1st 3 man game tomorrow night.

[tomegun]

Do you haven't even worked three-man in a scrimmage?

I think you doing three-man for the first time with two "Vets" is essentially having the game worked two-man. You are going to have so many things going in your head that you will want to make sure you are in the right position and will likely revert to watching the ball so you can determine if you are in the right position.

I put Vets in quotes because I don't think this is the responsible thing for veteran officials do. You mentioned you have worked "some" JV games already. How many would that be?

Think old bull...walk down the hill.

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Do you haven't even worked three-man in a scrimmage?

I think you doing three-man for the first time with two "Vets" is essentially having the game worked two-man. You are going to have so many things going in your head that you will want to make sure you are in the right position and will likely revert to watching the ball so you can determine if you are in the right position.

I put Vets in quotes because I don't think this is the responsible thing for veteran officials do. You mentioned you have worked "some" JV games already. How many would that be?

Think old bull...walk down the hill.

No i have not worked 3 man ever and haven't ever worked a scrimmage. Honestly I have worked 11 nights all double headers. Some middle school, some freshman, and one jv varisty night. As for having the game worked two man that is what most all games around here are other than championship games and district and on games. We did call and clear it with the school first.

[Welpe]

The point tome is trying to make is that working 3 man effectively is not simply adding another body on the floor.

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by Welpe

The point tome is trying to make is that working 3 man effectively is not simply adding another body on the floor.

I agree as well. However I need to learn before being thrust into the position in a high pressure situation. The main reason for me going with them as the 3 of them were already going and they are allowing me to due the jv game in order for me to improve. It just happens to be night at one of the few schools around that do 3 man.

[bainsey]

I did full three-man games for the first time over the summer at ref camp. It was quite an adjustment, to say the least, especially after you've been "locked in" to the two-man mentality for several years.

My advice is to pay close attention during pre-game, and make sure they take their time with you. You're going to be looking at a PCA that will seem foreign to you at first, but in time, it'll come.

My toughest adjustment was instantly going from a center to a trail without warning. While you're focused on your PCA, pay a little attention to the endline. The lead can and will cross the basketline to the opposite corner, and suddenly, you're the trail with a new PCA. Someone here can explain when to expect this better than I can.

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I did full three-man games for the first time over the summer at ref camp. It was quite an adjustment, to say the least, especially after you've been "locked in" to the two-man mentality for several years.

My advice is to pay close attention during pre-game, and make sure they take their time with you. You're going to be looking at a PCA that will seem foreign to you at first, but in time, it'll come.

My toughest adjustment was instantly going from a center to a trail without warning. While you're focused on your PCA, pay a little attention to the endline. The lead can and will cross the basketline to the opposite corner, and suddenly, you're the trail with a new PCA. Someone here can explain when to expect this better than I can.

Thanks and good points!

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I did full three-man games for the first time over the summer at ref camp. It was quite an adjustment, to say the least, especially after you've been "locked in" to the two-man mentality for several years.

My advice is to pay close attention during pre-game, and make sure they take their time with you. You're going to be looking at a PCA that will seem foreign to you at first, but in time, it'll come.

My toughest adjustment was instantly going from a center to a trail without warning. While you're focused on your PCA, pay a little attention to the endline. The lead can and will cross the basketline to the opposite corner, and suddenly, you're the trail with a new PCA. Someone here can explain when to expect this better than I can.

Do you feel it is tougher to adjust if you have done two man for a long time?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by jeremy341a

Do you feel it is tougher to adjust if you have done two man for a long time?

Certainly. Like anything else, you get locked into a certain method. You also just getting used to looking at the floor within a center's PCA, and suddenly, you're not the center anymore. That was the toughest part for me.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by jeremy341a

No i have not worked 3 man ever and haven't ever worked a scrimmage. Honestly I have worked 11 nights all double headers. Some middle school, some freshman, and one jv varisty night. As for having the game worked two man that is what most all games around here are other than championship games and district and on games. We did call and clear it with the school first.

Does that mean 11 JV games and one varsity game? What level do you do predominantly?

If your association doesn't do much three-man, how much experience do your partners have?

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Does that mean 11 JV games and one varsity game? What level do you do predominantly?

If your association doesn't do much three-man, how much experience do your partners have?

11 nights total all double headers, one night was jv/varsity, several were freshmen, and some were middle school.

Predominantly some of everything but more of lower level. For example tonight I have Middle School boys, tomorrow night I am going with them to do JV game, Monday freshman boys and girls, tuesday jv and varsity girls, thursday jv and varsity boys.

They have quite a bit experience as they do most of the tournament trophy nights as well as post season. It is just most alot of the smaller school won't pay the extra for 3 man.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Do you haven't even worked three-man in a scrimmage?

I think you doing three-man for the first time with two "Vets" is essentially having the game worked two-man. You are going to have so many things going in your head that you will want to make sure you are in the right position and will likely revert to watching the ball so you can determine if you are in the right position.

I put Vets in quotes because I don't think this is the responsible thing for veteran officials do. You mentioned you have worked "some" JV games already. How many would that be?

Think old bull...walk down the hill.

My first 3-person experience was in a high-profile Christmas tournament in 1995. I remember it mainly because I had to grab my grizzled vet R from going in the stands after some yahoo. Can't even remember the weird mid-90s mechanics we worked at the time.

Around here, I'd say "it depends." At some of the bigger schools / conferences, the JV games are better than small school varsity games and would be, IMO, a horrible place to break in a newbie.

A small school girls JV game? Perfect place -- little pace, plenty of time to be able to focus on mechanics, coverages, etc.

You don't get good at 3-person working only scrimmages and camps, but it's probably best to include quite a bit of that in your plan.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Rich

My first 3-person experience was in a high-profile Christmas tournament in 1995. I remember it mainly because I had to grab my grizzled vet R from going in the stands after some yahoo. Can't even remember the weird mid-90s mechanics we worked at the time.

Around here, I'd say "it depends." At some of the bigger schools / conferences, the JV games are better than small school varsity games and would be, IMO, a horrible place to break in a newbie.

A small school girls JV game? Perfect place -- little pace, plenty of time to be able to focus on mechanics, coverages, etc.

You don't get good at 3-person working only scrimmages and camps, but it's probably best to include quite a bit of that in your plan.

In your opinion, what is the idea way for an official to learn and get comfortable working three-man? Did you do any scrimmages or camps before your first three-man game experience? Your story may have a happy ending and the OP's may too, but what about all of the train wrecks that may have occurred in between?

You are an experienced Accountant, but new to a fortune 500 company. You are well-versed in accounting, but not in your new company's standards and are asked to participate in a meeting. Would you feel prepared to speak for the company?

You are a Mail carrier on the east side of town and have had your route for 5 years. You come in one morning and are told you need to do a route on the west side of town and your performance should remain the same. You ask what the route is and are told to just go out and deliver the mail. You know how to deliver the mail to houses, but don't know the route. Is that fair to the person waiting at the door for their check to come in the mail?

There may be 1,000 stories of throwing someone in the fire for their first three-man game, but that doesn't make it right and should not be the norm.

From the information provided, I think personal desires may be trumping our responsibility to provide the best product we can.

[Adam]

He's worked a varsity game in his first year. I'm guessing scrimmages and camps aren't a luxury where he is.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Adam

He's worked a varsity game in his first year. I'm guessing scrimmages and camps aren't a luxury where he is.

You are guessing, I am asking.

OP, is this your first year officiating? Do you have pre-season scrimmages in your area? If so, how many did you participate in this season? Do others in your association attend camps during the off-season?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by tomegun

You are guessing, I am asking.

Good point.