To Reach or Not To Reach, that is the question...

[zeedonk]

To pick up on the block/charge, come and get it/leave it alone discussion...

I noticed watching some games on ESPN last week (Syr/UNC in particular) that the T is much more active in making calls in the lane that I had ever imagined the T should be. Now, I know that this is big time Div 1 and the general rules might not apply there as they do in lower level college and HS, but what am I to take from the T making multiple calls in the lane, especially a couple of block/charges?

If we are talking about the crew as a whole going down in flames versus the partner alone "living and dying" with a call / no call (and I think we might be at the major D-1 level) then that might be the only answer. I suppose if the T in Syr/UNC at Madison Square Garden sees a PC foul in the paint with no whistle he thinks to himself "Hell no, I'm not letting us look bad on THAT- I'm gettin it", then it's acceptable no? After all they get graded as a crew and as individuals correct?

But for us mere mortals, won't we get grilled or even demoted for reaching in like that?

Or is that the eternal question? To reach or not to reach?

Trying to be one with the universe on the floor-proper mechanics and proper philosophy- which is hard if there are varying philosophies every night by every partner in the crew...

Thoughts?

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by zeedonk

Or is that the eternal question? To reach or not to reach?

Trying to be one with the universe on the floor-proper mechanics and proper philosophy- which is hard if there are varying philosophies every night by every partner in the crew...

Thoughts?

"To thine own self be true"

Will "BillyMac" Shakespeare
Avonshire IAABO Board #1

[rockyroad]

Understand that PCA does not mean that that is the only area of the court where you can make a call. If the drive to the basket starts in my primary, it is mine all the way to the hoop. If there is a curl play away from the C and into the paint, I (as T) probably now have the best look at that play. And - in NCAA ball in particular - a block/charge crash with bodies on the floor needs a whistle. If you've got a good look at it, why would you NOT call it?

[JRutledge]

When the ball is in the lane, all three officials have some responsibility and angles that would allow them to make a call. This is not only "not reaching," it is a common practice. You do not need to look to a college game to see this call; it is common in three person mechanics in all kinds of games I have seen. And when I have worked with officials that are from different parts of the country, they call things as the trail in the lane. The lead and even center often have people in their way or do not have all the angles covered. Usually the people that say this is a reach have not updated their 3 person mechanics philosophies or do not work the system very often. I have never been told to not make a call as the lead if I had two players in my primary take the ball to the hoop.

Peace

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by zeedonk

Or is that the eternal question? To reach or not to reach?

You phrase the question as "stay in your primary OR get the obvious?" The answer is "Stay in your primary AND get the obvious."

You need to get it when it needs to be got. You need to leave it alone when it's your partner's call. All officials have different definitions of when a play falls into which category.

(In this play, was it a block/charge or was it a BLOCK/CHARGE?

Was it "they're letting them play" or was it "someone is going to get killed?"

Was it "oh my gosh" or OMFG?

Did the primary official have a look, or was he blocked / straightlined?)

[zeedonk]

OK, your responses are very helpful. I know that there are calls that need to be made regardless of your position- Perhaps my quandry is more that I'm entering my first year of 3 whistle games and all spring and summer I've been told that assignors/supervisors who watch me (and those coming up like me) are primarily looking to see if I stay in my area or if I'm following the ball and calling all over the place.

Once I can show that I can handle the 3 whistle mechanics, calling from the trail will be easier for me. As of now, I try not to call anything in the paint. I have called in the paint, but only after waiting to see if the L or C gets it first, then if I'm positive I saw something the others didn't.

Hell, I'm still working on recognizing what side of the rim the ball goes up on and not giving so many "and one's" as the kids get bigger and stronger.

Z

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by zeedonk

Hell, I'm still working on recognizing what side of the rim the ball goes up on.....

That's easy. 99 times out of 100 it's the outside.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by zeedonk

OK, your responses are very helpful. I know that there are calls that need to be made regardless of your position- Perhaps my quandry is more that I'm entering my first year of 3 whistle games and all spring and summer I've been told that assignors/supervisors who watch me (and those coming up like me) are primarily looking to see if I stay in my area or if I'm following the ball and calling all over the place.

Once I can show that I can handle the 3 whistle mechanics, calling from the trail will be easier for me. As of now, I try not to call anything in the paint. I have called in the paint, but only after waiting to see if the L or C gets it first, then if I'm positive I saw something the others didn't.

Hell, I'm still working on recognizing what side of the rim the ball goes up on and not giving so many "and one's" as the kids get bigger and stronger.

Z

I cannot speak for what they teach in your area, but as someone that is instructed to teach in my state and help or run clinics for state certification/credit that is required for post season and licensing requirements, I can tell you I have never considered an official that called in the lane to be calling out of their area if the Trail or Center call something. And that "do not call out of your primary" philosophy has limits and always has. Because you do not get into your primary until you are fully in the half court and when the ball starts from an area, the official is expected to follow that ball into other areas going towards the basket. Now if you are making a lot of calls in someone's area and the ball is not in the lane, then that could be a problem. What you have described is very acceptable in most parts I have been exposed to. Then again that does not help you where you live.

Peace

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by zeedonk

I'm still working on recognizing what side of the rim the ball goes up on and not giving so many "and one's" as the kids get bigger and stronger.

I guess I missed this day in Ref 101, what is the significance of knowing what side of the rim the ball goes up on?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

I guess I missed this day in Ref 101, what is the significance of knowing what side of the rim the ball goes up on?

Because it's probably going to rebound off to the other side?

When I coached, yeah, it was the dark side period of my life, I taught my kids the importance of weak side rebounding. When we played zone defense, I actually had my tallest player, and/or, best rebounder, on the left block, not in the middle. Most players are right handed, and most prefer to shoot from the right side, thus most missed shots end up rebounding off to the left side, right into the hands of my best rebounder.

[zeedonk]

In our neck of the woods it matters in a 3p game in terms of who gets first crack at the call in the paint- L or C.

For example, L has A1 in his PCA who pulls up and passes to A2 in the lane. As Team B defenders attempt to defend, A2 takes one dribble directly down the middle of the lane and jumps to the far side of the lane from L and lays the ball in off the glass. As we are taught in NJ that a foul call on the layup should be primarily from the C (as the shot was taken in C's half of the lane), this is why I say I'm still working on noticing that... because if I'm C- it's my call and if I'm L, I'm supposed to give C first crack, but double whistle here is OK, we'll just let C take it if that happens.

I believe, but am not certain, that we give up the play to our partner that starts in our PCA and moves to another area- A1 begins a dribble in L's PCA and goes across the lane for a turnaround J- once that ball goes over the middle of the lane- it's C's call (primarily of course). This falls under the "trust your partner" theory, which is great if you trust your partner, not so great otherwise.

And if A2 continues down the middle and drops it in over the front of the rim, either L or C can take any foul. And YES! even T can come get it too if need be...

See, I'm learning!

Z

[TussAgee11]

Its my understanding that you take the primary defender on a drive that originates from your area. Any help defense that may come at the hoop can be taken by other two officials depending on angles.

There is no hard and fast rule, as plays and angles develop, particularly at the bottom of the circle (that is not actually marked on an NCAA court )

And block/charge, just depends. Have to hold your whistle if you are L and it is the primary defender. Similarly, must hold your whistle if its help defense and you are C or T. One evaluator told me its fine if you blow it as well, but you better realize you have a double whistle and make eye-contact before giving prelim.

[Jeremy Hohn]

Many times the T if closed down, can make a good rebound call that the C might be straightlined or just asleep. The L should be the last and final whistle, but should not be afraid to call rebounding especially in games "below the rim"