Rookie Official Question

[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.