Running Backwards
 

I have a friend/ref partner (have to be careful how you use the word partner these days) that works with me on the court. He's one that I give constructive criticism to at different times. Well, I've told him numerous times not to run backwards because its dangerous and it reveals to the whole gym who the new guy is. Last weekend I'm center moving up the floor on a fast break and something catches my eye across the court. Just ahead of the two players who are smoking towards the basket I see a ref sliding on his arse with his arms angled up to the sky. Of course its my partner and he's fallen and he's doing a marvelous job of mopping the floor from the 3pt line to the end line. Whole crowd cracks up. Luckily he wasn't hurt and of course at half time I ask him why he was indicating a good three point attempt when the ball hadn't even been released.:D Well this weekend we're back on the court BV and I glance across the court and he's still running backwards! Oh well!

You can lead a horse to water...

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

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....

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.

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. :confused:

The Ball!

How does he keep up with HSBV players in transition running backwards?

Easy to do if you never come into the frontcourt!:eek:

And As Trail, When The Shot Goes Up, They Are Already Bailing ...
 

I was thinking the same thing. We've all seen those guys, haven't we?

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.

....but you can't make it get in a bathing suit! :p

Enjoy, You're Welcome ...