Three man mechanics

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

I know not all will agree with me, but being text-book in your first time out with 3-man is much less important than officiating the ballgame. Be confident, go out there and do your best, and don't get rattled if you end up in the wrong spot a time or two. It will happen.

It is not about being "text-book" it is about knowing what you are looking at and what your basic responsibilities are. The more I observer and evaluate officials in a couple of hats I have worn, the more I realize when someone is lost about the mechanics; they are lost in officiating the game. A good example is how a Lead official will call on the other side of the lane because they are reverting to 2 Person philosophies that do not apply in 3 Person. That does not mean someone cannot overcome some things, but if you lack understanding, it can cause an official to call things they have no business calling or even doing things that will confuse his/her partners. This is why I would be concerned when I work with people that have little or no experience in the system and I have to work with them. There is only so much I can teach them in a pre-game. My state has done a very good job giving our officials information so most are not totally lost. But I can tell you when I work a varsity game and one of the officials might not show up, the first question I ask to the sophomore officials, "Do you have any 3 Person experience?"

Peace