Partner's late...How do you cover the court?

[NURef]

Well, it finally happened and they said it would, my partner did not show for a varsity game last night until half time. It must have been 90 degrees in that gym and I was running around like a chicken with its head cut-off. I had a friend in the stands who said I did a great job considering the situation...also stated it looked pretty funny at times...as I'm sure you're finding humor right now in visualizing this rookie running around a gym.

I was moving to the weakside to get a wider perspective and then flowing down to the baseline as the ball was rotated closer to the basket. Should I have stayed up top more and forget going baseline? I stayed mid-court during press situations and baseline on free throws.

My partner offered up tons of apologies for being late but no suggestions. Can anyone offer up a logical way of officiating a game when this occurs? Again, sorry if this has already been discussed.

Thanks

Note: Coaches, Players & Fans were great during this situation...even though this was a big rival game.

[bob jenkins]

There's no one standard for one-person mechanics.

Some work table-side; some work opposite; a few work the center of the court.

Most work FT line-to-FT line; some try to get to the baseline periodically.

Since you'll be missing more off-ball stuff, be more aggressive on the stuff you see (you might pass on a marginal illegal screen in two-person; you might call it in one-person).

[SmokeEater]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

There's no one standard for one-person mechanics.

Some work table-side; some work opposite; a few work the center of the court.

Most work FT line-to-FT line; some try to get to the baseline periodically.

Since you'll be missing more off-ball stuff, be more aggressive on the stuff you see (you might pass on a marginal illegal screen in two-person; you might call it in one-person).

This is great advice. I would add that it takes a great deal more concentration and if you get the chance to close down a bit on a play then that helps sell your calls or no-call. I have a tendency to work both sides of the floor depending on where the ball ends up when an offence is run. I typically will try to stay on the opposite side from the table and go to them for help on their sideline if necessary (only for OOB calls).

[Mark Padgett]

I have worked literally over a hundred rec games by myself. I always work FT line to FT line and alternate sides. I do try to spend about 2/3 of the time opposite table side just to stay away from the coaches.

Administer free throws from the trail position and most of the time you can stand away from an inbounder and bounce the ball to him or her to inbound.

Don't ever be uncertain about an OOB call. Remember the referee's motto: "Occasionally wrong - but never indecisive".

[JRutledge]

I roam all over the place. I just want to get in place to call what ever I can. It also helps when a coach tries to say I am out of position. I am also in shape to move around. I used to subscribe to the FT line to FT line mechanic, but that did not work in my mind. As Bob says you really have to find your own way and philosophy. I happened to work a summer league where I worked multiple games by myself and I just found what worked for me.

Peace

[Old School]

You can not roam all over the place. You will be out of position more often then not. Being at the FT line might at times be too close and prevent you from getting to the other side of the court should the ball swing over. You should be opposite the table and work where you can see everything.

At the jump, I explain to the players and coaches, it's on your honor system on the baseline if the ball goes out. If you can not work it out, it will be a jump ball. For example, ball goes out on the baseline opposite from where I'm standing, if the teams can't agree and I'm not sure, jump ball.

I use to try and go down to the baseline if the ball worked it's way down there. What made me stop was that I found myself over time refereeing the baseline for one team and not the other because no way I was going to go baseline to baseline. It turned out to be more baseline one team, trail the other. Not fair to me so I try to stay center. I could cover more here and even caught an intentional foul late in the game.

I have always worked my trail position towards center court because I had a great look at the ball and everything else. Plus, my Lead would often not pick up the ball in 2-person when it was deep in his corner. The area between the FT line semi-cirlce and half-court is where you start, preferrabily opposite table. If you need to go in from here, you can but don't go down too far. If the ball swings from one side to the other, you can easily go from one side to the other and then in.

[sj]

Most likely no matter where you work from a big trouble spot will be baseline-opposite from where you are. In other words you're table side and Mr. Driveittothebasketeverytime is in the opposite corner and he goes baseline. You end up having to look through about 6 players to see. Just do the best you can to get into position to see it. It may be going low or it maybe moving out towards the middle.