Took a Backwards Tumble
 

I'm the T; defense gets the steal.

I start to backtrack quickly when I start to feel my feet go out from under me. I try to maintain my balance, attempting some sort of wide stance before going down, but it turns into one of those inevitable falls that lasts five weeks.

My downward thoughts: "Oh no, not now, try to balance, won't work, oh s**t, here it comes, don't fall into the crowd...!" WHAM, flat on my back, possibly leaving a crack in the foundation.

Someone in the front row asks if I'm all right. I pop up and high tail it to the end line, just in time for the layup. I hold a thumbs up to the crowd going back down the other way. My partner tells me they went on about it for several minutes. Rabbit ears. :D

Lone upside: Falling is the one thing an official can do that pleases everybody.

Been there, done that . . .
 

A few years ago I had a similar mishap - first step backwards as trail, going to new lead, hooked a heel, fought with it for three steps, each of which brought more response from the crowd, and finally gave up and sat down for a short slide. When I popped up I got a hearty round of applause from the bleacher bunch, gave them half a bow, to their great satisfaction, and headed to the other end with the play.
I subscribe to the old saying, "Learn to laugh at yourself - you'll never go unamused!"

You weren't backpedaling, were you? If so, you deserved to fall. :D

Seriously, backpedaling on the court is not the way to go the other direction. Turn and run and look over your shoulder.

+1

Even your first step shouldn't be a back pedal.

happened to my partner just last monday night at a jv c squad game. not many people in the audience. i was the new trail, and going by the home team bench when he fell; the subs started laughing. i looked at them and said,"girls, c'mon...thats not good sportsmanship." at half-time the coach thanked me for reminding them to be good sports. my partner said that his fall seemed like it went on for an hour.

Make sure that:
1. You get a copy of the game film, and
2. You watch youtube to see if you made the big time.

Never back track.

Turn, run, and look over your shoulder.

other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

/thanks

That's the only reason you need. I would think you would know that now. :)

Think about it...ever see an NCAA or NBA official back track? No, you haven't. Turn, run and look over your shoulder.

There are some good youtube videos that reinforce the above. Look for 'referee tumble' or something similar. Imagine it is you in the video. Imagine all of your association members know it is you. Imagine that it is brought up in a meeting and they ask you for a demo.

You need a reason other than not crashing on a gym floor? ;)

As BktBallRef says; that's the only reason you need.

However, it's slower and not good on your legs.

It's also nice to see what's coming up. Can't do that with your back turned.

It would be a killer on my legs. When I watch JV officials do it, it makes my Achilles hurt just watching.

Full disclosure: I did this once working a middle school game sometime about 1990. Backed into a player and almost broke my arm.

lol.....no. just relatively new and trying to glean all the information i can.

You don't like working backjudge then, I take it? :D

Understood, just ribbin' ya a little.

I did it for a season when I moved to WI. After correcting my WH about 12 times during the season for incorrect enforcements, I decided my skills were better served being a referee.

and thats one of the reasons i love ref'ing.....the camaraderie. also, trying to get the lingo of the forum down. RichMSN posted about correcting his WH...whats a WH?

White hat = referee in football

not proud to admit it... i am in cast now from fractured wrist, two spots, and fractured radial arm from falling in xmas tourney. two man mechanics and stepped back and tripped, fell, got up and had foul on lay-up. finished game and went to e.r. two days later. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A STEP BACKWARDS.

wow...no i feel really stupid. i do football also, and was the white hat for a few games last year. either need more coffee or a new brain.

Very dangerous and shows you're a rookie. We have one guy here that keeps doing it, and I am on him everytime about breaking the habit. He's a friend of mine and I keep telling him that he could get seriously hurt!

Not to beat the dying horse, but turning around and running forward while looking back over your shoulder also looks more athletic. Like you belong out there.

I've been warned about possible Achilles damage. Something tells me this fall will be a big motivator for me than that.

Having said that, in soccer, we're expected to backtrack some, especially toward a touchline as the ball approaches us. Come to think of it, backtracking is part of our physical test (shuffle test: 25 yards straight ahead, then to the left, then backwards, then to the right).

So riddle me this: Why is backtracking expected in one sport, but verboten in another?

What kind of surface do you land on in soccer?

Glad I wasn't back pedaling on this one...
 

Several years ago I was running down court as new lead, I am looking back over my shoulder and about 3' inside the sideline. Suddenly I collide with someone and we both go tumbling to the floor. For whatever reason a coach was out on the floor and looking away from the play...

I blow whistle and then spit it out of my mouth on the way down (to protect my teeth :D ) and I realize as I am sitting both cheeks to the hardwood what had just happened. I look up at coach, smile and T him from the ground.

We were both okay and actually had a great laugh about it. Never did find out why he was that far out there but he was very apologetic realizing that someone could have really been hurt. Easiest call I've ever made and only time making a call from a seated position.

Excellent, now that's what I call getting down and dirty!

Funny, guys who back pedal usually wear belts............

And tend to be staring at the ball in the backcourt while there are 6 players running by him in the frontcourt.

Depends. This is Maine. What month are we in?

I suspect safety is the main reason. Backtracking provides a better viewing angle but the basketball court is simply too small to safely run where you aren't looking. In soccer, you have the space to safely get the angle you need on the play while still getting where you need to go.

You know that 'backtrack' does not mean the same as 'backpedal', right?

Good eye, MB. I indeed meant "backpedal."

Those who get chastised on this board will often 'backtrack'. Those who post about falling on their fannies 'backpedal'.

It is pretty obvious to me. One you will fall on grass and dirt and the other you will fall on a floor that is flat and likely a lot harder. Easier to get hurt on the harder surface.

Peace

I've played soccer in Maine in November. That surface is pretty hard, too. Never ran backwards while playing, though.;)

How many people have you ever known that broke their arms or wrist by falling on a grass surface (without someone falling on them).

Peace

Since those fields in November in Maine were like cement, I wasn't about to take any chances.

But, the point is that on the basketball court, nothing positive can be gained by running backwards.