Backpedal

[lmeadski]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The answer is to get wider. It's not about "impressing your employers" verses impressing the other refs. It's about safety, and best practices learned from years of hard experiences and moments of really bad experiences.


Cute, but beside the point. The point is, would you rather the floor catch the back of your head or your arms?

I don't disagree with this. It just seems that as I "get wider" I get into the coaches who like to roam the outside boundaries of the coaches boxes. I have fallen twice and both times were collisions with coaches. And, I appreciate your comments about safety. I take certain exception to the professionalism knocks.

[Adam]

I think the point about professionalism is a bit over stated. I will say, though, that when an official is seen backpedaling, it's going to say something about that official.

1. He/she hasn't been instructed not to do it.
2. He/she has been told, but has chosen not to heed the advice.
3. He/she is aware of the danger and is trying to break an old habit.

The first one is at least easily correctable. The third one is easily detected by speaking to the ref about it. The 2nd will give a ref the reputation of being a "yabut" guy. You know the type, the ones who respond to any and all critique with "Yeah, but...."

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

I don't disagree with this. It just seems that as I "get wider" I get into the coaches who like to roam the outside boundaries of the coaches boxes. I have fallen twice and both times were collisions with coaches. And, I appreciate your comments about safety. I take certain exception to the professionalism knocks.

With all due respect, I also think it looks unprofessional and only a rank beginner backpedals. Save it for the 4th grade park district games.

[mick]

Originally Posted by fullor30

With all due respect, I also think it looks unprofessional and only a rank beginner backpedals. Save it for the 4th grade park district games.

Judge the backpedaler on a case-by-case situation. Maybe the official was never told. Maybe the official never heard about officials camps. Maybe the official is doing his best.
When you put all backpedalers in the *rank beginner* class, you are not doing justice to other skills they bring to the game.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by mick

Judge the backpedaler on a case-by-case situation. Maybe the official was never told. Maybe the official never heard about officials camps. Maybe the official is doing his best.
When you put all backpedalers in the *rank beginner* class, you are not doing justice to other skills they bring to the game.

.

You are correct, I'll rephrase it by saying in my opinion when someone backpedals they have never received proper instruction whether they are new or a long time official.

[lmeadski]

Originally Posted by fullor30

With all due respect, I also think it looks unprofessional and only a rank beginner backpedals. Save it for the 4th grade park district games.

Do the coaches and ADs think it looks unprofessional? Do the fans?

[just another ref]

As is stated so often for so many things in this business, nothing is absolute. Is backpedalling the best way to make your way down the court while trying to observe the play behind you. Overall, probably not. In certain cases, does it give a better view of a certain part of the play near the sideline. Probably so. Is there greater risk of a serious fall resulting in injury. Probably so. Does it look dramatically worse than running forward while craning one's neck back, or compromising and kinda doing a sideways shuffle. Not if you ask me. Bottom line: try every option and do what you are most comfortable doing.

[ref2coach]

There are other possible reasons. As an example my "other" sport is soccer. We are taught to backpedal except when additional speed is required. Facing the oncoming play allows a "full view" of the contesting players. To work college soccer part of the annual "physical performance" test is a timed 8 part "agility" sequence of which 4 parts are backpedaling. To NOT backpedal is considered "lazy and unprofessional."

My very first basketball training session I was told not to backpedal, I acquiesced, I now run forward with my head turned, with a "crick" in my neck, and relying on "partial" peripheral vision when I know for a fact that I could backpedal and have a better overall view of the play. But "when in Rome".

So Imeadski just "go along to get along". If you want to advance in basketball, this is not a "hill to die on".

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

There are other possible reasons. As an example my "other" sport is soccer. We are taught to backpedal except when additional speed is required. Facing the oncoming play allows a "full view" of the contesting players. To work college soccer part of the annual "physical performance" test is a timed 8 part "agility" sequence of which 4 parts are backpedaling. To NOT backpedal is considered "lazy and unprofessional."

My very first basketball training session I was told not to backpedal, I acquiesced, I now run forward with my head turned, with a "crick" in my neck, and relying on "partial" peripheral vision when I know for a fact that I could backpedal and have a better overall view of the play. But "when in Rome".

So Imeadski just "go along to get along". If you want to advance in basketball, this is not a "hill to die on".

There's a lot to that "when in Rome" mentality. But in this case there's more to it than just "going along to get along."

There's a significant difference between a soccer field and a basketball court. A soccer field is much larger, the players more spread, and the chances of running into a wall or other solid obstruction are pretty close to zero.

In basketball you don't need to keep such a close eye on what's going on behind you, you've got a partner -- or two -- to cover that. Yeah, you've still got the sideline, but even if you totally ignored it, you're partner would call it.

Due to the limited size of the basketball court, and the dynamic nature of the game, you never know exactly when "additional speed is required." By the time you "turn and burn" in respose to a faster than anticipated break, you've already lost a step or two and there isn't time/distance enough to make it up.

So welcome to Rome. While you're here, soak up the culture and learn to live like a Roman. And if you do it with an open mind, you might just realize that the idiot Romans who infest the place have learned a thing or two along the way.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

There's a lot to that "when in Rome" mentality.

But in this case there's more to it than just "going along to get along."So welcome to Rome. While you're here, soak up the culture and learn to live like a Roman. And if you do it with an open mind, you might just realize that the idiot Romans who infest the place have learned a thing or two along the way.

Ooh, I like it!

Like many others, I was told long ago not to backpedal too. I still do it on an oft occasion, but, normally only a step or two until I can turn and run as directed.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by lmeadski

Do the coaches and ADs think it looks unprofessional? Do the fans?

IMHO, yes to coaches and any knowledgeble fan would also. Just my view.