First Three Man Tonight
 

Working six games tonight, my first real experience in three man mechanics.

Any tips that I won't find in the mechanics manual?

Do not forget to officiate and worry about where you are to go. You will never learn the system by simply watching. You have to still officiate the game that is in front of you.

Peace

Don't suck. :p ;)

Yep, just worry about officiating and you can make adjustments to positioning on the fly.

Try and stay in your primary but, if you reach, realize it's not the end of the world (a learning experience, but not the end of the world).

A couple of basics that I always share with people who are inexperienced with three man mechanics. There should always be two officials ball-side when taking a ball from out of bounds. If there isn't, someone is in the wrong position.

Secondly, when there's a whistle and possible switch, everyone should "freeze" for a second so you can think about where you're supposed to switch to. If you don't, you may find yourself running around aimlessly not being sure who you're to switch with.

Have fun, learn, and enjoy doing three man. You'll get spoiled !!!

Try to have as good a game as you can in your primary and don't get caught up trying to reach to help your partners. If you're working with officials who are experienced with 3-person they'll be able to clean up anything that happens away from you.

Good luck!

If you're going to make a mistake, it's probably going to be this one. Remember that the "C" has the play all the way to the basket if the play starts from that side of the floor. The common mistake (and one that I still make too often) is to be the lead and not give the "C" first shot at a potential call at the basket.

In a summer season, camp situation, I would not call anything is in my partner's area. They have to learn that they have to get their plays and I would let them do it. Of course dual areas or in the lane it is about angles and what you see, but no way would I call something in my partner's area that was basketball related. ;)

Peace

Yeah, but being new to it means nerves...which means looking where you shouldn't...which means a whistle where it shouldn't be every now and then. I remember those days. It wasn't pretty :D

As has been said, don't concentrate so much on the mechanics and rotations of the 3 ref system that you forget to officiate the game....

But only for defenders that come in with the play. The lead has all plays for defenders that come from the lead's primary to help.

Good catch. Thanks.

Remember you're probably the ONLY person in the gym who knows it's your first time. Summer ball is a great low impact environment to learn. Don't sweat it.

And...breathe.

Don't be shy. I passed on WAY too much from the C early on.