How far will you go to save a game (PART 2)

[zebraman]

Originally posted by ronny mulkey

Z,

Yes, I am serious. Why are you so adamant that you are right about helping in these situations? Is it because someone at camp told you you shouldn't make a call from lead out past the f. throw line? Or, is it that you truly believe you can't get a call right from there? Or, is it just the mechanics that you have been taught as of this date? Do you believe in double whistles? Triple whistles?I'm not saying that that the philosophy might CHANGE to let officials call over the floor - I'm saying that it is already in place. I'm also saying that mechanics and philosophies DO change ALL THE TIME. When they change, will your opinion change?

You never answered the question - how many offball calls per game do you make on the average? BTW, I happen to agree with you on this situation and it is because that is the way that I have been taught - today.

Mulk

Why am I so adamnant? When three-person was implemented, it was so that officials could call in their own area thereby seeing the WHOLE play. In two-person, we often turn and see the end of the play and then conjecture (which is a nice word for guess). That is taught at camps, in the officials manual, in the 3-person guidebook, and by veterans who understand the 3-person philosophy. In fact, 3-person will EXPOSE ball watchers. If you tended to be a ball-watcher in 2-person, you will struggle with 3-person.

In the original play in this post, we already have two officials who should have seen the foul. The C (primary) and the T (secondary). Who is watching the other players if the lead is also looking there? Where is the teamwork of the crew? Where is the trust? Where is the 3-person?

People can conjecture that the Lead had nothing to watch, but I can't recall any times in a transition situation as was described where I (as lead) didn't have anything to watch so I went up near halfcourt to watch the play on the C's side. It doesn't make sense to me. How can we justify the L making a call 50-feet away when two officials are much closer and have responsibility for that play. If the L can make that call, then forget coverage areas and lets just all watch the ball all night.

I would say that my crews make an average of between 3 and 8 offball calls per game. What would happen in the game if those 3-8 calls weren't made? Frustration. Retaliation. Those are GREAT quality calls that mean the difference between a well-played game and a game that can get deteriorate into something ugly.

Double whistles are OK occasionally, but I prefer a delayed whistle from the official who has secondary coverage (the tweet-tweet "echo" thing). A triple whistle? Geez, I hope not... unless maybe it's a held ball in the middle of the key or something. Again, a triple whistle normally exposes a ball-watcher.

Philosophies may change, but off-ball coverage and rough play will ALWAYS be a concern at the high school level. Rough play will was one reason for such a push for 3 officials. Off-ball calls reduce rough play.

Z