“Trust your partners” is a phrase that is heard all the time at officiating camps, during pre-games, and training sessions. Each of us has a primary area of the court where we have the responsibility to take the on-ball matchup. Our personal credibility is based on how well we officiate on-ball, since that gets the most attention from the coaches, administrators, and fans. While “trust your partners” is a general reminder to officiate off-ball well, we sometimes lose sight of why we have partners. There is a disconnect between the literal interpretation of “trust your partners” and crew credibility. While poaching calls is bad for individuals and the crew, and “Oh My God” calls have to be made by anyone-anytime-anyplace--giving good help is very important to getting it right as a crew.
When the ball gets into the low post, or gets near the vicinity of the basket on a drive, all 3 officials should be aware of what is going on, because a scoring chance is imminent. During these times, there is almost no chance that a bad screen or significant off-ball contact will be occurring well away from the ball, almost all of the pertinent things the crew needs to watch will be on-ball. The offense is making their move; the defense is reacting to prevent the basket. Most of your primary players will be doing one of 3 things: watching the drive/setting up for the kickout pass, moving towards the basket to prepare for a rebound, or becoming secondary defenders rushing the ball. Only the third of those will affect that game. That’s when you will shift most (not all) of your focus from off-ball to the play affecting the game—the scoring chance.
The important thing to remember, is to determine who has the best look at the play. In the low post, there are times when the L will not have the best look. If the ball is out of your primary, but circumstances of the play allow you to have the best look of the 3 officials, and you have “high certainty” that a foul has occurred, that is exactly when you want to reach and go help. That makes you more effective, and also gives the crew a higher credibility. Note the bolded and underlined type, because they are critically important. Here are some examples of when you can provide “great help” to your partners:
1. As the C, when the ball is in the opposite low block, which way does the post player turn? If the players turns towards the inside, you will have a great look at contact on the inside half of the offensive player, and also of any secondary defender rotating from your side. If he turns outside, you have almost no look. Either way, after the shot attempt, you will have the offside rebounding responsibility.
2. As the T, when the ball is on the block, you also in a great position for two things: helping on the play rotating back inside to the front of the basket, and also the wide view of the players feet. The L will be looking up high for contact, so the T can be very helpful in watching for travels and hacks at waist-level in the post.
3. The same principles apply on drives to the basket down the lane. We all know that the official stays with a drive that starts in his primary, but when the driver gets mid-key, that official may not continue to have the best look at the play. If you see contact from a secondary defender coming from your primary, that’s a great time to help out. Best-case scenario: You have a double-whistle and you can give it up to the primary. Worst-case scenario: You have made a call that the primary could no longer see the best, and helped the crew.
4. Often times, the C can get straightlined when the offensive player beats his man, either on the dribble or a drop-step in the post. We try to never call across the key as the L, but many times in this situation, there is a hack down low, where the C is straightlined. That’s a great time for the L to come across and help.
5. On a drive to the basket from the wing, or on a rebound situation, the C or T can be very helpful by getting the block/charge or “over the back” on the opposite block. Again, if the ball goes that way on a drive or rebound, not much off-ball will be occurring.
As always, perceptions can be that “it’s not your area” when you make these calls. Make sure that you call them confidently, because remember, you must have “high certainty” to make them. Closing on those calls also helps the perception.
You should also not have to be making these types of calls on a regular basis. If you get them in my primary once or twice a game, you’ll hear, “Great pickup!” from me. But when you pick your spots based on who has the best look, you help the crew, and the game, a great deal.
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