"Over The Back"

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I am not sure I totally agree with that. For one the chop signal is for clarification and to give information. The "over the back" signal is to call something based on something that is not a rule. We used to use the "kicking" signal and it was not approved (even the "palming" signal was used and not approved at one time). And I know officials that use the "tip" signal for multiple purposes to give information. I am not advocating using this signal, but just saying that we do a lot of things that are not approved and no one gets upset over the situation.

To be clear I would not use that signal during most live ball or right as a player is being defended, but I have used it before. Never been told not to or it was wrong.

Peace

I've seen big time NCAA officials put both arms straight up and bring them forward/down to show that a player was vertical but brought the arms forward/down and fouled the shooter. It's a mechanic that may not be approved but communicates the foul far better than a hit/hack mechanic ever could.

Same with the hit to the head (in an NFHS game). If I hit the head, nobody ever questions me. If I use the usual hit/hack mechanic, I'm just as likely to hear from a coach that "he didn't hit him on the arm."

I try to use proper mechanics when they fit, but I'm not a slave to them 100% of the time, either.