Team Officiating
Today's game, from the opening tap to the final buzzer, requires team officiating. Cell phones and social media display game situations before an evaluator can put their pen to paper. Team officiating is about helping your partner(s) with fouls outside their prime coverage area. When helping out on calls away from your primary, you must be absolutely correct. Look to call excessive contact and non- basketball plays. All calls and information must be welcomed by your partners. After receiving information from your fellow officials the calling referee should report the foul .
Following, are some situations when an official needs to step up and make a call or at the very least, offer information:
1. When your partner closest to the play is not in good position to make the call.
2. When your partner has been screened out or has been obstructed from the play.
3. When your partner is late in transition and has too much area to cover.
4. When your partner sees it differently from everyone else in the gym.
5. When your partner has the majority of the play in their primary.
Officials can be successful in team officiating if they know the teams that are playing, if they are familiar with their style of play, and if they understand the tendencies of their partners. Officials need to have a thorough pre game with all partners contributing. This is where team officiating begins.
Be attentive to the following situations where team officiating may apply.
1. The secondary defender on charge/block calls.
2. The upgrading of rough play fouls.
3. Providing information on fight situations. (double fouls)
4. Game saving calls.
5. All unsportsmanlike and/or disqualifying infractions.
6. Illegal screens.
7. High elbows/hits to the head.
8. Rule misinterpretation.
9. Excessive contact.
10. Unsportsmanlike comments by players.
11. Transition plays.
Always apply team officiating because you KNOW and not THINK that your involvement will make your crew stronger and the game better. Remember to trust your partner at all times and know when calls are being passed on. Team officiating always looks the best when an official from away blows a foul or a violation and closes down on the play immediately. This call is always blown with confidence but never draws unnecessary attention to the game. Team officiating should never involve marginal calls.
Always go fishing for whales and not minnows.