Running Backwards

[Rufus]

Out of curiosity does he provide any reason why he continues to run backward?

[SNIPERBBB]

Running backwards is hard enough on your legs because the muscles just aren't built for that motion. Let alone not being able to see a potential tripping hazard behind you....

[Loudwhistle2]

Originally Posted by Rufus

Out of curiosity does he provide any reason why he continues to run backward?

No, just likes to do it. I've told him if you change any one thing I've commented on stop running backwards! Of course if you want your wife wiping you because you've injured your spine then continue on.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Loudwhistle2

No, just likes to do it. I've told him if you change any one thing I've commented on stop running backwards! Of course if you want your wife wiping you because you've injured your spine then continue on.

My reason for not liking has nothing to do with possibly tripping. My thing is if you are running backwards what are you looking at? Definitely not the players headed to the paint and post areas. If you are trying to help with action along your sideline you're not much help b/c you are going away from said action. If you are trying to help you need to stop and officiate.

I see absolutely no benefit to it.

[Toren]

I haven't run backwards since my first season of refereeing. But this last Saturday I had one possession where I beat the kids up the court and my head was turn as it always is, and for some reason my body turned and I found myself back pedaling.

It was the weirdest feeling in the world and I didn't like it one bit. Luckily, nothing bad happened and it just left me wondering what happened.

[tref]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

My reason for not liking has nothing to do with possibly tripping. My thing is if you are running backwards what are you looking at?

The Ball!

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

My reason for not liking has nothing to do with possibly tripping. My thing is if you are running backwards what are you looking at? Definitely not the players headed to the paint and post areas. If you are trying to help with action along your sideline you're not much help b/c you are going away from said action. If you are trying to help you need to stop and officiate.

I see absolutely no benefit to it.

It's funny how running backwards is not frowned upon in football, but in basketball it is.

I've been working college football as a deep guy for 6 years now and I've fallen exactly zero times. High school, 7 years and zero falls.

In football, I have receivers spread out over a much wider distance than a basketball court.

While I don't do it in a basketball game, if I had to, I could do it and maintain coverage. So could anyone really.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

It's funny how running backwards is not frowned upon in football, but in basketball it is.

I've been working college football as a deep guy for 6 years now and I've fallen exactly zero times. High school, 7 years and zero falls.

In football, I have receivers spread out over a much wider distance than a basketball court.

While I don't do it in a basketball game, if I had to, I could do it and maintain coverage. So could anyone really.

And how much deeper than the players are you when you know they're coming your way? 20 yards? 30 yards? In basketball, you'd already be positioned on the endline as the new lead at those distances. You've got a LOT longer to anticipate your movements before the receivers get to you than you do when there is a steal at the top of the key and you have to get to the other end NOW.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

It's funny how running backwards is not frowned upon in football, but in basketball it is.

I've been working college football as a deep guy for 6 years now and I've fallen exactly zero times. High school, 7 years and zero falls.

In football, I have receivers spread out over a much wider distance than a basketball court.

While I don't do it in a basketball game, if I had to, I could do it and maintain coverage. So could anyone really.

In football if you fall down you do not have a hard surface to fall onto and likely your head or land on your wrists the same way. I also do not know anyone in football that gets carried off by a stretcher like they do in basketball when they fall on their head either.

Peace

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

It's funny how running backwards is not frowned upon in football, but in basketball it is.

Hell, running backwards is encouraged in soccer! In fact, it's part of our physical test.

But, there are reasons why it's encouraged in one and not the other. In soccer, if you're 10-20 yards from the sideline, and the ball is coming toward you, you want your eyes on the field while your feet are moving in the necessary direction. In basketball, the space is 15 times smaller to cover, so backtracking just isn't necessary.

More than a few years ago, I volunteered for a Y girls' basketball game, so just to experiment, I thought I'd try backtracking, just to see what the big deal was all about. (I wasn't getting paid, so why not?) The experiment failed; it was one of my worst performances on the court.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Hell, running backwards is encouraged in soccer! In fact, it's part of our physical test.

But, there are reasons why it's encouraged in one and not the other. In soccer, if you're 10-20 yards from the sideline, and the ball is coming toward you, you want your eyes on the field while your feet are moving in the necessary direction. In basketball, the space is 15 times smaller to cover, so backtracking just isn't necessary.

More than a few years ago, I volunteered for a Y girls' basketball game, so just to experiment, I thought I'd try backtracking, just to see what the big deal was all about. (I wasn't getting paid, so why not?) The experiment failed; it was one of my worst performances on the court.

Being a soccer guy, every once in a while I'll catch myself starting to run backwards since it comes naturally. Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with the space being covered. Frankly, your view running backwards is far superior to your view over your shoulder. Rather, I think it comes down to safety. The hazards to the official, primarily cheerleaders and people sitting in the front row, are too close for safety, which is not the case in football and soccer.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

.... Frankly, your view running backwards is far superior to your view over your shoulder. Rather, I think it comes down to safety. ...

It may be superior in that you see a larger field of vision which is what you need in soccer and football but it sure as heck doesn't give you a better 'look' at what you should be officiating on a baskeball court.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

My reason for not liking has nothing to do with possibly tripping. My thing is if you are running backwards what are you looking at? Definitely not the players headed to the paint and post areas. If you are trying to help with action along your sideline you're not much help b/c you are going away from said action. If you are trying to help you need to stop and officiate.

I see absolutely no benefit to it.

I agree he shouldn't run backwards. However, there is one benefit to it and its probably why most people use this poor mechanic. Your field of vision is better than when you are running down the court looking over your shoulder. This I believe is more prevalent in 2 man when the sideline is your responsibility. Also if you are running down court with your head over your shoulder like you are supposed to in 2 man you are just as much likely to trip over something in front of you because you can't see it.

I agree we shouldn't run backwards, however, just wanted to point out that there is one small advantage to it. Of course if you have players you are trying to beat down the court you need to be watching them and hope your partner can help you on any calls on the line.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by rwest

I agree he shouldn't run backwards. However, there is one benefit to it and its probably why most people use this poor mechanic. Your field of vision is better than when you are running down the court looking over your shoulder. This I believe is more prevalent in 2 man when the sideline is your responsibility. Also if you are running down court with your head over your shoulder like you are supposed to in 2 man you are just as much likely to trip over something in front of you because you can't see it.

I agree we shouldn't run backwards, however, just wanted to point out that there is one small advantage to it. Of course if you have players you are trying to beat down the court you need to be watching them and hope your partner can help you on any calls on the line.

In 2 man I'm less likely to sprint down the court than I am in 3-man. In 2-man I only sprint as the new Lead if it's a fast break. In 3-man I can sprint down the court after made baskets or defensive rebounds because I know the C is available to help the T. In 2-man, if there is no fast break, first thing on doing on change of possession is freezing and squaring up to the court so I can see my new matchups and find the pack. If the new Lead is backpedaling up the court that's an indication to me that he bailed out early on the shot.