Trail in 2-Whistle

[johnsonboys03]

When I'm at the trail position and the ball goes to the opposite corner I usually turn my focus in the paint area. Your partner can't see due to watching the ball. Most of the rough play will happen as the big men jockey for position.

[KJUmp]

As always....no matter how we cover it, must be pre-gamed with P.

[FrankHtown]

When the ball goes into L's corner, why would you move toward the opposite sideline like a C? If you've followed the play to that point, why give up your position? You're in the middle of the court, and can help out with weak side and strong side rebounding, you can watch the paint for 3 second violations, illegal screns, etc. All while your partner is on-ball.

And "What if there is a fast break?" Stand still. The players will go around you.


Your immediate attention should be on what is happening, not what might happen.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by FrankHtown

When the ball goes into L's corner, why would you move toward the opposite sideline like a C? If you've followed the play to that point, why give up your position? You're in the middle of the court, and can help out with weak side and strong side rebounding, you can watch the paint for 3 second violations, illegal screns, etc. All while your partner is on-ball.

And "What if there is a fast break?" Stand still. The players will go around you.


Your immediate attention should be on what is happening, not what might happen.

You keep looking as you move, but I disagree -- you *have* to keep your mind on what might happen, too.

(You aren't getting that position across the court, though, for any other reason but being on ball.)

The position back near the sideline is better for weak side rebounding and also in case there's basket interference and/or goaltending -- making those types of calls from the top of the key is going to be difficult. Also, if there's a quick skip pass over there, the T has sideline responsibility, 3-point shot responsibility, etc.

I don't see it as giving up position -- I see it as getting a better one now that the trail doesn't have on-ball responsibilities anymore. Once the ball pops out, a few quick steps puts you right back in to position.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

You keep looking as you move, but I disagree -- you *have* to keep your mind on what might happen, too.

(You aren't getting that position across the court, though, for any other reason but being on ball.)

The position back near the sideline is better for weak side rebounding and also in case there's basket interference and/or goaltending -- making those types of calls from the top of the key is going to be difficult. Also, if there's a quick skip pass over there, the T has sideline responsibility, 3-point shot responsibility, etc.

I don't see it as giving up position -- I see it as getting a better one now that the trail doesn't have on-ball responsibilities anymore. Once the ball pops out, a few quick steps puts you right back in to position.

It really depends on where the rest of the players are and what they are doing. In many cases, when an offensive player is in the corner on the lead's side, you will have the post player trying to get in position to receive a pass on the far block from your primary, facing the player with the ball. You need to watch this post play since the lead is focused on the player with the ball. If there's a quick pass to the post, as trail, you need to see this play. So I would argue there may be a very good reason to stay deeper onto the court, up above the key to get the best look. It just depends where the other players are and what's happening. I will worry about the rebound action when a shot goes up. Prior to that I am looking at the most significant off-ball matchups and I will position myself wherever I need to be to best see that.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Smitty

It really depends on where the rest of the players are and what they are doing. In many cases, when an offensive player is in the corner on the lead's side, you will have the post player trying to get in position to receive a pass on the far block from your primary, facing the player with the ball. You need to watch this post play since the lead is focused on the player with the ball. If there's a quick pass to the post, as trail, you need to see this play. So I would argue there may be a very good reason to stay deeper onto the court, up above the key to get the best look. It just depends where the other players are and what's happening. I will worry about the rebound action when a shot goes up. Prior to that I am looking at the most significant off-ball matchups and I will position myself wherever I need to be to best see that.

I see this, but I also know that if I'm the lead on ball here, I'm doing my best to get an angle to help on the post play, as well.

As the trail, I'm not taking my focus off here, but I'm not going to stay across so I can look straight down into the post, either. I'll look as I'm sliding a bit back towards the sideline. I'm guessing that in practice we're not that different.

Let's face it -- in 2010, 2-person sucks, especially at the varsity level. It's a lot of doing the best you can. It's unfortunate that around here the coaches and ADs don't understand what they lose by not having 2 officials ball-side.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I see this, but I also know that if I'm the lead on ball here, I'm doing my best to get an angle to help on the post play, as well.

As the trail, I'm not taking my focus off here, but I'm not going to stay across so I can look straight down into the post, either. I'll look as I'm sliding a bit back towards the sideline. I'm guessing that in practice we're not that different.

Let's face it -- in 2010, 2-person sucks, especially at the varsity level. It's a lot of doing the best you can. It's unfortunate that around here the coaches and ADs don't understand what they lose by not having 2 officials ball-side.

