First Three Man Tonight

[stiffler3492]

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

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

[JRutledge]

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

[APG]

Don't suck.

[Rufus]

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).

[REFANDUMP]

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 !!!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by REFANDUMP

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.

Connecticut is the "Land That Time Forgot". Many of our best officials don't get in a three person game until the quarterfinals of the state tournament. In a quarterfinal game, I observed one of our best officials move in a complete circle, from trail, to lead, back to trail, with his circular path covering the entire front court, while one of his partners was reporting a foul to the table.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Rufus

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).

It's not just a matter of "stay in your primary". To far too many what that means is: "If the ball is in your primary, I'm not going to call the foul or violation that I see there because, after all, that's not in my primary." In the meantime, competitive matchups in one's primary aren't under surveillance.

More precisely, pregame it like this with an actual diagram of three-man Primary Areas of Coverage visible to everyone on your crew: "Okay, here are our primary areas of coverage. Let's make sure each of us knows when the other is going to turn 'off-ball'." That's the primary emphasis of the three-man system. And clarify it how each will communicate that s/he has turned off-ball (some use a hand to the chest when going on-ball, we acknowledge going off-ball by turning our shoulders away from the ball; other methods are also popular).

Off-ball coverage, providing surveillance over the competitive matchups in your PCA -- what it's all about. Not simply not calling something seen in another's PCA because it's not in your PCA while that's where your attention has been while ignoring what's going on in your PCA.

Make sense?

[Rufus]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Make sense?

Yes, and I agree. Was trying to keep it simple, though, in the advice given (i.e., start by thinking about primary first, then once comfortable graduate to what you describe). I think what you described is great and appropriate, just a bit much to process for a first time on the court calling 3-man. YMMV.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

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

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

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

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

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

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!

[REFANDUMP]

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.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by REFANDUMP

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.

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.

[REFANDUMP]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

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.

[Bad Zebra]

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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

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.

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