1 Man Team (No Show's)

[Ref Daddy]

I read alot about 2 man and 3 man. Lots available about table manners. Biggest problem I've seen however is officials No-Show!

Do's and Don't please on working a game solo! Too complicated to just be the trail position all the time. What else can you do?

Where are your priorities?
Change the routine speach in the coach/captian meeting?
Any other "tricks"?

[firedoc]

I've only had to work solo once or twice. Usually in this situation I try to work foul line to foul line and usually I try to stay on the side opposite the table. Before the game I tell the coaches that I will hustle as much as possible but that there may well be situations (such as out of bounds on the opposite side of the court from me etc.) where I cannot make the correct call. I inform them that if this happens we will go to the AP arrow.

On these two occasions I have not had ANY grief or comments from the coaches or players and the table personnel seem to go out of their way to help me in any way possible.

[williebfree]

1) You have two options: Work the coach's side (as recommended in the article) or work opposite the table. If you work the coach's side, you'll see what they see. If you work opposite, you'll be able to see the bench and won't have to listen to them as much. I prefer to work opposite most of the time, , but if I need to be table-side, that's okay for a few trips down the floor.

2) I'm generally free-throw line to free-throw line, but I'll go baseline for a throw-in, and on free-throws, or if I sense a play is going that way. If that means I'm training behind on a fast-break or two, so be it.

3) Get a good off-ball call on each team early (this is good advice for two-and three-person officiating as well).

[bossref]

Avoid the sitch by confirming w/partner.
If faced with workintg solo
go top of key to top of key
away from coaches
move lower if heavy post action
use peripheral for more court coverage
go to lead on 1st of multiple freethrows
go to trail on last freethrow
toss throw-ins from long distance
hope not too much happens away from you
sometimes easier to work solo than with a weak partner anyway

[Jeremy Hohn]

[QUOTE
sometimes easier to work solo than with a weak partner anyway
[/B][/QUOTE]

amen to that brother....

[mick]

That, which firedoc and williebfree say, also works for me.

[Mregor]

We are not allowed to start a game with less than 2 officials. I had a JV game last year where the P didn't show. I had an evaluator in attendance, and he came out and worked using my spare shirt. Luckily he was there or they would have had to cancel the game. In rec ball, all the other posts have covered what to do.

Mregor

[dblref]

This is one of the reasons I always initiate the call to my partner(s) regardless of whether I am the R or the U. I have done HS 2-man games by myself and I did what everyone else has talked about -- key to key, opposite table, etc.

[Dan_ref]

Top of key to top of key. Wander down to the free throw line extended if you need to. Go to the side that you're needed (watch team tendencies) and don't let the coach's expectations push you to either side. Stay relaxed, don't over hustle. Don't prewarn the coaches about what will or won't be seen. Just work the game the best you can.

[Tim Roden]

I concour. I prefer to work opposit the table. I use the table to help me with oob on that side of the floor. I haven't had too much trouble. On Free throws, I work from the trail. I like to think of myself as full time C in a one man game. I do whatever a C would do in three man. I do bounce pass throw ins on the base line from the C position. I have only finished one game as the sole official. Many games I have worked a quarter or two. The partner normally arrives sometime in the middle of the game. Last week I only did one man for 45 seconds of the girls JV game.

[Ref in PA]

I have done a few grade school games and one Boys JV game solo (1st half). At the beginning of the JV game, I told both captains and coaches the circumstances. I asked them to be honest and sportsmanlike in the pregame conference. I told them that I would miss calls and to be ready for that. I went foul line to foul line and sometimes a little lower to get a better view of the rebounding action. For the most part I worked opposite the coaches bench - for two reasons.
1. I did not want to listen to all the complaints about the plays I missed from the coaches, fans, etc. and,
2. If I am opposite the table I can claim to have a different view on the play - again to keep the complaints at a minimum.

Things went fairly smoothly. The teams had a reputation of being fast break teams so a lot of running was involved. Fortunately, one of the varsity referees came out after half-time to help me finish the game.

[fletch_irwin_m]

I have done a Solo act once or twice. WHY you would want to be table side is beyond me.
I agree with everything said, but have three more suggestions. Be quick with a "T", especially on players. Once you have explained that you are working solo and they should cut you some slack, that should do it. The first solo I did I had a player or two start getting chirpy, I gave them one warning, then popped em. (One from each team). That settled them and the coaches down.
Secondly, call tight on rebounding fouls. WHile you don't want to "guess" an on the back call, be a little more strict with your calls there. That will keep players a little less aggressive on the boards, and clean up a whole lot of grey area stuff.
Finally, HUSTLE. If you blow a call, which you will, if the coaches see you out there running around, being active and engaged, you will get the benefit of the doubt, and their respect.