2-Man Mechanics
 

Have a question about 2-man mechanics.

There is an official in our association that insist that we are using the wrong mechanics. He claims that in two person crews, the lead should, rotate to ball side, and the trail steps toward the middle of the floor, working weak side, low post play.

States that these rotations are designed to eliminate the lead official from calling plays from across the lane lines.

I have watched him work and most of the time when he is the "Trail", he is standing in the middle of the court. When the "Lead", he is rotating back and forth, and often is on the same side of the court as his partner.

Is this a mechanic that is being used in HS BB with 2-man?

K-Blue

Going ball-side, IMO, is an important part of making 2-person officiating as good as it can be. Some regions frown on it, though.

IMO, if they want the L strong-side on plays, hire a frickin 3rd! IJS

It's not what anyone wants -- it's about me as an official being in the best position to make calls. I'm either going to have to grab calls across the lane or go over there and have a better look. I'll go over when I can. I'll grab calls across the lane when I have to.

I understand that fact, Rich. Just my feelings on the L rotating in the 2 person game. Thank God I dont have to do too many of those, because I'm not going or calling across the paint! The T better step down & stay connected!

According to the NFHS official's manual, 2.3.3, the lead should move ball side (if permissable) when the ball and most of the players are below the free throw line extended on the trail's side. The lead just has to be ready to make a quick dash, if necessary, to cover his/her sideline.

In the IAABO manual it says the L officials may apply the A, B, C technique. We all know the difference between "may" & "shall" in the book.

It's not that simple, IMO. There are fouls deep on the trail's side where the T just has a horrible look -- for example a drive on the endline where the foul occurs from the backside (between the shooter and the endline).

The lead simply has to pick up play across the lane in 2-person or the T is going to have to do a lot of guessing. Neither is ideal, but the L is in better position to make a lot of those calls/no-calls on shooting fouls near the endline.

I'm an active trail (at least I think so) and I'm thrilled when a lead picks up some of those.

This is a common practice here and we pregame it. Some times we also start from this position on a front court endline throw in. It must be pregamed with partner and it's use must be disaplined when using this court coverage. Also along these same lines is the coverage when trail comes accross basket line to cover a trap on leads side above the freethrow line extended. I like to have the lead cover the OOB line all the way up and the trail take any foul call.

All of that being said, even more reason to "hire a frickin 3rd!"

Not that I want to give anything but my best efforts on the court, but getting 3 officials on all games will never happen if we keep working the 2 person game in such a stellar fashion.

"Why pay a 3rd official when these 2 guys are busting to get the job done for a couple extra dollars" is what I heard an AD recently say.

On my job that pays the mortgage, we had 6 employees in my department. They fired 1, if the 5 of us still maintained the departments responsibilities, do you think they would have ever hired a new person? Absolutely not!

Sorry, but I'll continue to work 2-person as best I can. The argument should be that 3-person worked best as possible is still much better working 2-person as best as possible.

I've never seen this posted on the board, but it probably has been. It is worth reading what official's manual says about ball side mechanic:

2.3.3 Ball-Side Mechanic:
A. General Provisions:
1. The use of a ball-side mechanic should be thoroughly discussed at the
pregame conference.
2. Ball and player location key the need for movement by the Lead.
3. The Lead should only move ball-side when the Trail is in the frontcourt.

B. Coverage:
1. When the majority of players and the ball are on the Trail’s side of the
floor, below the free-throw line extended, the Lead should close-down
toward the near lane line and may move laterally to ball-side.
2. Playing action may dictate that the lead NOT initiate movement – even
when the ball is on the Trail’s side – such as on a quick shot or a quick
drive to the basket.
3. Movement by the Lead across the lane should be brisk and with purpose.
4. Even while moving across the lane, the Lead must officiate players in
the post (PCA). Lead should not be caught within the key area except
when moving across or just briefly to view a play or drive to the basket
from the Trail side of the court.
5. When the Lead moves across the lane, the Lead’s PCA is extended to include
the area inside the arc. See Diagram 2-20.
6. When the ball moves inside the three-point arc, the Lead is now on-ball
and the trail must extend coverage to assist with the open area on
the opposite side. See Diagram 2-21.
7. If the majority of players or the ball swings back to the opposite side,
the Lead should begin to quickly move back across the lane to cover the play.
See Diagram 2-22.
8. If there is a quick shot or drive to the basket and the Lead is still on the
same side of the court as the Trail, the Lead should close down to the
near lane-line extended and officiate rebounding action.
9. If a transition to the other end of the court occurs when the Lead is ballside,
the Lead must remember to go back to the other side of the court
and into diagonal coverage.

Same here, just not rotating... I'll pinch. I agree!

