Took a Backwards Tumble

Rich

bainsey wrote
I'm the T; defense gets the steal.

I start to backtrack quickly when I start to feel my feet go out from under me. I try to maintain my balance, attempting some sort of wide stance before going down, but it turns into one of those inevitable falls that lasts five weeks.

My downward thoughts: "Oh no, not now, try to balance, won't work, oh s**t, here it comes, don't fall into the crowd...!" WHAM, flat on my back, possibly leaving a crack in the foundation.

Someone in the front row asks if I'm all right. I pop up and high tail it to the end line, just in time for the layup. I hold a thumbs up to the crowd going back down the other way. My partner tells me they went on about it for several minutes. Rabbit ears. 😀

Lone upside: Falling is the one thing an official can do that pleases everybody.

You weren't backpedaling, were you? If so, you deserved to fall. 😀

Seriously, backpedaling on the court is not the way to go the other direction. Turn and run and look over your shoulder.

Adam

RichMSN wrote
You weren't backpedaling, were you? If so, you deserved to fall. 😀

Seriously, backpedaling on the court is not the way to go the other direction. Turn and run and look over your shoulder.

Even your first step shouldn't be a back pedal.

stir22

happened to my partner just last monday night at a jv c squad game. not many people in the audience. i was the new trail, and going by the home team bench when he fell; the subs started laughing. i looked at them and said,"girls, c'mon...thats not good sportsmanship." at half-time the coach thanked me for reminding them to be good sports. my partner said that his fall seemed like it went on for an hour.

26 Year Gap

Make sure that:
1. You get a copy of the game film, and
2. You watch youtube to see if you made the big time.

BktBallRef

bainsey wrote
I start to backtrack quickly...

Never back track.

Turn, run, and look over your shoulder.

stir22

BktBallRef wrote
Never back track.

Turn, run, and look over your shoulder.

other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

/thanks

BktBallRef

stir22 wrote
other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

/thanks

That's the only reason you need. I would think you would know that now. 🙂

Think about it...ever see an NCAA or NBA official back track? No, you haven't. Turn, run and look over your shoulder.

26 Year Gap

BktBallRef wrote
That's the only reason you need. I would think you would know that now. 🙂

Think about it...ever see an NCAA or NBA official back track? No, you haven't. Turn, run and look over your shoulder.

There are some good youtube videos that reinforce the above. Look for 'referee tumble' or something similar. Imagine it is you in the video. Imagine all of your association members know it is you. Imagine that it is brought up in a meeting and they ask you for a demo.

Welpe

stir22 wrote
other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

You need a reason other than not crashing on a gym floor? 😉

Adam

stir22 wrote
other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

/thanks

As BktBallRef says; that's the only reason you need.

However, it's slower and not good on your legs.

Rich

Snaqwells wrote
As BktBallRef says; that's the only reason you need.

However, it's slower and not good on your legs.

It's also nice to see what's coming up. Can't do that with your back turned.

It would be a killer on my legs. When I watch JV officials do it, it makes my Achilles hurt just watching.

Full disclosure: I did this once working a middle school game sometime about 1990. Backed into a player and almost broke my arm.

stir22

Welpe wrote
You need a reason other than not crashing on a gym floor? 😉

lol.....no. just relatively new and trying to glean all the information i can.

Welpe

RichMSN wrote
It's also nice to see what's coming up. Can't do that with your back turned.

It would be a killer on my legs. When I watch JV officials do it, it makes my Achilles hurt just watching.

You don't like working backjudge then, I take it? 😀

Welpe

stir22 wrote
lol.....no. just relatively new and trying to glean all the information i can.

Understood, just ribbin' ya a little.

Rich

Welpe wrote
You don't like working backjudge then, I take it? 😃

I did it for a season when I moved to WI. After correcting my WH about 12 times during the season for incorrect enforcements, I decided my skills were better served being a referee.

stir22

Welpe wrote
Understood, just ribbin' ya a little.

and thats one of the reasons i love ref'ing.....the camaraderie. also, trying to get the lingo of the forum down. RichMSN posted about correcting his WH...whats a WH?

BktBallRef

White hat = referee in football

jophyal

not proud to admit it... i am in cast now from fractured wrist, two spots, and fractured radial arm from falling in xmas tourney. two man mechanics and stepped back and tripped, fell, got up and had foul on lay-up. finished game and went to e.r. two days later. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A STEP BACKWARDS.

stir22

BktBallRef wrote
White hat = referee in football

wow...no i feel really stupid. i do football also, and was the white hat for a few games last year. either need more coffee or a new brain.

Loudwhistle

stir22 wrote
other than increasing your risk of falling, is there any other reason not to backtrack?

/thanks

Very dangerous and shows you're a rookie. We have one guy here that keeps doing it, and I am on him everytime about breaking the habit. He's a friend of mine and I keep telling him that he could get seriously hurt!