On the other side of the bay from me there is a middle school league that is paying 53/game for DHs. Heard they have NCAA guys stepping all over each other to volunteer for those games.

Great, POI for middle school technical fouls. :D

Well, maybe they aren't volunteering.
:D

Having moved from Oregon to Texas recently, this is very twisted logic from someone who clearly has only ever worked in the 2-man system, and likely not at a very high level. Certainly 2-man is just fine for the middle school games this person likely works. I didn't know what the big deal was about 3-man until I moved to Texas and started using 3-man mechanics. I was really shocked at just how much better it is. If you are in a place that only uses 2-man and you're not a college official, you wouldn't know how much better 3-man is.

In addition, the quality of basketball is remarkably better here in Texas than it is in Oregon - certainly on the men's side. Using 2-man for the state ranked programs would be a mess. They are simply too fast and too skilled to be able to call a quality game with 2-man. I'm sure that's also the case in most major metro areas in the country.

The game has changed since I started officiating and isn't even close to the game I played back in the dark ages of the 70's. Players are much more athletic and as I said earlier I would have no desire to go back to working varsity games with two officials; it's tough enough working soph boys games with two.

I did a 7th grade boys game a few nights ago. One of the teams had a kid who was almost my height, maybe 6'0 or 6'1. At one point he got a steal and an easy breakaway to the basket and dunked the ball. I've never seen a dunk at that level before but he did it pretty easily, and this is Iowa, not Chicago, L.A. or some other major city. I had another official tell me that he had an 8th grader dunk one earlier this year. When I played in 7th grade a guy who could touch the bottom of the net was considered a good leaper.

Although for different reasons that Rich, I too would probably give up HS ball if my area went 2-man. I'm at a point in my career going back and forth would be a detriment to my skills and that's not something I would want to happen. And I think a lot of guys that I work with who are at the same point in their careers would probably do the same. And if that is the case that would be a shame because this area would lose a LOT of quality officials - both those with many years experience that the 3-man system allows to continue and those like me that say the hell with it and move on.

I'm thinking ADs/coaches/even those stiff bean counters need to read this thread. You think they might catch on?

I see a lot of officials who have real difficulties going back and forth. I don't think I do -- it forces me to really focus on my coverages and my mechanics, though.

It takes me a few moments to make the adjustment, but I don't have "real difficulties."

I have three, two-person games tonight with the guy who got me started in the business. I'm really looking forward to showing him just how far I've come thanks to his nudge......

Just like working girls basketball, its not that its really difficult and I cant do it, but its not to my benefit.

Put it another way, and to liberally use a football officials expression, I use Tues and Friday nights to work on my game for Thurs and Sat. What good is it for me to do that 2-man

I don't disagree with you. Not at all. We normally don't work 5-man in football when we work FR/JV games, but I think it's much different in basketball.

Do The Math ...
 

You're correct. It is much different. We never use 5-man for basketball. For us it's usually 2-man, sometimes 3-man, and occasionally, 1-man. In fact, sometimes it's not a man, but it's a woman. Sometimes two women, or three women, but never five women. Sometimes one woman, and one man, and at other times it's ...

I often want to ask this of you, bit usually resist. This time I'm going to ask: Do you (ever) have a point?

Come on now Billy...

Anyone who thinks that a 2-person crew is as effective as a 3-person crew simply does not have enough 3-person experience to make that comment.
When Georgia went to 3-person 15 years or so ago, I was against it. I thought that I was able to move and get into position to make any call necessary. It didn't take long to realize that having a strong "C" can make a huge difference in the game. This also allows younger officials to move up faster because they are working bigger games much faster and getting real game experience that otherwise may take a few years longer to gain.

Forget live ball 3 whistle. 3 really shines on dead ball officiating. When one partner has to talk to another, the third can always keep his full attention on the players. I emphasize this in pregame -- one person ALWAYS has the players, regardless of what's happening, unless both teams are at the bench and all three are required for any discussion. Usually, A and B talk and tell C what he needs to know now, or that they'll fill him in at halftime/after the game. I can wait.

People Who Live In Glass Houses ...
 

I am not the Forum Spelling Guy, nor am I the Forum Grammar Guy, I often make these type of mistakes myself. I just found RichMSN's word selection very interesting, not poor, just interesting (We normally don't work 5-man in football when we work FR/JV games, but I think it's much different in basketball).

No offense intended. Sorry if I came across as hypercritical. I should know better: "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)