Strange non mechanic
 

Watching Tenn. A&M last night and late in game ball goes out on baseline, couldn't tell off who. Lead literally looked at it for what seemed 4-5 seconds with no reaction and finally signalled. She appeared to be yelling something at a player prior to the signal and not who's ball it was. Strangest thing I've seen all year.

Anybody see it? Maybe I missed something.

Any chance she was actually asking for help from another official?

perhaps it seemed obvious to the lead who should get the ball, and she didn't think she needed to signal? Then realized that no one else had seen it that way?

perhaps she was trying to get the player to fess up that she (player) had touched it?

In women's mechanics, if the L needs help on an OOB call, they can look out to the C or T and verbalize "Need help!", or something to that effect, before giving a signal. This is especially useful on a pass or shot that originated from outside the L's primary. Their partner will signal the direction based on their knowledge. Perhaps that's what you saw, was the L asking their partner(s) for help on the call, and not actually yelling at a player. Once the partner gives the signal, the L mirrors it, and puts the ball in play.

This situation is usually a standard discussion in pre-game.

No, as she was wide and looking along the baseline. By her body language, it seemed like she was visibly upset at a player and barked at her before she signalled( you'd have to see it).

It just looked very odd. Hey, maybe she just had a lapse.


That said, I'm on the couch and it wasn't a close up shot of the official. C could have been down low and she was looking over for help. I'd love to see it again.


Edit.........it did happen out of her primary.

Is this something you do?

no way! And it was mostly a joke. But I have seen refs ask players if they touched the ball. Not sure I've seen it at that level of play, though.

If you have, it was likely that official's last game at that level; unless she has enough credility that everyone knows she was joking.

I do it quite a bit, but after I've made the call.

What's the men's mechanic for seeking help?

I like it when I emphatically make the call.....perhaps even hearing a chorus of boos from those scholars in the crowd who are watching the game with their hearts and not their eyes.....but seeing the player you called the out of bounds on, turn quietly and go the other way, KNOWING you got it exactly right! ;)

Obviously officials do the same (or something similar) on the men's side, but this mechanic is explicitly laid out in the women's officials manual, and includes that the official is to verbalize "Help" to the other official.

here's the women's


http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/33241...5A1E4F32AD3138

Oh, ok...I've always done it that way. And I always pre-game that that's what I'm going to do. I hate when an official needs help and just kinda looks at you like you're supposed to read his mind.

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I blow, raise hand and look for help with conviction........always pregame.

I've had partners shrug shoulders and look for help.:eek: