Rotating as Lead in 2 Man?
 

The last half of this season, I've found that when I'm the L, the ball is on the opposite wing, and there's a player posting up ball side, I rotate over to the ball side to get a better look at the post matchup.

This sort of happened instinctively, didn't really think about it the first time it happened. Anyone else do this?

My advice is be careful about this. You can miss just as much by being too close as too far. And now if the ball swings back to your wing it will be more difficult to cover the sideline.

Absolutely. I would never rotate....just "cheat" no farther than the lane line extended on ball side. Still gives you a good look to your secondary and a quick turn, 2 step, and look back to your PCA if there is a quick swing.

Good advice.

Yes I'll rotate over if the majority of the players are on the other side with post action. Rotating in two man is a compromise that gives up sideline coverage with superior post coverage. Getting a feel for a team's offense, you can get a sense of whether the ball will go into the post or whether the offense tends to throw skip passes or move the ball around on the perimeter.

This is also something you have to pregame with your partner so he knows to to expand his coverage area appropriately. I wouldn't rotate over without first telling my partner.

Yes, I do. And why? Because if one reads the NFHS Officials Manual or and of the old CCA Two-Person (Men's or Women's) Manuals you will read about the mechanic called: Going Ball Side.

MTD, Sr.

Agree completely but we have been trained similarly. :)

There are a couple of problems I have with this. Who is watching the one or two other competitive matchups on the other side? Some of the worst/cheap fouls happen off ball. And why can't your trail close down when there is competitive post play?

It's easier to ref the post from the sideline than to ref the sideline from the post.


Feel free to quote me.:D

I'd rather have a better look at the post than the sideline.

In all the times I've gone ballside, I have had maybe one or two times where the open sideline became an issue. Almost anytime the ball goes out that side, even rotated ballside, the lead will be able to tell who the all when out on while rotating back.

As far as who has the weak side in this situation if there's a competitive match up, the trail has to pick this up. I tend to pregame that the trail will move toward the center of the court to help pick up off ball action. This is why it's important to have a pregame before you use this mechanic. Again, 2-man is all about compromise and this mechanic is one of them. Most of your action and fouls are going to happen ball side, especially if there's post action.

I would rather see the Trail move towards the end line to get a better look than to have the lead rotate all the way over to ball side. Of course, the play dictates, and maybe all players are there as well, but normally I want the lead to have a clear view of his/her PCA. Unless all 10 players have collapsed to that corner, the lead should not rotate all the way over. If you do this, you better be as deep off of the end line as you can so your peripheral vision can see weak side as well.

Well per the NFHS mechanics manual, the lead's PCA can extend to the other side of the court

This is how APG and I have both been trained and are expected to officiate these plays.

To my knowledge, NFHS and IAABO mechanics require the L to rotate ball sidde in this situation. You aren't going to have an OOB play on the opposite sideline unless it's a skip pass, in which case it's not that difficult to make the call.

You and I must be old, I thought this was a trick question :)

I've noticed a lot of newer officials don't do it for some reason - regardless of whether we pregame it.

That's how I've been taught as well, and I've had far more problems solved with post play than bad situations on the sideline (1). It's the common mechanic here.

That is what is taught in the state you live. ;)

Again you can pick your spots as if you know the ball is going to the post and staying in the post. But if the ball just goes there and comes out, then you may not need to do it at all. But it is a much better look than looking through a defender.

Peace

Yes....go ball side.

The trail can't cover a contested on-ball play in the corner, maybe another match up at the FT line extended, and the post action.

If the ball is in the trail's corner, the most likely pass is to the post or back to the other pair in the trails primary. You get over there and turn back to cover the post but look through the post to keep your eye on the few players on the weak side. The on-ball official should very rarely be left covering the 6 players most involved or likely to be involved in the play. And if the lead stay's home, they can't see that post across the key and the other 4 players on their side anyway....the angles don't work.

Confucius Say ...
 

Move to improve.

From the 2012 officials manual ... long but on topic
 

2.0 TERMINOLOGY
2.0.1 Ball Side: The location of the ball in the normal frontcourt offensive
alignment of a team. In dividing the court down the middle, (using the basket as
a center point), end line to end line. The side of the court where the ball is located
is ball side.
2.0.2 Ball-Side Mechanic: Refers to the Lead moving across the key area to
the ball side of the court, on the Trail’s side, resulting in both officials being on
the same side of the court. The Lead moves ball side when the majority of players
and the ball goes below the free-throw line extended on the Trail’s side of the
court. This movement will allow the Lead to get a clear view of post play and eliminate
being “straight-lined.” Primary coverage areas are adjusted when this
occurs.

