Free Throw Question

[Back In The Saddle]

The bottom line with mechanics is this: Go where you need to be to referee the play. If you're not sure where you need to be, a good first question to ask yourself is, "Where is there likely to be trouble?" Go there.

Is there likely to be more trouble with the free throw shooter or with nine idle players, opponents, all mingling in close proximity immediately following a technical foul situation? It's not the shooter, right? Then why have both officials "boxing in" the shooter and leaving the other nine unsupervised? Or under-supervised?

I'm sure you already know this, but "I was standing where the manual told me to, watching the free throw shooter's feet" is not the right answer to the question, "Why didn't one of you see that elbow being thrown?"

YMMV