CREW MECHANICS

Three Crew Mechanics

Calling fouls – we want correct call coming from correct official. Officials must look after primary when they have OA (Open Angle). When making a call in partner’s PCA (Primary Coverage Area), official must use secondary CADENCE whistle. That is – “c’mon Partner” or “1000-1“ before you make the call. This allows primary official the opportunity to have first whistle on the play. In this way, often the secondary cadence whistle will not be necessary.
Keep in mind the 3 B’s when calling out of primary- Be Late (cadence whistle); Be Correct; Be Needed (should be a call of significance)
Open (OA) and Closed (CA) Angles – In all positions, get to open angle(OA) and use cross step to avoid closed angles(CA)- do not be satisfied with CA. When you have CA, you must Position Adjust (PA) to get the OA- that is the best look. PA should be no more than 2 steps from CA to OA. If you happen to have CA, you are not making the call -- Fear the Closed Look!
“If ball goes away, stay away – or give it away”- closed angle(CA).
Limited movement and PA make us look focused; limit movements to those with a purpose; too much movement looks like we are wandering. Decision making improves when official is stationary!
Individual Officiating Techniques -IOTS
1. Problem Areas
2. Both Elbows
3. C side drives that finish at weak side block- Trail must stay attached or engaged as he/she may have best OA
4. Movement at C position – basically, only 2 times (below) C is stepping down; otherwise, cross step will be up to get/maintain OA
5. Curl play originating from Post on strong side coming to middle.
6. Elbow jump shots
7. Transfer of perimeter coverage between T and C- always pre game this concept with partners; but generally, ball responsibility is transferred from T to C as it crosses extended lane line on C side. Divide the court in thirds, not halves. Communication between T and C is non verbal.
8. Reporting foul to table- at upper levels, we are being instructed to take a brisk walk from spot of foul to report area - if your feet are moving, your lips are not and visa versa. Walk straight line to report area, clear the 3 point line; if players are in the way, walk another straight line to a good spot, and report with feet still. When you report a foul; always make sure it is the same every time: COLOUR, NUMBER, INFRACTION and CONSEQUENCE: example: “BLUE, 6, PUSH, 2 SHOTS”. You want a good voice and the same cadence with your voice every time. When you report with your hands, “break the window” - snap the numbers and infractions and consequence signals in front of you .Hustle when you have to go long.
Lead Rotation(ROT) Rule – court is split into 3 sections; once in Close Down (CD) when ball goes to middle section, ROT when ball settles on weak side(WSR) and is not immediately followed by shot, pass , or drive to basket – this simplifies when to rotate. Do not officiate from close down.
Running court from Trail to Lead – if ball transitions on weak side, Lead goes directly to Close Down(CD); all others times we are going to Set Up, not the 3 point line. We want new Lead getting to baseline as ball crosses mid court line- basic of Lead position.
As Lead, we need to Cross Step when ball drives baseline on your side- ball goes to basket, you cross step toward sideline- this is also consistent with fundamental of backing toward sideline on all shots/ drives to basket. As lead, turn 45 degrees into your primary.
Trail in Transition – 6 feet behind ball handler, looking for OA, but also being able to look up court- same pace as dribbler also observing benches and clocks. Step down on shots.
FIBA - accepts whistle and hand motion to bench or benches with verbal “down” when appropriate- do this for GC(Game Control)
Mechanics in last minute/final seconds of close contest- there are no mechanics during this period- the correct call can come from anyone regardless of positioning. Game comes first- stay engaged to the play first; mechanics second!
“The game can survive when we have NCI’s (No Call Incorrect). The game cannot survive when we have CI’s (Call Incorrect).”
Shooting Plays-on every catch-and-shoot play, determine the pivot foot or see the feet of the offensive player (most missed travels are on catch and drive); then move eyes to defenders hips, hands and shoulders. Players are so long now - your eyes have to go to the hands to see point of contact. Once the shooter begins the shooting motion, scan the offense from the floor to the top of their shot, and back down (with head movement from the official). See them land safely, and then go to the rebounding action
Communication News: Tell the story at spot of the foul - FIBA is emphasizing using the voice at the spot of the foul by announcing the colour, number & penalty. If the penalty is out of bounds officials do not point to a spot but rather in the direction the ball is going to be going.
Warnings should be communicated verbally such that all the stakeholders of the game including officials are aware that a warning has been given.
Avoid using 'thumbs up' or 'point at official' to communicate when ready for throw in. Promote a professional look by using the proper mechanics ie. palm open hand comes down along with eye contact with partners to indicate readiness to resume.
They talked a lot about FIBA using the term 'edge of play' now especially as it pertains to L positioning along the baseline. This is essentially the same thing as the term 'mirroring the ball' as L. As well they used the terms 'check in'/'check out' for accepting the play into your PCA and letting it go as the ball leaves. Preferred the term 'pivot' or 'gather' over the use of '0 step'. '0 step' is not in the rulebook and would like to avoid communicating in this way to coaches/players to explain travels/non travels. ie. "gather, 1, 2" or "pivot, 1, 2". Promoting common language of terms nationally.