2.3.3 Ball-Side Mechanic:
A. General Provisions:
1. The use of a ball-side mechanic should be thoroughly discussed at the
pregame conference.
2. Ball and player location key the need for movement by the Lead.
3. The Lead should only move ball-side when the Trail is in the frontcourt.
B. Coverage:
1. When the majority of players and the ball are on the Trail’s side of the
floor, below the free-throw line extended, the Lead should close-down
toward the near lane line and may move laterally to ball-side.
2. Playing action may dictate that the lead NOT initiate movement – even
when the ball is on the Trail’s side – such as on a quick shot or a quick
drive to the basket.
Page 29 2.3 Court Coverage
3. Movement by the Lead
across the lane should be
brisk and with purpose.
4. Even while moving across
the lane, the Lead must officiate
players in the post
(PCA). Lead should not be
caught within the key area
except when moving across
or just briefly to view a play
or drive to the basket from
the Trail side of the court.
5. When the Lead moves
across the lane, the Lead’s
PCA is extended to include
the area inside the arc. See Diagram 2-20.
6. When the ball moves inside the three-point arc, the Lead is now on-ball
and the trail must extend coverage to assist with the open area on the
opposite side. See Diagram 2-21.
7. If the majority of players or the ball swings back to the opposite side,
the Lead should begin to quickly move back across the lane to cover
the play. See Diagram 2-22.
8. If there is a quick shot or drive to the basket and the Lead is still on the
same side of the court as the Trail, the Lead should close down to the
near lane-line extended and officiate rebounding action.
9. If a transition to the other end of the court occurs when the Lead is ballside,
the Lead must remember to go back to the other side of the court
and into diagonal coverage.

It's a great thought, in theory. Many of our older gyms have about 3 feet from the endline to the wall, though, making it impossible to work deep. On nights like those, the trail must be prepared to help from time to time as it's easy to lose your look with all the bodies in the way.

I rotate ball side in 2-person fairly often, but nowhere near as often as I do when working 3-person.

Move To Improve ...
 

I used to rotate often until I went to a camp a few years ago and was told that I was bouncing back and forth across the lane too much, and that I should wait for a real good reason to go ball side.

We've been doing this a long time. Several years ago, I forgot that I had rotated ball side. There was a turnover, and I started running up the court as the new trail to only discover that the new lead and I were both on the same side of the basket line. Very embarrassing.

Also. What's three person? We've never heard of that here in the "Land That Time Forgot", also known as Connecticut.

That was embarrassing?

In The Dream Version, I Was Naked ...
 

I didn't discover the error until we were comfortably in our half court set. I looked ahead, and there he was.

I pregame this, to have the lead go ahead and rotate over. Far easier, IMO, than having the trail try to find a chance to rotate; and less obvious to the untrained eyes that wander the coaching boxes.

I have just started getting comfortable using the mechanic this season. (Been doing basketball for 8 years, MS/HS for 4) I will do it a couple times a game depending on the offense. For "newbies", I think it sounds strange to leave an entire side virtually uncovered.

I think this is a mechanic better picked up after a couple years on the court. Your first couple seasons should be dedicated to recognizing fouls/violations, court positioning and mechanics. I would consider this an advanced mechanic.

Look, But Don't Touch ...
 

Agree. We don't teach this to rookie officials that just passed the written test in November. We will introduce it the second year, at the voluntary "Bread and Butter" clinics.

I don't think it should be treated as too advanced, though. After a while, that official won't do it because "I've never done it."

It may not be for beginners, but you're right. Waiting too long could be more of a problem starting too soon.

I'd consider it a second level mechanic. Once a new official figures out the coverage areas, I'd introduce this mechanic.

I always pre-game it. I sometimes will come over on OOB plays if the spot is near the division line and all players are on the strong side. On one occasion, the ball came down near the end line, about midway between the arc and the lane line. I had a great look at the play, and my partner rotated over seamlessly. In most cases, I return to my side once the ball settles inbounds. Once in a while, if the players still remain opposite my PCA, I will stay near the lane line. I always go back, so my partner knows that he doesn't have to be concerned about transitions like BillyMac's embarrassing moment.

If there are no competitive matchups on the weakside I have no problem rotating over if that post matchup is very competitive. Flatten out to keep the weakside in your peripheral.

I can agree with that.

We usually take the OOB play on the strong side and rotate over when it makes sense.

Never Say Never, Never Say Always ...
 

Always?