Officials Responsibilities on Free Throws...?

[eg-italy]

Originally Posted by amcginthy

they shoot - miss the rim - BIG TIME.... ball barely touches the far left corner of the backboard - bounces right into the shooting teams hands, and then put up the second shot, make it, and get fouled. Before the girl ever caught the ball, the entire gym (at least on our side) screamed VIOLATION...

So, my question I guess is... does one official watch the lane and one watch the rim? How is this managed?

I assume it was 2 person officiating. As others told you, the two officials have many things to look at during a free throw with subsequent play.

I can tell you what is the FIBA mechanics. The trail official has responsibility on the thrower, on the try, on the players on the opposite side of the lane and, finally, on all other players not along the lane (there are at least four of them in FIBA). You see that there are many things to look at.

The lead official has responsibility on the players along the lane on the opposite side and on the following rebound play.

When I teach officiating, I suggest to the trail to take a position 2 meters (6-7ft) from the thrower, slightly behind the line, in such a way to be able to see the thrower and the try. Obvious violations by the 4 players behind the line are catched pretty easily (they can enter in the 3 point area only when the ball strikes the rim).

I suggest also to the lead to take position slightly off the lane, in order to be able to see both rows of players and help the trail with their violations. This is easier here, because only five players can go along the lane.

It should be not very different from NF mechanics.

Some officials remain too much near the thrower, so they have no chance to look at everything. It can happen to miss a call like this, if the throw is very near the rim. Not if the throw is very far from the rim: I'd classify this as a bad error.

Ciao