T to C Exchange Indication

[Freddy]

How do you effect that on/off-ball exchange toward the middle above the key between C and T and vice versa? What, if anything do you do to signal you've gone on-ball, or what do you look for to verify your partner went from off-ball to on-ball?
What is your preference, your pregame point on this?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Freddy

How do you effect that on/off-ball exchange toward the middle above the key between C and T and vice versa? What, if anything do you do to signal you've gone on-ball, or what do you look for to verify your partner went from off-ball to on-ball?
What is your preference, your pregame point on this?

Square up to the ball handler when you're ready to take it. When you give it up, turn your stance away from the ball handler.

[Nevadaref]

This is usually indicated by the angle of your shoulders and starting a closely-guarded count.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

This is usually indicated by the angle of your shoulders and starting a closely-guarded count.

...even if they're not quite closely guarded just to signal that you've got it.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Square up to the ball handler when you're ready to take it. When you give it up, turn your stance away from the ball handler.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

This is usually indicated by the angle of your shoulders and starting a closely-guarded count.

Thanks for responses thus far. These two are typical of what we do and teach. Around here we call it "Hockey Player", as in the game popular to most of us where the players go like this:
Hockey Player - On/Off-Ball Concept
What results is as these two examples illustrate:
Hockey Player - On/Off-Ball Example 1
Hockey Player - On/Off-Ball Example 2

The reason for my original post was, however, not to justify what we do here. I've been studying what they do on the NBA level. Given the interviews and presentations on the topic I've heard by Joe Crawford, Monty McCutchen, Brent Barnaky, and others, it's apparent they want their C (slot) to remain open to the floor, thus shoulders parallel to the sideline at almost all times. What they say they do is confirm whether partner is on- or off-ball by taking a glance at his eyes. Which is great if a those composing the random crews of high school officials, given various levels of expertise and experience, could actually do that with any sort of effectiveness. Which is why it seems better to do and teach, as respondents also stated, a more "whole body" indication instead of just trying to look at the eyes. Much easier to pick up on.

Is that an overstatement re. what you know about what the NBA does and teaches?? Does NCAA do the same?

BTW, it's all-too-common that if this is not pregamed, about two minutes into the game the veneer of veteranhood the partner gives off in the lockerroom peels off and it's apparent very soon that he's a rampant, rabid, pathetic ballwatcher with little if any clue as to the concept of PCA coverage, let alone possessing any semblance of knowledge of what on-ball or off-ball means and why to care about it. The veterans are the worst at this. Can't assume everyone knows it, so it's covered to an extent every game.

Repetitio mater studiorum est = "Repetititititition is the mother of learning."

[Raymond]

In On/Off-ball Example Number 1 I think the shoulder turns are way too extreme. I subscribe to the floor philosophy that the NBA teaches. The 2nd on/off ball example link does not work.

I'll be in Joey Crawford's teaching camp Friday & Saturday, I'll ask about it during film breakdown.

[jpgc99]

I agree the shoulder turns in example 1 are too extreme.

All of this movement is unnecessary and may lead to missing a call. Having the C stay parallel with the sideline allows them to maintain a wider viewing angle, which gives them the ability to pick up players more quickly as they move into their PCA. By fully turning the body, the officials in the video are closing off and limiting their viewing angle.

If I have a question about whether or not C has picked up a dribbler, I'll see him in my peripheral vision. I don't look for his eyes, but I can see the direction his head is turned.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Square up to the ball handler when you're ready to take it. When you give it up, turn your stance away from the ball handler.

Agree, and sometimes it's as simple as noting where your partner's eye contact is. Bottom line = you MUST pre-game this. It's a critical part of crew communication.

If I'm leading the pre-game, I'm going to tell you that if the ball swings from T's primary to C's primary and it's obviously in C's area (like deep, i.e. not in a gray area), that unless I'm finishing a count, I'm going to look inside and trust that you've got it. My focus at that point becomes the penetration of the ball and keeping an eye on whether or not L has closed down and/or started to rotate. BUT....if I'm giving it up and it is kind of in the gray area, I'm going to peek at you (in C) to see where you're looking.

Same goes for the reverse situation with a small twist. If I'm on-ball in C and giving it up to T, if it's obvious and I don't have a count, I'm trusting that you have it and I'm finding the closest matchup to officiate. I'm also checking to see if L came over, but if he did, unless the offense didn't completely reset, I'm in no hurry to back out. Might as well stay and officiate; there might be curl play I can check out, or I'll have a great open look at a drive from the weak side.

Did I mention this absolutely must be pre-gamed?

I'm always on-ball.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Bottom line = you MUST pre-game this. ...

Not really....

There should be standard procedures and techniques. You and I should be able to walk on the floor having never met and work a game.

I don't care what people say in pregame, most of it goes in one ear and out the other. Once people get in the game, they largely do what they normally do. Some bizarre pre-gamed exception is more likely going to get the crew in trouble rather than get them on the same page.

If we were to pre-game all of this kind of stuff that an an official should just do, the pregame would be 3 hours long.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Not really....

There should be standard procedures and techniques. You and I should be able to walk on the floor having never met and work a game.

I don't care what people say in pregame, most of it goes in one ear and out the other. Once people get in the game, they largely do what they normally do. Some bizarre pre-gamed exception is more likely going to get the crew in trouble rather than get them on the same page.

If we were to pre-game all of this kind of stuff that an an official should just do, the pregame would be 3 hours long.

I agree. Good pregame! See you on the court.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Not really....

There should be standard procedures and techniques. You and I should be able to walk on the floor having never met and work a game.

I don't care what people say in pregame, most of it goes in one ear and out the other. Once people get in the game, they largely do what they normally do. Some bizarre pre-gamed exception is more likely going to get the crew in trouble rather than get them on the same page.

If we were to pre-game all of this kind of stuff that an an official should just do, the pregame would be 3 hours long.

Camron, every pregame is essentially a repeat of "shit referees should already know". I listen in on college pregames and they talk about block/charge, handchecking, who has the curl play, etc. Same stuff I do in my HS games.

I guess what crosscountry55 wrote must be too basic then, huh?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Not really....

There should be standard procedures and techniques. You and I should be able to walk on the floor having never met and work a game.
....

And how exactly does it become standard procedure and technique if it is only communicated telepathically?

We're just supposed to assume everyone who officiates basketball all learned the same thing?

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

And how exactly does it become standard procedure and technique if it is only communicated telepathically?

We're just supposed to assume everyone who officiates basketball all learned the same thing?

At the NCAA level? Pretty much. If you're working college basketball you've been to a camp. If you've been to a camp you've heard these things time and time again. If it hasn't sunk in by then, that's on you.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

And how exactly does it become standard procedure and technique if it is only communicated telepathically?

We're just supposed to assume everyone who officiates basketball all learned the same thing?

Talk about the new stuff, the changes, skip the stuff that has been around for years. If you're working with a relative rookie, expand it a bit to cover some more basic stuff. But two/three veterans should be talking about stuff more than basic mechanics.