Tournament. I'm not quite at that level yet, however in January, I am scheduled to do a Varsity Boys game with Steve Oakes. It will give him a chance to see me work.

quote:
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Originally posted by FrankHtown
...but in 2 person, as trail, you can't hang around the mid court line...you have the 10 second count, watching the flight of the ball, watching the lane spaces opposite you, not to mention the shooter.
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Even in three-person, the T is supposed to be in the...trail position on the last free throw. I make sure my inside/lower foot is on or around the hash mark (or where a hash mark would be) and I'm open so I can see the players that aren't lined up. If you know someone who is hanging around mid-court, tell them they aren't doing anybody any good way out there.

The mechanic in Texas, for the first of multiple free throws, in 3 person, the calling official is to be at the division line, so we can "communicate" with the coaches...which is a nice way of saying letting them vent at the call. On the final shot, we are to move to the customary position to help with rebounding, etc.

In 2 person what does it mean when the reporting official stays table side? Trail now table side and lead administers opposite the table? So as the trail you are in front of the bench on the shooting end. You can hear but see the benches behind you. If it's being done in Texas, how is it working out?

We do it similarly. On the first FT, we are next to the far bench and on the second we move up to the near bench to be available for coaches. It seems to work ok.

Personally, I'm not crazy about it. As I mentioned, if you're the trail, and you call a shooting foul in the front court, you stay trail. I thought the whole idea of switching was to try to ensure some consistancy in the calls: If as Lead I call a foul, well, I'll be the lead for the other team the next trip down the court. With this mechanic, it doesn't neccessarily happen that way.

And, like I said, you really don't get to stay in front of the bench very long...just long enough to listen to the coach tell you how you just robbed his team, etc, etc, etc, because you have to be in position to do the 10 second count, rebounding, shooter's feet, lane violations, and flight of the ball.

I'm not sure if it's an experiment, or if this is the way Texas is going to do it forever.