Table side in two man.
 

Along the same lines as long switches in two man. What is the reasoning to go opposite table in two man on a shooting foul.

I hope this is changed soon. It's awkward, especially when coming from opposite table on a shooting foul.

I don't know the original rational for going opposite the table after calling a foul...I can guess it might be to get away from irrate coaches. I do think that within the next two years, possibly as early as next year the Federation will adapt a table side mechanic for two person. This based on the success of table side reporting in 3 person. I hope this does become the mechanic

In NY on the girl's side, we've already adopted this mechanic, with the calling official going tableside as trail on FTs. I've found that it works pretty well, although I must say that there are coaches that I'd just assume go opposite, since no amount of communication with them is going to be productive...

In 2 whistle I'd rather go opposite, I hope they keep it like it is.

I always thought the reason was so the scorer's table could see you during the free throws, to implicate whether or not the basket was good, say a lane violation or not... so I have no freakin clue...personally I like it because the coach can't grip at me about the call, so I won't have to T him up... even though I may actually have to T him up if he starts yellin across the court at me during the free-throw... WAIT! Did I say may? I meant I WILL T him up when he starts yellin across the court... hehehe:D

I'd much rather stay table side always. I can't tell you how many time I've see coaches squawk across the floor when the ref goes opposite but when you stay nearby, most of the time it's a reasonably civil convo.

BTW, I would also like to see no long switches in 2 person.

I've done two and three man this season, and have to say I much prefer going table side. 95% of the time there's no conversation at all, but it's a lot easier to slip the whistle out of your mouth and use your inside voice with the coach.

I would rather stay opposite table on something like this. You might not be the calling official. I do not want to say in front of a coach and I did not make the call. Also I think it makes more sense to stay away if for no other reason to administer the FT and worry about doing my job. In 3 man the official that has the least responsibility is table side.

Peace

Some good points Rut. When staying table side in two man you still have the responsibilty of the shooter, top two lane players on other side, ten second count, while trying to carry on a conversation with the coach. Good point on not being the one to call the foul also. On techs you also would have to go over to the other side after the last shot also. Maybe better to leave it the way it is.

I too would rather stay away from the table in 2 man. But if all my games where 3 man, I would have to worry about that!!!!!

It's not like this wasn't the way we did it for YEARS before going opposite table was put in place.

When you get so used to staying at the table (3man), it is hard to work a 2 man game because A) you want to stay at the table, and B) your coverage area is completely different. You really have to force yourself out of the 3 man mentality when going back into a 2 man situation.

Old Timers
 

How many of you veteran officials remember NFHS free throw mechanics over twenty-years ago?

The trail official was always to the shooter's left side, which if you can figure out the permutations, means that half the time you or your partner, were standing in front of a coach, the same coach. In some cases, I liked standing near a coach, especially a polite coach who had a question about the foul just called by me or my partner. In other situations, with a very angry coach, it was best to be on the other side of the court.

Just because it was done 20 years ago does not mean it is a good mechanic. I was watching an old Super Bowl and I saw a lot of mechanics that I would never want to go back to. Just because it was once done does not make it a very good idea for right now.

Peace

I think it was that way much less than 20 years ago. I started officiating in '93 and we still did it that way. That's only 13 seasons ago.

That was part of the "box/reverse box" system, where if the throw-in was on the wrong side of the basket, you had the Trail rotate across the floor in the middle of play to get back to the "box" positions.

I think it gives the officials a much better view of the entire floor. The trail has an unbstructed view of both benches. Whereas if you switched it the lead would have to look through players to see the benches. The benefit in three man is that you already have a free official standing there.

It doesn't mean it was a bad mechanic, either.

However, it was tied to always "working Cadillac," which WAS a stupid, horrible mechanic, so....

It was also called "working Cadillac" as I referenced in the post right above this. I think it disappeared right around 93-94, but I've killed a lot of brain cells in the last 13 or so years.

Old Timers
 

Rich Fronheiser and Scrapper1:

You guys have great memories. Remember if the ball was inbounded from a sideline, and if we were not in the Cadillac position, we eventually had to rotate or move back into the Cadillac postion, during a live ball, while there was action on the court. To do so meant that we had to have good eye contact with each other, or we could both end up on the same side of the court.

I can remember some of the mechanics from the 70s. Trail handed the ball to the shooter, then backed off, while holding out both arms with one finger on a 1&1, then starting the 10 second count with the finger furthest from the basket.....WAIT! WAIT! I don't want to remember any more!

I have to agree with Rut. We went tableside for two-person in TX last year. I think the change in three-person was a good change. But, IMHO, I think what you gain in access to the coach is more than lost in other areas. Here are the major points: 1) Even though the calling official goes TS he/she still has responsibilities during the admin of the FT. So you really can't talk with the coach while you're over there. 2) In three-person the T (before last FT) and C (on made last FT) can clearly see the table to bring in subs that are waiting. In two-person, the T is always facing away from table and the L has to look through 6 to 8 players (and sometimes their co-official) to see the table. So it is very difficult to see if the table crew is trying to get your attention. 3) Several times in every game the L now has to blow when the coach sends a player to the table during the last FT. Not due to inexperience or lack of concentration on the T's part. It's just that the T is no longer stationed where they can see the table and it happens.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. Good topic...

go opposite so that you can see the free throw shooter/lane activity and whether or not they violate, see substitutions coming so that you can beckon them, signal violations to table, etc....if you stay table side in a 2-man game, this is not really fair to one coach - since you will still have to be low enough to see the free throw shooter and opposite lane activity, you will be right in front of one coach and they will be the only one with access to you for an explanation (the primary reasoning behind T staying table side in 3-man), whereas the other coach will not have the same opportunity....in a 3 man game with T basically at half court and no responsibility for the shooter or lane activity, he/she can converse with either coach as necessary...i think it makes sense as is, although i agree it is difficult thing to do if you go back and forth between 2 & 3-whistle games....