Do any states still work 2-person all season other than Massachusetts? Out state is about to authorize the use of 3-person crews for sectional semi-finals to the state finals.

How have other states started to use 3-person? Did any just decide to go to 3 for the tournament or do most states generally have some regular season games worked under the 3-person system?

Finally, does any state use the NCAA mechanics for 3-person instead of the National Federation?

Dan

North Carolina
 

3 man for all varsity games, all year long.

What would be the point in using NCAA mechanics instead of NFHS?

using NCAA mechanics
 

My thought is that if the 3-person is going to be used for the tournament, at least by using the ncaa 3-person some of the officials who work both high school and college will be able to lead the crews....otherwise, we all start from scratch trying to learn a new system.

Illinois
 

We have had 3 Person for all playoffs for about 6 years.

I would say that Boy's Varsity games are played about 97% of the time with 3 Officials.

On the Girl's side I would say about 85% of the games are played under 3 Officials.

When the playoffs come, all games are played with 3 Officials.

We only use NF Mechanics with some modifications based on some IHSA Philosophy. But basically everything we do is based on the NF Mechanics.

Peace

Idaho. Two-man from start to end.

Ontario provincials championships use 2 person crews.

During the regular season, 2 person crews are the norm. However, in the boys regional playoffs (SWOSSAA) in our area, 3 person crews will be used. Adding to the confusion, SWOSSAA girls used only 2 person crews this year.

To prepare for the SWOSSAA games, our association has used 3 person crews for certain tournament games. We have three local officials who officiate at the collegiate level, and thus use 3 person mechanics regularly. But, the other guys need to be exposed to 3 person in some way, and tournament play is the way.

here in Tx, we use 3 person crews for 4a and 5a assignments and 2 person from 3a on down to 1a. The state tournaments and regional tournaments use 3 person crews for all divisions and assignments.

Re: using NCAA mechanics
 

3-whistle mechanics are subtly different for HS, Women and Men.
Wha'dya mean less confusion? ;)

Jeremy, where are you in Texas. Up here in Ft. Worth area, not all 4A and 5A schools are 3 whistle.

Re: using NCAA mechanics
 

I honestly don't think there's enough difference to cause "confusion."

Re: Re: using NCAA mechanics
 

Problem is, Tony, that NOBODY up here in Mass knows the HS 3-whistle mechanics, b/c we never use it at all. So if you use it for the tournament, you either have to teach HS officials the new mechanics or use college officials who are not going to change their mechanics just for one game.

Chuck

Re: Re: Re: using NCAA mechanics
 

Chuck the Cruiser,
The way I understand this in Michigan, is that Michigan had a similar deal and they offered a pre-tourney crash course in the 3-official for a few years.
Well, since 3-whistle is, now, so popular downstate, MHSAA quit doing it.
But they taught HS mechanics, and not Men or Women.
mick

Like Idaho, Washington is 2 person crews throughout the entire season.

staying with 2-person, yahoo!
 

MIAA staying with 2-person for this year according to "word on the street"....

For those of you who think there are only "subtle" differences between NF 3-person and either NCAA men's or NCAA Women's, you might be right compared to men's...but there are major differences between NF and women's

Thanks to all for your feedback....to those still working 2-person, we might get lucky and get it in the regular season by 2010? (At least we can hope)

Re: staying with 2-person, yahoo!
 

"Major", "minor", "subtle"... that's all based on prespective.
Yes, there are differences, but anyone here can handle 'em.

handling them
 

As a Coordinator who handles both 2-person and 3-person NCAA assignments, if you think officials can easily "handle" the differences, that is a mistake. It is very tough to make changes on mechanics...as for most of us they are instincts/reactions.

With some states in this area using the NF 3-person, I can tell you, most of them struggle, and struggle to a large degree. Throw in the 2-person states at the NF level (as well as the 2-person college assignments) and they struggle even worse.

When you have to think about what you should be doing, it often causes the official to forget why they are there...to officiate!

It is major difference as far as I'm concerned, until some of the best around here (New England) prove otherwise.

I have to caveat Rut’s answer for Illinois. Here in the south where some of our graduating class sizes wouldn’t even make a respectable freshman English class in a Chicagoland school, high school runs 50-50% 2 to 3 man crews. It is getting better.

In Louisiana, the Shreveport metro area went to all 3 man crews for JV and V boys and girls. Coaches and ADs tried to regress the next year but the association stuck to it.

I have not worked in Southern Illinois but......
 

I am not aware of the areas that you work, but I do not work just in the Chicagoland area. Actually, I was doing 3 Person for 3 full years before I ever stepped into the Chicago area. I have officiated at schools that bearly have 100 students, but still hire 3 officials for all their varsity games. Actually, there are more conferences in the Chicagoland area that do not have 3 officials for games(Upstate 8, Chicago Public League, Private League for most games), but you go to the sticks and the farm areas, and that is all you see. I am not aware where Carterville is located, but most of the northern to central Illinois areas use 3 Person regularly. And when you go around Springfield, they use almost all 3 Person from what the officials that work there tell me.

Peace

Here in Michigan we have both 3 man and 2 man crews it depends on what part of the state you live. But you ready for this our county works 3 man all season, but in the districts and regionals we use 2 man. Then in the Semis and finals we go back to 3 man. Confused yet?

Northern VA we run 3-person for all varsity games. Started it last year (for larger schools) and I really like it better than 2-person. Still run 2-person for all freshman and JV games.