Switches
 

We have talked about reasoning and logic behind the rules...what about the logic on switches..specifically 2 person mechanics..Is there logic or reasoning behind it?

Switching is still one aspect of my game that needs help:)

If you are talking about foul switching, then yes there is a logic. They do not want the same official calling the same play multiple times without another official having the same view. It just looks and feels better if you call something as the Trail and then you switch and the new Trail calls the same foul in the next live ball period.

Peace

The primary reason is balance in calls made. By switching, each official will be lead for each team approximately the same number of times. If the types of calls each official is making are somewhat different, then switching balances out the differences.

In addition to the above, I think it puts both players in front of the coaches (about) the same amount of time.

I think bob has been passing the 'dutchie' too much today. :p

[QUOTE=The_Rookie;945067]We have talked about reasoning and logic behind the rules...what about the logic on switches..specifically 2 person mechanics..Is there logic or reasoning behind it?

Switching is still one aspect of my game that needs help:)[/QUOTE

it is very important, in fact crucial, that you Switch after fouls are called, especially shooting fouls. It helps to maintain balance, objectivity, and credence towards players and coaches. One of the most frequent complaints of coaches and fans is "call it both ways", if a different ref calls the same violations then that satisfies their critique. Not that they will agree, but it lends a huge amount of objectivity. Plus I like to get away from the lead or trail position, take a mental break. Had a partner who eschewed switching, we conflicted a lot.

During some summer rec ball games partners will wave me back when I go to switch, and tell me not to switch at all. We 'switch' at halftime when the teams switch and we stay on the same end. Yes I know that's bad. Once I was doing this and a fan yelled at me in the first half: "call it both ways!" I replied "I will, in the second half." :D

While I don't mind not switching in such games to some degree, that is too much. At least switch on shooting fouls.

I agree. Now whenever I encounter a partner like this I switch every couple shooting fouls. Not every time, but enough to satisfy my instinct. Summer ball is extremely lazy here, with some guys doing 6, 7, or even 8 games in a day. :eek: Don't get me started.

I know in my area when working games with a running clock (MAYB, YMCA specifically), most officials aren't keen to switching after every single foul call because we are usually doing anywhere from 5-9 games that particular day. I am torn with this, I think it looks really lazy when you call a foul and report it from the baseline, which seems to happen a lot in this type of ball. I try to switch in these type of games whenever possible.

Keep in mind, you're not going to necessarily switch on every single foul call, most of the switches occur when the lead calls a foul (I'm talking 2 man mechanics here). After all, it would be kind of senseless to call a foul from trail and then switch to lead, especially since as the trail you are already near the reporting area. :)

The one question I do have for you all, and I think it's a new NFHS mechanic as of last year, is the long switching on fouls going the other way. In the past, if a lead called a team control foul, he would just simply step out a few steps, report the foul, and go administer the throw-in, saving steps for all officials. Now they want us to switch on those fouls, meaning the lead has to run all the way to the other side of the court? I'm not too sure I like that, nor do most of the officials in my association. What say you?

Why do people even expect the use of all the proper mechanics especially at lower levels where you are asking officials to do more than the probably should in the first place. Heck most youth sports are using body fillers. They are not hiring necessarily the best of the best on any particular game. I have no problem using NFHS Mechanics when we are doing those games. But a middle school game, we might have people who are not licensed at the HS association and to expect that would be silly unless you have two or three willing participants to that philosophy.

Peace

That's how we do it, most times.

If I had a vote, I would vote for "no long switch" in both 2-person and 3-person mechanics.

I don't have a vote. :shrug:

In two man we switch on fouls but splice in a little common sense. You play 3 minutes without a foul. Foul.....switch.....10 seconds later another foul.....It's actually better not to switch at this point. And, yes, saving steps is sometimes a factor in the decision.

I read this thread yesterday, and wouldn't you know it, last night I had a partner who subscribed to the "no long switches" philosophy but forgot to tell me. So I call a foul around half court from the T opposite table, point to the spot (opposite table), move to half court to report my foul, and start heading to the endline to take the L. My partner is still standing there, so now I'm wandering around the court like I don't know where I'm supposed to go. During a break I ask about it, and he says in a situation like that I should just go back to T and administer inbound so he doesn't have to come all the way up there from the L. I've never had a partner tell me this and it just struck me as lazy. He also tossed the ball across the lane to the inbounder a couple times rather than having me switch up top. Something else to pregame I guess.

that doesn't sound like a "long switch" to me.

A "long switch" is when the L calls a foul on the offense (or during rebounding action before one team gains control, or SOMETIMES immediately after the old-defense gains control) and would have to move to become L at the other end.

My philosophy.... If I am doing a game with running clock, I switch every time just like we are supposed to. They can't yell about mechanics if you don't them right. I actually think it gives you more of a break when doing lots of games. Especially if you take your time. If the clock is running, they aren't fouling, I have noticed if we slow down on these, there is less confusion with the table, less confusion on bonus, foul outs etc. and more substitutions... These all take time off the clock. and who cares if the clock is running? We are not officiating crappy basketball if we switch.

Summary Of Switching
 

Wondering if anyone had a summary sheet or table of switching on non shooting fouls for NFHS. I know there are numerous graphs out there but was looking for something that was easy to digest basic concepts..Thanks

SWITCHING AFTER A FOUL:
A. The officials shall switch positions on fouls as indicated:
There will be no “LONG SWITCH.” On a non-shooting foul when the throw-in spot is
in the team’s backcourt, the official who was responsible for the end line when the
whistle was blown will administer the throw-in.
B. On shooting fouls, the calling official will report the foul and become the trail official on
the table side of the floor.
C. On a non-shooting foul in the frontcourt, the calling official will report the foul and
become the trail official. He/she will remain on the table side of the floor unless the
throw-in is to be administered by the trail opposite the table above the foul line. If the
throw-in is to be administered by the lead on the tableside half of the floor the lead
administers the throw-in by handing or bouncing the ball to the thrower-in and then
backing across the lane. This is being done to facilitate communication with the sideline
(NOTE: the calling official has the option of going opposite the table if he/she feels that
an adversarial situation has or may occur).

http://www.nysgboa.com/pdf/NYSGBOA_T...nMechanics.pdf

I got some 3 man experience last night and have a switch question; in the front court, the C calls a foul from opposite table side of the floor. Does the T rotate to the old C side to become T (while L slides over)? My partner said no, he wanted to just stay in that same position, but that just doesn't feel right.

Now if C calls a front court foul from the table side not switching makes sense, since C would become new T and L would move over.

First part = partner was wrong. In NFHS and NCAAW, stay tableside after reporting. Your partner may have been a NCAAM official, and they go or stay opposite after reporting. So maybe that's what you were dealing with.

Second part = you're correct also for NFHS and NCAAW. But in NCAAM, you'd report and then cross to become the new C opposite, while old T would come over and be new T tableside.

very useful..thanks for sharing!