Do you guess?

[twocentsworth]

Originally Posted by Rich

Easy to say.

At times, especially working 2-person, I do not have the look I would really like to have. I'm not going to pass on something I'm 95% certain is a foul only because I don't have the angle I would like in a perfect world.

Have I called trips where I didn't specifically see a leg hit a leg? Yes, I have. Has it bitten me in the behind? Not yet.

Maybe I'm wrong in calling this a "guess." Is it the look I'd like to have? No. Do I feel I have enough pieces of the puzzle to make the picture? Yes.

On April 5, 2010, Duke defeated Butler 61-59 in the NCAA Championship Game (remember the Butler half-cout shot that almost went in?). NCAA-M Officiating "Boss" John Adams reviewed the game tape and made some interesting discoveries:
1) when the officials had a whistle, their call accuracy was 90%
2) when they did not have a whistle, their call accuracy was 50%
3) he found that the reason why the crew of John Cahill, Tom Eades, & Ted Valentine did not blow their whistle on those specific plays was because THEY COULD NOT CLEARLY SEE THE PLAY (they simply weren't going to guess).

As a result, Adams has became convinced that:
A) the best officials HAVE to be mobile enough to be in position to see the plays (older, heavier, slower, etc. officials have seen a dramatic decrease in their assignments).
b) when you guess, you are really only 50% right.

Rich, if you want to classify 95% sure as a "guess", go ahead...I don't think that is what the thread is referring to.....

[deecee]

In 2 man as the trail you have to move towards the center of the court to get an angle at plays in your primary on the opposite side of the court. There are times I have found myself in the half court circle.

[loners4me]

Originally Posted by deecee

In 2 man as the trail you have to move towards the center of the court to get an angle at plays in your primary on the opposite side of the court. There are times I have found myself in the half court circle.

I work with a guy like this. I sometimes wonder if he's looking to flex??? I can usually get a good angle working down or backing up as the T. He's gotten trapped there before on a turnover...

[deecee]

Originally Posted by loners4me

I work with a guy like this. I sometimes wonder if he's looking to flex??? I can usually get a good angle working down or backing up as the T. He's gotten trapped there before on a turnover...

Sh!t happens. It's what you get when you try and officiate a competitive game with 2 officials. I've been caught too, but what you gonna do?

[loners4me]

Agreed. Its 2 man. Do what works for ya!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by loners4me

I work with a guy like this. I sometimes wonder if he's looking to flex??? I can usually get a good angle working down or backing up as the T. He's gotten trapped there before on a turnover...

I'll work over as far as I need to go. The farther across the court I go, the more I move back. Usually if I'm in the center circle or farther, I'm in the backcourt.

I've gotten caught once or twice this season and have had to let players pass me. Seems like a reasonable trade-off.

[BatteryPowered]

Originally Posted by deecee

In 2 man as the trail you have to move towards the center of the court to get an angle at plays in your primary on the opposite side of the court. There are times I have found myself in the half court circle.

I haven't had to go quite that far...but I agree. Unfortunately it seems every time I have had to do that in a boys game there is a quick change in direction and I find myself in the middle of a lot of really fast young men coming right at me. I just brace for impact while hoping they see me soon enough...then bust it as much as possible to get a somewhat decent view of things at the other end.

Only once did someone not see me soon enough. I got up quickly, but it took a bit for me to back to normal. That guy was solid as a rock.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

Only once did someone not see me soon enough. I got up quickly, but it took a bit for me to back to normal. That guy was solid as a rock.

In keeping with NCAA this year, you called a block on yourself, correct?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Welpe

In keeping with NCAA this year, you called a block on yourself, correct?

Shouldn't have braced himself.

"Take it like a man"

Originally Posted by deecee

In 2 man as the trail you have to move towards the center of the court to get an angle at plays in your primary on the opposite side of the court. There are times I have found myself in the half court circle.

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

I haven't had to go quite that far...but I agree. Unfortunately it seems every time I have had to do that in a boys game there is a quick change in direction and I find myself in the middle of a lot of really fast young men coming right at me.

I was told by two very experienced officials that I was "painting the logo" when I was working Trail in 2 man. They suggested moving into the backcourt for a better angle instead of coming so far onto the floor. They said it is better to be further away from play, but just move back to get the angle.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I was told by two very experienced officials that I was "painting the logo" when I was working Trail in 2 man. They suggested moving into the backcourt for a better angle instead of coming so far onto the floor. They said it is better to be further away from play, but just move back to get the angle.

I'm pretty experienced and that sounds like nonsense.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I was told by two very experienced officials that I was "painting the logo" when I was working Trail in 2 man. They suggested moving into the backcourt for a better angle instead of coming so far onto the floor. They said it is better to be further away from play, but just move back to get the angle.

Baloney. You move to where you need to be to get a good look. There have been times in the backcourt with pressure and my as T I come up almost on the same side as the L.

I don't officiate and worry about what may happen, as it pertains to getting beat. I only worry about what *is* happening.

Originally Posted by deecee

Baloney. You move to where you need to be to get a good look. There have been times in the backcourt with pressure and my as T I come up almost on the same side as the L.

There's a difference between positioning in the backcourt (the rule of thirds) and officiating from the circle in the frontcourt. By officiating from the circle, or even close to it, you are right in the way if there is a deflection and turnover.

Obviously in 2 man you are going to come further onto the court as Trail than in 3 man. Still, being near the circle is simply too far.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by AremRed

There's a difference between positioning in the backcourt (the rule of thirds) and officiating from the circle in the frontcourt. By officiating from the circle, or even close to it, you are right in the way if there is a deflection and turnover.

Obviously in 2 man you are going to come further onto the court as Trail than in 3 man. Still, being near the circle is simply too far.

If you have a competitive matchup just above the FT extended on the far side of the court, you need to have distance AND the angle to officiate that matchup. Same with a half court trap on the far side.

You may think you can credibly officiate that from a few steps from the sideline, but I think you're mistaken. I still work about 40% of my games 2-person. I end up in the circle or even beyond it at times. Much of that time I end up in the backcourt when I go that wide, but not always.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

On April 5, 2010, Duke defeated Butler 61-59 in the NCAA Championship Game (remember the Butler half-cout shot that almost went in?). NCAA-M Officiating "Boss" John Adams reviewed the game tape and made some interesting discoveries:
1) when the officials had a whistle, their call accuracy was 90%
2) when they did not have a whistle, their call accuracy was 50%
3) he found that the reason why the crew of John Cahill, Tom Eades, & Ted Valentine did not blow their whistle on those specific plays was because THEY COULD NOT CLEARLY SEE THE PLAY (they simply weren't going to guess).

As a result, Adams has became convinced that:
A) the best officials HAVE to be mobile enough to be in position to see the plays (older, heavier, slower, etc. officials have seen a dramatic decrease in their assignments).
b) when you guess, you are really only 50% right.

Rich, if you want to classify 95% sure as a "guess", go ahead...I don't think that is what the thread is referring to.....

I know it's not. But when does something become a guess? Is it 100% or 0% sure or is there a gray area in-between?

Mobility is a strange thing. There are cases of people not being able to move quickly enough and there are cases of people who officiate with nails in their shoes who, for whatever reason, DON'T move. In HS games, you see plenty of both.