It absolutely sucks. I didn't realize it until this year how bad it sucks. I moved from a 2-man state to a 3-man state and fell in love with 3-man as soon as I figured it out. Then was mis-assigned a JV game (so they only assigned 2-man) that ended up being a varsity game. It was then I realized how much we were probably missing and wouldn't have if that 3rd guy was there.

In the OP, I still tend to stay deeper onto the court as a skip pass from one side all the way to the other is a lower percentage option than something closer to the paint. But if everyone is spread out, I may move closer to where you describe. It is difficult to give an all purpose answer to this because it all just depends on what the players are doing - that is what determines where I am to get the best angle on what I'm looking at.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by johnsonboys03

When I'm at the trail position and the ball goes to the opposite corner I usually turn my focus in the paint area. Your partner can't see due to watching the ball. Most of the rough play will happen as the big men jockey for position.

The reality with 2-person is that when a trail is on ball, the lead's gotta expand his primary to get anything off-ball not in a fairly direct line between the ball handler and the trail. Same goes when the ball drops into the primary of the lead.

When I'm the trail, I go where I need to in order to officiate. If I have to go 2/3 of the way across the court in order to work a defensive matchup involving the ball, I do so -- but the farther on the court I go the deeper I am (if I'm halfway across the court, I'm probably a few steps in the backcourt getting angles). When the ball drops into the lead's primary and I release the ball to my partner, I try to quickly work back closer to the sideline down near the free throw line while looking inside and picking up any post activity and any screening activity. If the ball comes back up, I start working that arc again.

I find that in 2-person, I'm the most active as the trail when teams move the ball around the perimeter a lot. What choice do we really have unless we want to be across the court guessing?

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The reality with 2-person is that when a trail is on ball, the lead's gotta expand his primary to get anything off-ball not in a fairly direct line between the ball handler and the trail. Same goes when the ball drops into the primary of the lead.

When I'm the trail, I go where I need to in order to officiate. If I have to go 2/3 of the way across the court in order to work a defensive matchup involving the ball, I do so -- but the farther on the court I go the deeper I am (if I'm halfway across the court, I'm probably a few steps in the backcourt getting angles). When the ball drops into the lead's primary and I release the ball to my partner, I try to quickly work back closer to the sideline down near the free throw line while looking inside and picking up any post activity and any screening activity. If the ball comes back up, I start working that arc again.

I find that in 2-person, I'm the most active as the trail when teams move the ball around the perimeter a lot. What choice do we really have unless we want to be across the court guessing?

Rich: Sounds like a good tip. 2nd yr. and I've been working on covering this type of sitch better...but have had a problem with getting a better angle than what I've been. Any other advice you could offer on this? I only have a few more HSJV games left on my schedule and would like to get more confident with the coverage.
Thanks

[Rich]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Rich: Sounds like a good tip. 2nd yr. and I've been working on covering this type of sitch better...but have had a problem with getting a better angle than what I've been. Any other advice you could offer on this? I only have a few more HSJV games left on my schedule and would like to get more confident with the coverage.
Thanks

The biggest problem I see watching JV officials work is that they come into the frontcourt, take one step or two over the division line, and plant themselves there. It's one thing I struggle with

When you're on ball (especially), you have to get angles and distance to what you're responsible for. If the ball is taken across the court, you have to go there. It you don't go towards (or into) the backcourt when you go across you will not have the angle you need to see through the defender and the ball handler or you'll be too close.

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The biggest problem I see watching JV officials work is that they come into the frontcourt, take one step or two over the division line, and plant themselves there. It's one thing I struggle with

When you're on ball (especially), you have to get angles and distance to what you're responsible for. If the ball is taken across the court, you have to go there. It you don't go towards (or into) the backcourt when you go across you will not have the angle you need to see through the defender and the ball handler or you'll be too close.

1st year here. I do work to get angles as T, mostly by moving towards the endline. I do not work the arc as much, mostly because I worry about being in the passing lanes. Ay advice there?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

1st year here. I do work to get angles as T, mostly by moving towards the endline. I do not work the arc as much, mostly because I worry about being in the passing lanes. Ay advice there?

It's why you step back, even into the backcourt.

You are going to be in the way from time to time, but you have to be in there so you can officiate. You'll get better at anticipating and moving out of the way as you get more experience.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The biggest problem I see watching JV officials work is that they come into the frontcourt, take one step or two over the division line, and plant themselves there. It's one thing I struggle with

When you're on ball (especially), you have to get angles and distance to what you're responsible for. If the ball is taken across the court, you have to go there. It you don't go towards (or into) the backcourt when you go across you will not have the angle you need to see through the defender and the ball handler or you'll be too close.

Rich...
Tried it tonight...it worked well.