1. District VI Playoff Officials’ Meeting - 2017
Chris Rickens
District VI Interpreter
Good evening and welcome! Thank you “ “ for the introduction. As mentioned, I am Chris Rickens, the District VI Interpreter. The session is called “Three Officials’ Mechanics” so if you are here for another sport, you are in the wrong place! We will discuss three person mechanics at a relatively basic level because I think it is important that we not assume that everybody here is completely familiar with this topic.

2. Dress slacks and shirt or sweater at very least NO jeans or T-shirts
Pregame Attire
Jacket and tie are recommended for male and business dress outfit for female officials
Dress slacks and shirt or sweater at very least
NO jeans or T-shirts
Terminology:
Ball Side: The location of the ball in the half court set when you divide the court down the middle, the side of the court where the ball is located is ball side.
Bump and Run: When one official “bumps” another official out of his/her current position and the vacating official “runs” down into a new position.
Center Official: The official who is in the off-ball, positioned from the top of the circle to a step below the free-throw line extended either table side or opposite.

3. Arrival At least one hour prior to game time
Check in with game manager
Sign in
Ask when s/he prefers to have pregame conference with players/HEAD coaches/respective school administrators
Any other information of which you need to be aware
If there’s a game before your game, sit and watch
Helps get you in the correct frame of mind
Terminology:
Close Down: Movement of an official (a step or two) related to movement of the ball. The Trail and Center close down toward the end line, typically on a shot; the Lead closes down toward the nearest lane line extended.
Lead Official: The official positioned along and off the end line. The Lead official may be table side or opposite the table, but will be on the same side of the court as the Trail.
Move to Improve: A technique that means to “move your feet” in order to “improve your angle” on the play. Helps to eliminate being “straight-lined” which will be defined shortly.

4. On-court attire Black slacks If belt loops – wear belt
Black and white striped shirt
No side panel shirts permitted
Make sure pressed
Black and “yellow” inappropriate
Black shoes – no white
Black socks
Black whistle with lanyard or smitty
No Fitbits or rubber bands on wrists
Terminology:
Straight-Line: When an official doesn’t “move to improve” and her or his view is obstructed by players – thus not allowing the official to accurately see the action.
Strong Side: Side of the court determined by the location of Lead official.

5. Pre-game
Important that you do a thorough pre-game conference with all partners involved
Start from beginning of game with warm-ups
End with last shot
Items to discuss
Reminder of rules changes
Points of emphasis
Unusual plays
Primary coverage areas
Last shot responsibilities
Many other items
Terminology:
Opposite Side: The side of court opposite the table side.
Primary Coverage Area (PCA): Area of responsibility for each official. PCA is determined by ball location. Depending upon where the ball is determines each officials’ PCA.
Rotation: A situation where the lead initiates a move to ball side to provide better coverage. This then requires the Center and the Trail Officials to change positions. Rotations should not be initiated by the lead until all three officials are in the front court.

6. Arrival on Court Fifteen minutes prior to tap
U1 has home team and U2 has visiting team
R checks book and does “pregame with table” at approximately 12 minute mark
Discuss expectations with table
Communicate
Eye contact
Two horns after time-outs and intermissions
Disqualified player mechanics
Making you aware when bonus and double bonus in effect
Terminology:
Switch: After a violation is called or a foul is reported to the table, there may be a change in position of the officials, normally created as a result of the calling official moving to a new position – forcing the other two officials to move also.
Table Side: The side of the court where the scorer’s and timer’s table is located.
Trail Official: The official positioned nearest the division line, typically about 28 feet from the end line (near the top of the three-point arc). The Trail official may be table side or opposite side, but will be on the same side of the court as the Lead.

7. Pregame warm-ups Duties during pregame warmups
Not there just to be there
Provide “R” number of players on your respective teams
Looking for illegal uniforms
Fashion police
Checking for player tendencies
Do they travel every time when setting up to shoot
What are their capabilities
Terminology:
Weak Side: The side of the court opposite the Lead official; the Center’s side of the court.
Wide Triangle: Formed by all three officials. It is important to keep all activity within the triangle. The same as the “boxing in” principle in two man.

