Rookie Official Question

[Back In The Saddle]

Spence, as I read your question, it seems more about how to determine which official covers which lines than necessarily about the jump. So I'll tackle that one.

• L and T should be on opposite sides of the floor (other than when the L comes ball side).
• Each official is responsible for the sideline on his side of the floor. Even when he comes ball side, the L is still responsible for the sideline on his "proper" side of the floor. (Note that there are some common variations on this theme, but I'm talking about the basic principle.)
• However you got to the side of the floor you're on, you will be responsible for that sideline until you change sides.
• There are three situations that can force officials to change sides: 1) Jump ball, 2) Free throw, 3) Throw-in.
• The jump ball is as you describe. The non-tossing official (no longer has to be the U) will be responsible for the sideline on the table side.
• Free throw administration may require the officials to change sides from where they were.
• A throw-in may require a change of sides as the administering official goes to the spot (or near the spot if bouncing the ball) and his partner goes opposite.
• Other than that, you do not normally change sides. But never say never.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Spence, as I read your question, it seems more about how to determine which official covers which lines than necessarily about the jump. So I'll tackle that one.

• L and T should be on opposite sides of the floor (other than when the L comes ball side).
• Each official is responsible for the sideline on his side of the floor. Even when he comes ball side, the L is still responsible for the sideline on his "proper" side of the floor. (Note that there are some common variations on this theme, but I'm talking about the basic principle.)
• However you got to the side of the floor you're on, you will be responsible for that sideline until you change sides.
• There are three situations that can force officials to change sides: 1) Jump ball, 2) Free throw, 3) Throw-in.
• The jump ball is as you describe. The non-tossing official (no longer has to be the U) will be responsible for the sideline on the table side.
• Free throw administration may require the officials to change sides from where they were.
• A throw-in may require a change of sides as the administering official goes to the spot (or near the spot if bouncing the ball) and his partner goes opposite.
• Other than that, you do not normally change sides. But never say never.

You are correct in my reason for questioning being both jump ball and afterwards.

FT: 2-man - what determines the positioning of the lead and trail in regards to sideline? Trail always opposite table? Give me some examples of when a FT may require switching sides.

[Spence]

Let me ask one more positioning type question.

The manual says that officials always switch positions after a foul. Is that 100% or , like the thinking on the jump ball, a "usually?"

For example, I'm trail and call a foul. I report it to the table. Do I then become the lead and administer the FT? Or , in that situation, do we not switch in order to keep the game moving?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Spence

Let me ask one more positioning type question.

The manual says that officials always switch positions after a foul. Is that 100% or , like the thinking on the jump ball, a "usually?"

For example, I'm trail and call a foul. I report it to the table. Do I then become the lead and administer the FT? Or , in that situation, do we not switch in order to keep the game moving?

The "by the book" two man switch refers to "ends of the court" not to T or L.

IOW, if you're closer to the "north" end line, then after either of you calls a foul, you'll be closer to the "south" end line. Whether you become L or T depends on the type of foul and how it's inbounded, etc.

Some organizations have "no long switch". So, if there is a foul called against the offensive team, and no FTs to be shot, don't switch. Just stay where you are, just as if the offensive team commited a violation.

Beyond that, it's difficult to describe (and understand) in words. You need to get to a clinic and / or watch a powerpoint presentation.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

The "by the book" two man switch refers to "ends of the court" not to T or L.

IOW, if you're closer to the "north" end line, then after either of you calls a foul, you'll be closer to the "south" end line. Whether you become L or T depends on the type of foul and how it's inbounded, etc.

Some organizations have "no long switch". So, if there is a foul called against the offensive team, and no FTs to be shot, don't switch. Just stay where you are, just as if the offensive team commited a violation.

Beyond that, it's difficult to describe (and understand) in words. You need to get to a clinic and / or watch a powerpoint presentation.

Thanks, Bob. Let me make sure I'm following:

1. I'm the lead , call a foul underneath the basket in the FC. Since I have to go the reporting area to report it, we switch.

2. I'm trail. Call a foul near the division line on the defense. I'm in the reporting area so I stay there.

[Smitty]

In my association we switch on every foul.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Spence

Thanks, Bob. Let me make sure I'm following:

1. I'm the lead , call a foul underneath the basket in the FC. Since I have to go the reporting area to report it, we switch.

2. I'm trail. Call a foul near the division line on the defense. I'm in the reporting area so I stay there.

#1: correct.

#2: not correct. You would be come the lead.

[Spence]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

#2: not correct. You would be come the lead.

Do you say switch because you subscribe to the "always switch - no exceptions" theory ?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Spence

Thanks, Bob. Let me make sure I'm following:

1. I'm the lead , call a foul underneath the basket in the FC. Since I have to go the reporting area to report it, we switch.

2. I'm trail. Call a foul near the division line on the defense. I'm in the reporting area so I stay there.

1) If the foul is on the defense, you switch (and not because you "have to go to the reporting area"). If the foul is on the offense (the ball will be going the other way), and your area adopts the "no long switches" philosophy, you don't switch (despite the fact that you still need to "go to the reporting area.")

2) Again, the reporting area has nothing to do with switching.

[Spence]

Thanks, gentleman.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Spence

You are correct in my reason for questioning being both jump ball and afterwards.

FT: 2-man - what determines the positioning of the lead and trail in regards to sideline? Trail always opposite table? Give me some examples of when a FT may require switching sides.

Correct. On FT's the L will be table side, the T will be opposite.

What I meant when I said "Free throw administration may require the officials to change sides from where they were" was that if you were T opposite, and there is a foul with free throws, you'll become the L table side (you will have changed sides, and thus sidelines). Same if you were L table side, you'd go to T opposite (again changing sides and sidelines). Nothing mysterious there.

Perhaps an easier way to say it would be simply this: No matter which sideline you are on, a free throw, a throw-in, or a jump ball may require you to change sides in order to administer it.