Two Man Mechanics

[Back In The Saddle]

PCAs and secondary coverage. If the lead is covering a play at the three point line, T needs to cover L's post. If the L is up high in his area, the L needs to extend out into the T's 3 point area.

How will you handle the "trouble area"? Will you transition right at the FTLE? Or a little lower? How will you know you have passed the ball to your partner? Eyes? Body movement? Count?

The L going ball-side. Who watches the L's sideline? Is the L going to take the ball, or just the post?

Will the L take his entire sideline? Or will T take the sideline above FTLE?

Throw-in coverage on the L's sideline above FTLE. Will the T rotate over and handle the throw-in? Or will the L force a switch to remain on his sideline?

Watching players. In 2 person, much more than in 3 person, the off official has responsibility to watch all the players while his partner reports, or any other time his partner is busy with something.

Transition coverage in 2 person is, IMHO, a free-for-all at the best of times, and often a near complete mess. As T you need to remain no farther from the ball than the next nearest vertical 1/3 of the floor, which may sometimes mean being on the L's side of the floor. In my game, T has primary responsibility for all lines in backcourt, even the L's sideline. L has 4-6 players of his own to watch in transition, he has primary responsibility for all off-ball coverage, and needs to watch how the post players set up.