PRESEASON GUIDE // THREE-PERSON MECHANICS
BASKETBALL 2013-15
On the Ready To Go T
BOB MESSINA
o rotate, or not to rotate? …That is a great question for the lead official during every basketball game using a three-person crew. Especially for younger officials maybe just trying to learn threeperson mechanics, figuring out how and when to rotate can be intimidating. The good news is that just like anything else, it is yet another part of officiating that can be learned. The idea of live-ball rotation for threeperson mechanics is to get two officials on the strong side of the court — in other words, two officials on the side of the ball. Generally, wherever the ball is, most of the players will be or are going to be so having two referees there makes great sense. That being the case, if the ball is on the center’s side, the lead must say to himself or herself, “I need to get over there.” Ball side equals strong side. Let’s face it, as much as we trust our partners, the center official cannot cover all the action alone on the weak side that just became the strong side. The lead must be thinking, “I need to be on ‘ball side’ as much as possible.” That mind-set will help you get there. Because rotations are dictated by the lead official, a few things must be in place before the lead begins the process of rotating. As long as the ball is in the frontcourt, all three officials are in the frontcourt and the ball is on the center’s side of the floor, the lead can now decide whether a rotation will or will not occur. Try using the following principles to become a better lead official and therefore, a better partner. Look for reasons to rotate. The only reason to rotate is when the ball is on
Kristin Bell, Culver City, Calif., mirrors the ball on the strong side, then can move to the closedown position as the ball moves toward the weakside or rotate on any pass to the weakside.
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS) PUBLISHED BY REFEREE IN COOPERATION WITH THE NFHS