Backpedal

[CJRef]

Two years ago I was watching a JV game in which one of the officials was backpedaling every time down the court. At one point there was a fast break and in his hurried state he backpedaled over the coaches foot. Without any chance to brace himself, he fell right on the back of his head splitting it open.

Regardless of how good of an official you are, backpedaling, like Mick points out, looks funny, and is usually an automatic "no" for most observers ( like bird-dogging all the time, or wearing a belt or a collared shirt). One of the fastest ways to move up the ranks is to polish your appearance, meaning not only what you wear but how you move and carry yourself.

To see what everyone else is talking about, get some game footage and watch yourself backpedal. I would be willing to bet that you won't do it anymore.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by phansen

NFHS

After a made basket where I will become the new lead, I like to backpedal from about the free throw line to the baseline. I get a full view of the court and the players.

Observers have graded me down for this, without very good reasoning in my opinion. They say you can't see where you are going which is true. However, it is also hard to see running forward with your head turned to the side. Does anyone else do this? Any constructive comments/suggestions welcome.

When I see anyone back pedal, it gives them a label of inexperience in my eyes. Someone mentioned the same as wearing white socks and I agree. Swing wide and turn your head and remember you have one or two other guys out there with you.

[truerookie]

What about standing at the free throw line and tossing the ball back to the endline when going the length of the court?

What experience level is that?

I have seen experience officials backpedal. Please label correctly.

[TRef21]

Originally Posted by phansen

NFHS

After a made basket where I will become the new lead, I like to backpedal from about the free throw line to the baseline. I get a full view of the court and the players.

Observers have graded me down for this, without very good reasoning in my opinion. They say you can't see where you are going which is true. However, it is also hard to see running forward with your head turned to the side. Does anyone else do this? Any constructive comments/suggestions welcome.

I do the same that you do, backpedal sometimes to get that open. I happen to very flexible and look over my shoulder as well. But yah, I like the back pedal in that situation especially when there is a quick pass and crash you are already open to officiate that play. Like in NCAAREFS post I don't recommend it when I evaluate new officials. I don't downgrade because i do it. Like in someone else's post, one day we will stumble and attention will be on us. I have hit a couple walls as well.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by TRef21

I do the same that you do, backpedal sometimes to get that open. I happen to very flexible and look over my shoulder as well. But yah, I like the back pedal in that situation especially when there is a quick pass and crash you are already open to officiate that play. Like in NCAAREFS post I don't recommend it when I evaluate new officials. I don't downgrade because i do it. Like in someone else's post, one day we will stumble and attention will be on us. I have hit a couple walls as well.

Tisk, tisk. Everyone was united and telling the OP the same thing until this. Unfortunately, the OP could view this as someone who is in support of what he/she does wrong.
Backpedaling has the potential for injury
Backpedaling doesn't really have an advantage to see more plays
Backpedaling will cause you to get graded down

It sure sounds like backpedaling is the thing to do to me!

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Tisk, tisk. Everyone was united and telling the OP the same thing until this. Unfortunately, the OP could view this as someone who is in support of what he/she does wrong.
Backpedaling has the potential for injury
Backpedaling doesn't really have an advantage to see more plays
Backpedaling will cause you to get graded down

It sure sounds like backpedaling is the thing to do to me!

Hopefully, phansen can count votes!

[blindzebra]

Had a fellow official do it at a camp where games were going on two courts about 5 feet apart, player went for a loose ball slid into his court and took him out...the first thing to hit the floor was the back of his head. Skull fracture, brain swelling, surgery, and a week in ICU followed. It was six months before he could go back to his regular job and over a year before he reffed again.

[Adam]

I'll bet he doesn't back pedal any more.

The problem isn't necessarily that you're more likely to fall (even though I think it's true) or that your less able to see where you're going (even though I think that's true as well). The problem is if you do fall, your ability to catch yourself is severely compromised. What happens if you lose balance just as you're heading across the baseline into lead position? You're going into the wall head first and will be lucky if a week of ICU is all you get.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Had a fellow official do it at a camp where games were going on two courts about 5 feet apart, player went for a loose ball slid into his court and took him out...the first thing to hit the floor was the back of his head. Skull fracture, brain swelling, surgery, and a week in ICU followed. It was six months before he could go back to his regular job and over a year before he reffed again.

That should be the only post needed to tell anyone how stupid backpedaling is.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Hopefully, phansen can count votes!

Why would you doubt that he could? Does he live in Florida?

[eyezen]

Originally Posted by phansen

NFHS

After a made basket where I will become the new lead, I like to backpedal from about the free throw line to the baseline. I get a full view of the court and the players.

Observers have graded me down for this, without very good reasoning in my opinion. They say you can't see where you are going which is true. However, it is also hard to see running forward with your head turned to the side. Does anyone else do this? Any constructive comments/suggestions welcome.

I know I'm late to the party on this, but yeah, uhm, don't do that.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by phansen

NFHS

After a made basket where I will become the new lead, I like to backpedal from about the free throw line to the baseline. I get a full view of the court and the players.

Observers have graded me down for this, without very good reasoning in my opinion. They say you can't see where you are going which is true. However, it is also hard to see running forward with your head turned to the side. Does anyone else do this? Any constructive comments/suggestions welcome.

Backpedalling. Don't do it. Numerous serious injuries have happened. As new lead why would you want to see the whole court? The whole court is not your resposibility. If you understand your primary coverage area you will realize there's no reason to backpedal.

[Bearfanmike20]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

Backpedalling. Don't do it. Numerous serious injuries have happened. As new lead why would you want to see the whole court? The whole court is not your resposibility. If you understand your primary coverage area you will realize there's no reason to backpedal.

In 2 man mechanics there could be a grey area... If your breaking, and the ball is thrown down court and b1 just clobers a2 but new trail doesn't see it cause its technically in new leads area... that can pose problems....

Would anybody here disagree with a back pedal on the last 2 or 3 steps??.. that way you are turned around and in pos but you also have a very good idea of what is behind you cause you just turned around.??

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Bearfanmike20

In 2 man mechanics there could be a grey area... If your breaking, and the ball is thrown down court and b1 just clobers a2 but new trail doesn't see it cause its technically in new leads area... that can pose problems....

Would anybody here disagree with a back pedal on the last 2 or 3 steps??.. that way you are turned around and in pos but you also have a very good idea of what is behind you cause you just turned around.??

Generally, a fast break is going to be down the center of the court, or toward the basket, in other words, toward the center. If you get enough ahead of the action, you can afford to be wide enough to get the angle. Also, if you're fairly wide, you can sort of cut off the corner of the court as you set up off gthe endline, and you'll be looking back with a comfortable angle.

If the action really is down the sideline, and it's really the frontmost action so that it really needs to be yours, get far enough ahead of the action that you can stop, plant both feet facing the action, watch, and then turn and run as needed. Let the play go past you as you stand, if necessary.

Go to some good quality 2-whistle games and see how the best refs do it. Follow their example.

[Adam]

I don't think Ch1 is saying it's an expected thing. It reads to me more like a personal goal, one that increases hustle. It's the hustle that gets noticed by evaluators, not the timing of his arrival to the endline.

I don’t think it's a bad goal to have, as long as one keeps it in perspective, which it seems he is.