How do I not miss the next one like this?

[BloggingRefGuy]

Yup...I admit it. It wasn't good, and I don't want it to happen again.

I see two ways of fixing this:

One is your way, JugglingRef, where I'm ahead of both the ball and the new defender. Problem is, that leaves the T with all the players in the backcourt.

After writing this out and thinking it over, I think I need to stay back more, closer to halfcourt, further away from that player on the sideline, so I can pick her up sooner. But a C behind the ball?

[BktBallRef]

Don't run with your back to the ball. Then, you won't be surpirsed by it.

[mplagrow]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Don't run with your back to the ball. Then, you won't be surpirsed by it.

Are you suggesting that he beckpedal? I used to do that until I got ripped at a clinic for it. I was told to run forward and watch with my head back.

[JugglingReferee]

I think this type of play is rare. If you have the ball carrier, I don't think it's too hard for the T to have players in the BC. We've all done 2-man games where the off-ball official watches 8 players.

Imagine a half-court offense where as C, the dribbler comes to your sideline. You'll look towards the DL to watch this match-up, and cue from the T if there is a rotation in progress.

I guess if this match-up is the last up the court, that is, most players are getting set for the half-court offense, then I'd like to be ahead of the ball, maybe getting ready for the L coming over. If the dribbler successfully passes past this presser, and into the key, do you want to be far away as C?

If the match-up is the first up the court, then behind is better.

Either way, don't be too close to the play.

[SMEngmann]

Here's what works for me: open up to the court so that you have better knowledge of the ball out of your peripheral vision. Since you're reffing off the ball, you should have good knowledge of where the defenders are. If the ball is coming on your side, be ready to position yourself like a trail and be ready to be on the ball when it crosses DL. This will put you higher on the court and in much better position to referee the whole play, rather than what you did, which was to position yourself to referee uphill.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by SMEngmann

Here's what works for me: open up to the court so that you have better knowledge of the ball out of your peripheral vision. Since you're reffing off the ball, you should have good knowledge of where the defenders are. If the ball is coming on your side, be ready to position yourself like a trail and be ready to be on the ball when it crosses DL. This will put you higher on the court and in much better position to referee the whole play, rather than what you did, which was to position yourself to referee uphill.

I agree with opening up. If I'm in a pressing situation, and I'm the C, I open up and move laterally down the court so the whole play is in front of me.

[BloggingRefGuy]

Thanks for all the comments, folks. I've taken all of that into consideration, and in retrospect I've come to this conclusion: while my shoulders were parallel to the sideline, I think I turned my head and became too locked in on the dribbler...which is why I was surprised by the defender who snuck in behind my head. Next time there's a ballhandler on my line but between me and halfcourt when I'm C, I'll take that a sign to get behind her. Shuffling that way along the sideline would have enabled me to pick up the defender earlier. And if I wind up behind the T...well, this is a situation where the L should rotate anyway. If she/he doesn't, I'll adjust back to the more traditional C position as soon as I can.

I lived it, I learned it, and now I'm moving on.