3-person thoughts

[VaTerp]

I like to pre-game to go early and go often as the L to start the game. If teams are playing zone and/or doing a lot of skip passes then we can adjust and rotate less as the game goes along.

But I'm with you. I find that many officials simply don't rotate enough or quickly enough.

Early this season I had a tip-off tournament double header and during halftime one of my partners was saying that I was rotating too quickly. The crew for the next game (I was the only one doing a double) was listening to our conversation. During our pre-game for the 2nd contest both of my new partners were like, "what the hell was he talking about? Let's rotate just like you were doing in the first game."

[Rufus]

As was pointed out during a pre-game this week, the phrase that applies is "move to improve." If there the ball is opposite, but only two players are over there, slot should be able to handle that. Once post players start moving over, or screens are getting set for players moving ball side, then it's time to get moving.

One thing that messes folks up a bunch, though, is the reluctance to close down when the ball goes opposite. I find that if I do that it makes the decision to move much easier because there's less distance to go. It also makes it easier to adjust to the quick skip back in the corner.

I've also noticed the D1 fellows rotating a bunch more than at the HS level. Our area/state emphasizes moving to improve angles, though, so it feels comfortable to me to rotate less.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rufus

As was pointed out during a pre-game this week, the phrase that applies is "move to improve." If there the ball is opposite, but only two players are over there, slot should be able to handle that. Once post players start moving over, or screens are getting set for players moving ball side, then it's time to get moving.

Usually, he could handle that better as a trail, though -- taking a step towards the division line. I'm not abandoning the other players - I'm watching them as I'm rotating over. If the ball's in the C's primary so he's on ball long enough for me to come across, I am going to do so.

Originally Posted by Rufus

One thing that messes folks up a bunch, though, is the reluctance to close down when the ball goes opposite. I find that if I do that it makes the decision to move much easier because there's less distance to go. It also makes it easier to adjust to the quick skip back in the corner.

I've also noticed the D1 fellows rotating a bunch more than at the HS level. Our area/state emphasizes moving to improve angles, though, so it feels comfortable to me to rotate less.

I think there's a valid reason the D1 officials do it more.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Rufus

As was pointed out during a pre-game this week, the phrase that applies is "move to improve." If there the ball is opposite, but only two players are over there, slot should be able to handle that. Once post players start moving over, or screens are getting set for players moving ball side, then it's time to get moving.

One thing that messes folks up a bunch, though, is the reluctance to close down when the ball goes opposite. I find that if I do that it makes the decision to move much easier because there's less distance to go. It also makes it easier to adjust to the quick skip back in the corner.

I've also noticed the D1 fellows rotating a bunch more than at the HS level. Our area/state emphasizes moving to improve angles, though, so it feels comfortable to me to rotate less.

If the ball is on C's side, I would rather rotate over so I am in position to see the post players as they come cross the key rather than wait for them to go and then follow them over there...and to say that your state emphasizes moving to get better angles so you are comfortable rotating less seems like a contradiction to me for some reason...

[just another ref]

Count your blessings. Two man here is still very much the rule, while a couple more schools have started using three. Let's just say we have some officials who think "rotate" is something you do to your tires.

[tomegun]

Years ago I heard Dave Libbey speak and he said we (officials) should have the game by the short and curlies (I hope that isn't offensive to anyone) four minutes into the game. Now, he was basing that time frame on the media timeouts he was used to, but he meant we should understand what the offense and defense are trying to do on each end. Knowing this, and the personnel each team has, is the first key to how much the crew needs to move. Teams will try to run the same plays/sets throughout the game so things will likely settle into a pattern.

Originally Posted by Rufus

One thing that messes folks up a bunch, though, is the reluctance to close down when the ball goes opposite. I find that if I do that it makes the decision to move much easier because there's less distance to go. It also makes it easier to adjust to the quick skip back in the corner.

Great point. Rotating in this manner is a great help for the crew as opposed to someone starting a rotation when they are half way between the lane line and where the three-point line meets the end line. It is also much more widely acceptable if the Lead goes half way across and comes back based on the location of the ball/players. Once of the immediates - drive, pass, shot - could happen when the Lead has went half way across the lane and a rotation will mess things up.

Originally Posted by Rich

Usually, he could handle that better as a trail, though -- taking a step towards the division line. I'm not abandoning the other players - I'm watching them as I'm rotating over. If the ball's in the C's primary so he's on ball long enough for me to come across, I am going to do so.

I was going to agree and add something else then I read this:

Originally Posted by rockyroad

If the ball is on C's side, I would rather rotate over so I am in position to see the post players as they come cross the key rather than wait for them to go and then follow them over there...and to say that your state emphasizes moving to get better angles so you are comfortable rotating less seems like a contradiction to me for some reason...

I agree.

[Freddy]

Regarding the issue, "can the L in 3-man ever rotate 'too much'?" . . .

Yes. If, for instance, the outside guards are skipping the ball back and forth without any real apparent commitment to one side of the floor to initiate a play down low. Or without any competitive post matchup to need to be observed while the ball is skipping from one side to the other. Seems there's no real need to transition to the other side at all under these circumstances.

No. As it is sometimes said, "The aim for any official is "to be in the right place at the right time to see the right play to make the right call, which might be a no-call". For the lead to rotate multiple times while, based on team tendencies or an anticipated feed pass down low to an obvious or likely post matchup is not a bad thing. While seeking to get "the slot" ahead of time, frequent rotations on the same series of plays is certainly not out of order. It sure seems more important to get oneself in position to see what needs to be seen from a good angle than any sort of artificial quota on number of times to rotate. Otherwise, as too often occurs, the reasons not to rotate will dominate over the reasons for which to rotate, and lack of proper surveillance will result.

This seems to be a valuable topic that is included in pre-games often enough that repeating it should never really ever get old.

Right?