alternate official

[Scrapper1]

I've never been an alternate for a HS tournament, but I've been an alternate several times in the NCAA tournaments at the D2 and D3 level.

Advice: Bring a legal pad and pen. Keep track of the arrow, time-outs remaining, team fouls, free throw shooters, players subbing out of the game (remember they have to sit a tick before they can come back in), shot clock resets (or not), time/score when any technical fouls or unusual plays occur. Pay attention to things like whether there was team control when the whistle sounded.

Experiences: I was alternate for a D2 tournament game with a crew that I had never met. Seemed like good guys, included me in the pre-game, etc. Late in the first half there's a drive to the basket. One of the players' momentum takes him out of bounds and the Lead steps back to avoid the player -- and trips over a cheerleader. He falls backwards and pops right back up, no problem. At halftime, he kidded with me, "I saw you had your jacket off before I hit the floor!"