Last season, some of my partners were very set in their ways on switching. This was never discussed in any of my training camps, and I'm not sure if I understand why or when it is done.


I am assuming you do it so that you are not in the same position on the floor for too long of a stretch.

In the winter, you switch after every foul is called, as directed by the NFHS Basketball Officials' Manual.

In the summer, you switch when you want to get nearer the water cooler.


I think your assumption as to why we switch is correct. We do it in order to get a varied look at the floor.

Rookie,
Barry gave you a good answer.
So, did they switch more or less than you thought?
Two-whistle, or three-whistle?
What were some of the differences?
mick

We were told that who ever reports the foul, administers the foul shots. It would seem to me that switching would make this procedure wrong?

Rookie,
Officials Manual (re: 2-person)#233 says: "Officials shall always change positions after each foul is called."

However, if your local powers want the calling official to go baseline to administer the free throws, that would be very rare indeed. My guess is you may have misunderstood that mechanic.
mick

Well, I never ;)

Oops, got my terminology mixed up, that's what I get for taking the summer off. The calling official goes to the shooter, not to the baseline.

Only some of the guys I worked with, did this, and even then, there was no rhyme or reason. I guess they did it when the felt like it, which is what confused me.

That makes sense.
 

Rookie,
In 3-person, the calling official will go toward the shooter everytime; actually, the position in that case is Center.

In 2-person, the free official initiates the switch... per book... and maybe the book will clarify that this year.

I agree that it makes sense for the calling official to go toward the shooter (Trail in 2-man), but that is not the book mechanic, and our state association told us to work per book. Your local association (You do belong don't you?) may have a mechanic different from the book. Do what your local bosses say.

Have you had any pre-games with partners to handle such situations? I have worked with partners that may ,or may not, switch, and I know how awkward it feels when you intiate a switch, and they come to where you're standing, or when, after you report, you turn to go to a position which is already filled.
Yuck!
mick

I work two man. My 'bosses' never discussed this, so I never thought to bring it up during a pre-game (most of which I initiate). The first time it happened, I think I had the deer in headlights look, but just flowed with it, thinking that I missed a day at class or something, and I forgot to follow up with him.

This is something I will always bring up in pre-game, and I will also straighten out when I go for my classes in October.

Being a fairly new official myself whenever I'm working with a new official (in rec leagues and summer ball) we talk before the game and agree to follow the NFHS mechanics on switching. This gives the new official a chance to practice their mechanics before trying out (all first year officials try out) and helps me get my mind back on "regulation" ball.

Speaking of switching (two person), one time I may not switch is when the foul is committed in front of the table.

One question I do have for everyone is this following situation. Team A turns the ball over in their front court, team B now has the ball and a foul is called by the new trail. In two person do you still switch? Thanks for the info.

Laurie

Texas!
 

Rookie,

Since your bio says that you are in Houston, your partners are doing it the correct way. The TASO mechanics (which is what is used in Texas) is a hybrid of NCAA and NFHS. On nonshooting fouls you do not have to switch.

If you feel the need to switch because of being on the same end for an extended period of time or have called multiple fouls against that team, you or your partner may initiate a switch.

On shooting fouls, however, you switch each time.

I hope that this helps you.

Email me for any other questions that you have. I am also in Houston and am one of the chapter trainers.

Standard FED <b>two-person</b> mechanics: Switch, every time there is a foul. Front court, back court, shooting, technical, intentional, player control, offense, defense, ... it doesn't matter. If you were at the "east" end of the court, you'll now be at the "west" end of the court. There is no such thing as "no long switches" under standard FED two-person mechanics.

This is sometimes modified by the state (see Tx.), and sometime modified by agreement of the partners (for example, I prefer to put the official who called a T away from the table).

Hmmmm....to embellish what Bob said, my assiciation--in Ohio--taught us (at both camps <b>I</b> attended this summer anyway...) that they <b>don't</b> want to see the long switch anymore. Beware, however, that I only attended <b>three</b> person camps, and not two person....

Right -- FED changed the mechanic for <b>three</b>-person this year. I didn't discuss that because the original scenario was specifically for <b>two</b>-person.

If you switch on most fouls you will accomplish the intent behind the mechanic and that is to avoid being lead or trail too long going in one direction.
If officials were perfectly consistent in their calls switching would be unnecessary. For example, when you have one official calling 3 seconds everytime down the floor when in lead and his/her partner never calling it at the other end you see why the coaches want us to switch.
Anytime you create a long switch such as a transition,non shooting foul in the back court called by trail right after a hoop avoid the switch as it takes too long and puts the spotlight on the refs and you never want to do that.Simply call the foul "hold" your partner(s) in position with a signal-we use a 1 hand push signal-report the foul and get the ball back into play as soon as possible. Of course you always switch on shooting fouls and all fouls in the front court. Also never ever switch on turnover violations!!
Hope this helps
Pistol

here I come,... you better git.
 

Pistol,
Long live the Bump-n-Run!
mick