8. Pregame warm-ups cont’d
Meeting with head coaches, captains and administrators at pre-determined time with game manager
Read sportsmanship message verbatim
If more time on the clock return to positions opposite the table
Not a time for socialization

9. Game Time
Get ready for the toss
Hustle to your respective blocks until teams come out
Get in position
Let’s go!

10. Positioning Trail Approximately 28 foot line
Work the arch – maybe not as far to the middle as two man but we still need to move
Shouldn’t be hanging on the sideline
If shot is “yours” stay with shooter until s/he comes to the floor
Step in on shot to help with rebounding
Your first step on a shot should not be the other direction

11. Positioning Center Approximately foul line extended
Must work – not a rocking chair
Working hard as the “C” official makes the game go much smoother
If shot is “yours” stay with shooter until s/he comes to the floor
Step in on shot to help with weak side rebounding

12. Positioning Lead Get back off the baseline several feet – if possible
Initiate rotation
A to B
Briskly move across the lane
Keep head up when rotating
Continue to officiate
Make sure to work wide when you can

13. Rotations
Rotations should be thoroughly discussed at the pregame conference
Ball location keys the need for a rotation
The T or C can facilitate a rotation, but ONLY the L initiates a rotation
A rotation should only take place when all three officials are in the frontcourt
A rotation begins when L moves laterally and penetrates the key area
Rotations:
Rotations should be thoroughly discussed at the pregame conference
Ball location keys the need for a rotation
The T or C can facilitate a rotation, but ONLY the L initiates a rotation – an example would be covering a trap at the division line which we will discuss in a moment
A rotation should only take place when all three officials are in the frontcourt
A rotation begins when L moves laterally and penetrates the key area

14. Rotations
If a trap occurs near the division line on C’s side of court, C moves higher to officiate that play and L should initiate a rotation
If L does not rotate – C should go back to a normal C position when play permits
Remember, only the L initiates a rotation! The C only facilitates the rotation in this case.
When L goes to ball-side, T should close down and become new C, C moves to Trail and completes the rotation and should be the last to rotate
Rotations:
If a trap occurs near the division line on C’s side of court, C moves higher to officiate that play and L should initiate a rotation
If L does not rotate – C should go back to a normal C position when play permits
Remember, only the L initiates a rotation! The C only facilitates the rotation in this case.
When L goes to ball-side, T should close down and become new C, C moves to Trail and completes the rotation and should be the last to rotate

15. High School Mechanics Straight arm – either fist or open hand
Pointing direction on violation or foul
Visible count on all counting situations
Waist to chest – not above head
Visible chop to start clock
Bounce (when appropriate) or hand ball to thrower-in

16. High School Mechanics Foul call Arm up – Straight - Fist
Signal at spot
Number of foul shots or point out of bounds
Jog around players/key not through them
Imaginary box reporting area
Stop to give signal to table – color and number
One hand

17. Time-outs & Intermissions Mechanics
Administering official stays with ball at resumption of play location – puts ball on floor if movement is necessary
Positioning of two free officials:
60-second time-out/intermission – nearest block
30-second time-out – top of three-point arc
Officials should observe bench and table activity
Time-outs and Intermissions
USE POINTER – READ SLIDE

18. Disqualification Procedure
Calling official:
Is notified of 5th foul
Notifies coach
Requests timer to begin 15-second replacement interval (new this year) and sound the horn – should be part of the pregame discussion with the table personnel
Notifies disqualified player
Officials not administering disqualification will watch all players and position themselves for subsequent throw-in or free throw
Official administering the disqualification takes a position on the division line midway between center circle and sideline nearest to the table and beckons the substitute
Disqualification Procedure:
READ SLIDE

19. Dead Ball Officiating One of the most important times to be alert
When a time out is called – watch players crossing paths
Between quarters – watch players crossing paths
When conferring with a partner – other official watches players
After a made basket – don’t just jog up the floor – eyes on players
On a foul call – don’t be in a hurry to leave the area

20. Court Presence Appear confident – not cocky
Handle yourself professionally on the court
Communicate with coaches only when necessary
We shouldn’t be having conversations with coaches the entire game
Answer questions that are asked
Comments made don’t always require a response
Unusual situations that require explanations
Get both coaches together
Know your responsibilities
Don’t reach out of your primary
Transition After Rotation:
All officials must recognize rotation has occurred – at times this doesn’t happen
If L rotated late and a transition occurs – it is old L’s (new T’s) responsibility to look up court making sure partners picked up rotation
If not, the new T should be prepared to adjust his/her location on the floor

21. Court Presence Cont’d Patient whistles Avoid the “mean” face
Dead ball body language
Posture
No hands on hips
Clock awareness
Manage the game
Transition After Rotation:
All officials must recognize rotation has occurred – at times this doesn’t happen
If L rotated late and a transition occurs – it is old L’s (new T’s) responsibility to look up court making sure partners picked up rotation
If not, the new T should be prepared to adjust his/her location on the floor

22. Last-Second Shot C or T – Opposite table official is responsible
L may offer assistance or be responsible on fast break
Responsible official communicates with partners that he/she has the last-second shot
Discuss during pregame
Last-Second Shot:
READ SLIDE

23. Thank you!
Questions?