Closely Guarded Count by the Lead

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I am not a fan of the Lead having a closely-guarded count. In fact, I have attended several camps at which the instruction has been for the Lead to abstain from this count. The reason is exactly as Rut has stated--the Lead's main responsibility is to watch for contact with the post players. However, I agree with your thought that the Lead should have this count when the ball is in the control of a post player.

It appears that the NFHS also agrees with this opinion.

From page 5 of the 2007-09 NFHS Officials Manual under the previous heading "2007-09 Mechanics Points of Emphasis":

0.1.5 Lead Count (Crew of Three): When the ball drops below the free-throw line extended on the Lead's side of the court, the Lead's main responsibility is to watch the post players on the low block. When the ball is moved into the low block and a new closely-guarded count should begin, the Lead signals the count. Too often, the Trail official begins a new count when the Lead official is still responsible. Change hands when necessary if the ball is dribbled and then picked up. If the ball is passed back outside the three-point arc, the Trail will then assume responsibility for any new count that begins.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If the ball is on the low block, chances are other players are going there too. I have also very seldom seen a single 5 second call on the low block either. Either the ball is going to the basket or they ball is going to be passed away. And if the ball is dribbled away from the post and there is still a count, you want to take the Lead away from watching the post (where other players are located) to continue a count? That is why I feel having the lead count is stupid.

That is fine, but the Lead needs to concentrate on the contact, not whether if they are closely guarded. Let the Trail or Center take care of that. This is not Women's college basketball or the NBA where a count only applies in a very small percentage of situations. I would never advocate such a mechanic and think that you are weakening the crew by having the lead take care of something that other officials on the crew can do. And if you think (not you personally, anyone in general) you cannot ever have more than two sets of eyes on the basketball player, then you are not aware of how the entire mechanic works. Just my opinion of course.

Generally, in the case of the post player dribbling away from the basket, you typically will NOT have a closely guarded count. Therefore, the lead would have been focused on this match-up as the post player held the ball. If the post player is attacking the basket via the dribble, too much going on for the lead official OR the opposing coach to be worried about a count. On the other hand, if the player is dribbling away from the basket -- toward the trail's primary -- the trail is going to pick up that count.

This situation appears to be another of the many mechanics in the manual that are slightly (by our crew) to significantly (by many others) ignored. As I stated, even one of our local associations does not implement this consistently. I agree with Nevadaref that the camps typically suggest the mechanic that JRut suggests, here.

Good feedback.