Backpedaling

sj · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 01:31am

Why is it against good mechanics to backpedal while on a basketball court? Sometimes when I'm at trail I will begin to go to the other end with a back pedal and then turn and run after a few steps. I'm talking about a play when the defense gets the ball and is coming back up my sideline. I've just thought that if I stayed in a back pedal I'd have a better view for a longer period of time. Turning to run and looking back over your shoulder at times just doesn't seem to give you a view that allows you to process what's taking place as well. I wouldn't say it should be the only way to get back down court but I'm not understanding why it's so badly thought of. I guess the objection is the idea of falling over. But it's not a problem in football. Thanks.

bas2456 · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 02:11am

You're right. It's much easier to fall over while backpedaling than running forwards.

Camron Rust · #3 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 02:25am

In addition, I don't know anyone who is as fast running backwards as they are forwards. The longer you run backwards, the more you'll get beat. If there is a play that you need to still cover in the backcourt, don't take off. If you need to get down the floor, turn, run, and look back.

Loudwhistle · #4 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 02:37am

Quote:

Originally Posted by sj

Why is it against good mechanics to backpedal while on a basketball court? Sometimes when I'm at trail I will begin to go to the other end with a back pedal and then turn and run after a few steps. I'm talking about a play when the defense gets the ball and is coming back up my sideline. I've just thought that if I stayed in a back pedal I'd have a better view for a longer period of time. Turning to run and looking back over your shoulder at times just doesn't seem to give you a view that allows you to process what's taking place as well. I wouldn't say it should be the only way to get back down court but I'm not understanding why it's so badly thought of. I guess the objection is the idea of falling over. But it's not a problem in football. Thanks.

Some reffs have been seriously injured and in my opinion you look like a complete fool doing this on a basketball court. A direct sign of a beginning basketball reff, one should try to look as professional as possible. You will fall eventually backpedalling and if you don't injure yourself in the process, at a minimum you will look like a complete a$$.

mbyron · #5 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 09:11am

What's worse than looking dumb when you fall down is the seriousness of the injury you might sustain. Not just a sore bum: you can rip an achilles tendon and be out for a long and exceedingly painful while.

referee99 · #6 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 11:26am

... with a D1 football official. His position: back judge. Says to me he is a backpeddler and always will be. Says he knows how to run backwards and he is not going to fall down. In our game he avoided incident... and I suspect he knows how to manage himself on the court.

... with a high schooler (doing CYO games). This kid had a mop of blond hair, and had an exaggerated backpeddling gait. I suggested to him to turn around and run.... if only so I didn't get distracted by his bouncing hair!

JRutledge · #7 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 05:46pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by referee99

... with a D1 football official. His position: back judge. Says to me he is a backpeddler and always will be. Says he knows how to run backwards and he is not going to fall down. In our game he avoided incident... and I suspect he knows how to manage himself on the court.

That is a very flawed logic. For one in football they have a 25 yard start on the ball. And in football when you fall down, you fall down on a relatively soft surface. Also as a BJ, he is in the middle of the field and no one is supposed to be in his way. If you fall in basketball, the only thing you are going to hit is a very hard surface. Not a lot of give on a wood or sometimes harder surface.

Peace

BillyMac · #8 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 06:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If you fall in basketball, the only thing you are going to hit is a very hard surface.

Or a cheerleader. Hopefully not one of those skinny cheerleaders, but a soft and squishy one.

Jeremy Hohn · #9 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 11:27am

I agree with all of the above, and unless you are an NFL corner, why would you think that it would be better to do so than just "turn and run"?

26 Year Gap · #10 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 05:40pm

I went to a camp with a guy who did this. They filmed the game. He took a big tumble while running backwards. And there are two guys who now have this on tape. And if one guy could figure out how to get it to youtube.....

sj · #11 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 09:30pm

Thanks. All good thoughts. What about shuffling sideways at times? Your body is square to the court and you don't have to turn your head all the way around.

jdw3018 · #12 (**permalink**) Sun Dec 13, 2009, 09:36pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sj

Thanks. All good thoughts. What about shuffling sideways at times? Your body is square to the court and you don't have to turn your head all the way around.

I'll take a few shuffles if it's a slow transition and I'm watching it develop. Or after a rebound as I'm watching players clear out.

But in a quick transition, I'm turning and running to do my best to beat the play down the court.

mbyron · #13 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 14, 2009, 07:25am

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdw3018

But in a quick transition, I'm turning and running to do my best to beat the play down the court.

Better to run in a way that leaves you an angle to see between players. Sometimes that will require you to slow down rather than race them.

grunewar · #14 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 14, 2009, 07:33am

On occasion I have been known to both backpedal a few steps and/or side-step a few steps, both in transition, as I turn and look over my shoulder - as I have been taught. I do neither for more than a step or two but find them both handy in certain situations to best keep my eyes on the action in my area as I transition.

As a rule though, I don't do neither for any length of time.

Back In The Saddle · #15 (**permalink**) Mon Dec 14, 2009, 12:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunewar

On occasion I have been known to both backpedal a few steps and/or side-step a few steps, both in transition, as I turn and look over my shoulder - as I have been taught. I do neither for more than a step or two but find them both handy in certain situations to best keep my eyes on the action in my area as I transition.

As a rule though, I don't do neither for any length of time.

I side-step quite a bit in transition, especially at C or as L during press coverage. I can cover a lot of ground pretty quickly that way, and it leaves me open to the entire court. If I'm L on a three-person crew and we're in press coverage, I'll stay out on the court more and move slowly backwards as the play progresses towards me. Not really back pedaling, but something like it.