Two-Person "Ball Side Mechanic" ? ? ?

[billyu2]

Originally Posted by Adam

I turn my shoulders, normally about 45 degrees, towards my sideline, when I cross. It reminds me that I need to go back. Also, I'm only there for the post, so turning my shoulders towards the post tells the trail that I am not looking at that outside matchup.

One of the main reasons we are taught to keep shoulders square to the endline is to help widen our angle of vision to include a potential drive toward the endline (between 3pt. line and lane line) from the wing. The dribbler/defender are now moving away from the trail and into the lead's PCA. The lead must be able to pick this up without having to look over his outside shoulder. This would apply to 2 or 3 person.

[Ref_in_Alberta]

I don't know about anyone else but I'd rather be out of position on a OOB play because I was refereeing two post players take may (or may not) kicking the living ahem *stuff* out of each other.

One of my favorite observers always said "Players can hurt us, the ball doesn't."

And BTW FIBA 2 person does want you to cross the floor as L and referee plays as the same side of the T when the play dictates.

It was said by a previous poster - 2 person mechanics and positioning is about compromise.

[Freddy]

Due to the widespread and popular use of this mechanic outside our area, and given the solid reasoning and detailed explanations of those who responded, we will begin implementation of the Two-Person Ball Side Mechanic beginning at a rookies pre-season meeting tonight.
It just makes good sense.

I should get out more often.

Varsity is all three-person here. The newer officials doing sub-level ought to catch on readily. The veterans who do two-person--that might be a slightly harder sell, but will try. Those who've done three-person before shouldn't have much of a problem with it.

Thank you for your superb responses.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

We will begin implementation of the Two-Person Ball Side Mechanic beginning at a rookies pre-season meeting tonight.

Be careful. We're a predominantly two person state, and we've been using the ball side mechanic for as long as I can remember, but we don't introduce it to rookies (cadets). We don't introduce it until they have completed their first year, and only then do we introduce them to this concept. And we tell rookies (cadets) that they may see it if they observe a varsity game, but not to use it, and to concentrate on the more basic procedures in the two person game.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Be careful. We're a predominantly two person state, and we've been using the ball side mechanic for as long as I can remember, but we don't introduce it to rookies (cadets). We don't introduce it to them until they have completed their first year, and only then introduce them to this concept. And we tell rookies (cadets) that they may see it if they observe a varsity game, but not to use it, and to concentrate on the more basic procedures in the two person game.

I will heed your warning and be full of care. Personnel tonight are not rookies but newer officials, each of whom has been well trained in 3-man already. I'll be judicious when it comes to the newbies later on in the month.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Be careful. We're a predominantly two person state, and we've been using the ball side mechanic for as long as I can remember, but we don't introduce it to rookies (cadets). We don't introduce it to them until they have completed their first year, and only then introduce them to this concept. And we tell rookies (cadets) that they may see it if they observe a varsity game, but not to use it, and to concentrate on the more basic procedures in the two person game.

On the other side of the coin, they taught it to the rookies here and I started using it in my first games. I think both approaches have merit.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Welpe

On the other side of the coin, they taught it to the rookies here and I started using it in my first games. I think both approaches have merit.

I think it should be taught to rookies. It is much harder to get them to change to doing it later then it is to do it right from the start.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I think it should be taught to rookies. It is much harder to get them to change to doing it later then it is to do it right from the start.

If the prime reason for proper court positioning is . . .
to be in the right place
at the right time
in order to see the right thing
to make the right call (which might be a no-call)
(which is an expression I find myself using more and more lately),
then this ball side mechanic is purely natural.

I introduced it tonight to a group of three newer officials (who are well schooled in three-man mechanics) with whom I'll be working two-man sub-level games this year and their first comment was, "Hey, that's just like why the lead in three-man needs to rotate."
I appreciated their impulsive remark.
They won't have any trouble adopting the ball-side mechanic for two-man.

Thanx again to all for the responses.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by billyu2

One of the main reasons we are taught to keep shoulders square to the endline is to help widen our angle of vision to include a potential drive toward the endline (between 3pt. line and lane line) from the wing. The dribbler/defender are now moving away from the trail and into the lead's PCA. The lead must be able to pick this up without having to look over his outside shoulder. This would apply to 2 or 3 person.

Interesting, but my thought is that I'm not going over there to officiate the wing. I'm over there to officiate the post players. The players on the wing are still the trail's players, and if they drive to the post, he'll get the drive. If, however, there is a secondary defender involved, I'll have that since he's already in the post.