Since a 2-person crew usually works a little harder than a 3-person crew, make 2-person pay more than 3-person... then it will be 3-person all around :D

Around here:

3 person: $50/gm
2 person: $58/gm

School saves a WHOLE $34/gm on 2 person :rolleyes:

3 whistle: $53
2 whistle: $62.50
plus mileage

The thing is, a lot of two-man games are done at levels that just don't need three. I'm not going to do a lesser game (and failing to cross over is just that, IMO) in order to press for a third official for the JVG games that really don't need them.

Even if I was doing a varsity game, I'd rather do my best to get the best angles and views than dump it for, essentially, political reasons.

And it's the slower games (JVG, for example) where it's easier to cross-over. The game just isn't as quick. When I filled in for an injured official on a JVG game a few weeks ago, I crossed over at least 5-6 times in the quarter I worked.

On a BV game, however, I'm lucky to find the time (timing) to get over 6 times a game. You pick your spots. Certainly, I'd rather have 3 officials. I'd also like to win the Powerball.

When I am Lead on a two man crew, I find myself moving with the ball much like three man. The problem is that my Trail my be inexperienced and doesn't move with me so we are heavy to one side. I go over this in pre-game but you know how that goes :rolleyes:

Even if my trail doesn't adjust, I find I've still got a better look so it's worth the trip. You give certain things up, but it's about the odds; and I'm quick enough to get back to the sideline on most cases if I need to.

I neither work JVG nor was I speaking on anything at that level...

You lucky guys/gals down there have all of your V scheduled as 3 whistle, no?

Man, one of our big leagues containing 5A SUBURBAN schools went 2 person this year (economy). Those have been some of the toughest games that I've ever worked!!
If the City Public School league (which has had money problems way before the recent economy situation) can afford 3 then GD those rich schools with BMWs & Mercedes parked EVERYWHERE should be able to as well!

I've found a solution to the problem though, I will obtain the names of each school that plan to run 2s next year & simply block them in the Arbiter.
"Yeah, I have a cousin that attends that school, boss... YUP that school too... YES, that one as well" :D

Logic: A

Grammar: D

:D

****.

All the words I want to use in reply keep getting edited.

IAABO Option ...
 

That's correct. It's an option, that should probably be pregamed. And it's a true rotation with the trail moving across the basketline when the lead comes ballside.

At least that's what it says in the manual. In reality, around these parts, nobody uses this option. Never. When the lead comes ball side to help out with post players, it's just for that one play, and it's his responsibility to eventually hustle back to the weak side.

Here we go again
 

Page 24 of the mechanics manual. It says nothing about the trail moving over.

Now, I thought I recalled a mechanic that talked about the Trail initiating a full switch with a trap up high on the lead's side; but I can't find it.

Do I need to grade your vocabulary, too? :D :D

I will NOT be going strong side tonight!

I actually saw this sitch happen in a 5A boys game:
T opposite table & the L goes strong side, the ball shoots OOB in the corner (side/endline corner) tableside. L asks T for help... T looks at L like "are you kidding me, I'm 80+ feet away from this play." A/P arrow!
Of course it goes OOB in front of the defensive teams bench, who just happened to be down by 20+... not a good look! Pay the 3rd, football has 5.

Page 43.

The L should have been prepared to signal a direction on this. I know if I go strong side, I may have to get one that shoots out on the other side.

Look, if a team's down 20 and I have to guess, I know how I'm guessing on that one possession. And it's not with two thumbs...

We spoke about that at halftime as the the T in that play was also the assignor.

Your comment on the other thread, is NOT the case. Thats the reason I bolded the following.

That's a sacrifice going strong side in two man. As we all know, two person is a matter of sacrifices when we talk about positioning. I'll sacrifice the out of bounds play that doesn't happen too often for being in a better position to officiate.

Thanks, I knew it was in there. This is the only complete rotation noted in IAABO mechanics, though. Nothing to do with the lead going strongside.

My answer pretty much mirror's Rich's. I've had this very play in a FG game.

Now, why you guys are working 2 in a 5A game? That's a whole 'nother story, IMO.

That is my understanding. Since I started working college, it has been a big adjustment working the lead in the 2-person system we use in high school.

Where Are My Keys ???
 

Thanks. You could be right. We don't use the trail initiated rotation either.

I've never used it, either. If I get a 2 man game with an experienced partner, though, I'll pregame it and try it.

As a trail, I work the arc, but I don't go over the rainbow. And as lead, if I go ball side, I go back from whence I came in transition.

rsi...Thanks for posting this. As a newer official (still struggling with my mechanics as Lead) this is very helpful.
Quick question, is the reference you cite IABBO? My board is not IABBO and follows a "mix" a mechanics.