Proper Mechanics Questions (NFHS)

[referee99]

Originally Posted by dacodee

1) I'm Lead (opposite table). The ball goes out of bounds on tableside, below foul line extended. I move over to tableside and remain Lead to administer throw-in. My partner (who now works D2 and D3 college games) tells me he's got it. So I go back to opposite tableside, where I was originally.

Question: Was he correct? Or, is it proper NFHS mechanic for the Lead to administer the throw-in below foul line extended? Is there anything that says it's an option for either Trail or Lead to administer?

In FED mechanics, each official administers their line in the front court. The ball went OOB on his line he administers. If below the FT line he stays the lead. If above the FT line he would become new trail. This is FED Officials manual mechanics.

Originally Posted by dacodee

2) I'm Trail (opposite table). My partner calls a foul in his area, in front of team B's bench. I switch and become the new Lead (tableside), ready to administer a throw-in, with ball in hand. My partner reports the foul, turns to me and says he's got it, with his hands up requesting the ball. I gave him "googly eyes" as if to let him know that I have it. He refused to go opposite table as the new Trail. So I gave him the ball and remained the Lead, but opposite table.

Question: Was he correct, again? I don't think so, but I can't seem to find anything that confirms either way.

Again, the inbounds spot is on his line. He will administer the throw-in. Switch on all fouls is the proper mechanic. The switch here is lead/trail, not point A/point B.

I pre-game this with veteran officials, because many seem surprised at times. Dunno when the change occurred, but many don't have the current 'book' mechanic down. Some maybe by choice?

I will always suggest that if the situation is right in Sit. 1, we can make a quick improv to keep good coverage and get the ball into play quickly. Say he's trail, has a closely-guarded count on a dribbler, moving away from him... he's onto the court, I'm lead, positioned with post action... ball off of defender's foot and goes out on my line. I blow, maybe look to partner for direction, he can administer the throw-in. We can get ball in more quickly and do a better job of keeping the players under view by the audible here. Or, transition situation, I sprint as lead, he has dribbler or a pass deflected in the new front court and again is onto the court, we can treat that as an extension of backcourt mechanics -- better flow, better coverage of players.