How to deal with the 3-sec rule

[Back In The Saddle]

The three second rule really isn't tricky at all. There are two aspects to it.

1. Prevent the offense from gaining an advantage. In this aspect, most officials will talk early in the game, and try to get the offense to keep moving. But if some clueless camper won't get his tail out of the lane, call it.

2. Prevent rough play. If you've got a lot of wrangling in the post, but not so much that you want to whistle a foul, a three second call on the post player is a beautiful thing. Especially if you can go to the other end and get the same thing there on the next possession.

What it is not, is an opportunity to bust out the stopwatch and look for opportunities to send the ball the other way. If the coaches are both complaining, then tighten it up. If the parents are complaining...wait, they're are parents there?