Three Crew Initial Positioning

The imaginary line that goes from baseline up through center of the key is called the "split line.
Lead- initial positioning is the edge of the 3 point line to edge of backboard [close down] The lead does not go back more than one meter off the end line The lead set up is a 45 degree angle, mirroring the ball when ball is on your side of court. Too often the lead blows across the key. These weak side calls are not in the lead primary. Trust your centre. The lead may call low swipes, and Illegal contact when you know that the centre is unable to have a good look or not in position. The centre needs to use the cross step to get a good look at plays on their side of the court The lead needs to recognize when to get to the strong side of the floor. The lead has the smallest area but usually makes 60% of the calls because of having the action area. Avoid rotating on drives and shots. Rotate from the close- down position. Move with an athletic walk.
The centre official must be active, have an opinion on all plays on the centre side of the court and on plays that turn into their area from the opposite lane line. The centre official must not leave the rebounding action too early. Move quickly from foul line to foul line. Avoid walking in transition.
Trail- the basic set up is between 28' mark or upper edge of coaching box and the center line. The trail needs to keep to keep a wide angle by using the cross step. The trail officiates their primary all the way down to top of second lane space. Avoid chasing after the ball. The trail should never bail out on drives to the basket or on rebounding action.
Foul reporting-tell the whole story at point of foul, on shooting foul, announce the number of the shooter and the number of shots.
Centre position- stay at C spot on foul line until rotation by the lead is complete- point of emphasis in FIBA is the lead initiates all rotations. There are absolutely no rotations initiated by the centre. It is good for the centre to be on the floor when the ball is a distance away.
Split line on perimeter- the trail gives the ball up to C when the ball crosses to far side of split line and the C takes a step up to accept play- even though the ball crosses split line, the covering official must not give it up until partner accepts the play.
Question was asked about ball going to basket or baseline on strong side from trail; should the trail follow it down to make call - No! If you are moving, you have " bouncing eyes". Make the call from a stationary position. FIBA does not want the trail any closer to basket than 28' mark. If ball is in the lead primary on strong side below second lane space, it is the lead call. The lead official has first crack at everything on their low side of the basket. The call should be called by the nearest official -where the play finishes.
Protocol on a throw in for administering official-- check table, clock, partners, before resuming play.
All 3 officials are responsible to see the game clock and shot clock.
Offensive end line throw in -the administering official may bounce or hand ball to thrower in. On the final free throw the lead should be a couple of steps away from the lane line.
Shot Coverage- when you are covering a shot situation, " focus on your side of defensive players", give yourself a clear view of the play.
Time outs-crew may select any of 3 positions; emphasis on getting officials to the huddles at 50 seconds of time out- ready to get teams back on court at 50 second buzzer.
Time out in last 2 minutes with opportunity to advance ball- CC has the ball during time out; at 40 seconds, CC goes to team huddle that may possibly advance ball and at 50 seconds, asks "Front court or Back court?" ; one other official goes to get other huddle; 3rd official stays at time out spot ready to fill spot to resume play. CC administers throw in.
The trail should not show a visible 8 second count- work off the shot clock. The trail often has the best look on over the back fouls. Apply the boundary line signal on all throw ins in the last 2 mins. of the game\overtime.
Back court throw in- ball is thrown in and is being dribbled up court and official realizes shot clock did not start. This is now straight forward- blow whistle immediately and if the trail has counted 3 seconds in back court- set shot clock at 21 and 8 second is down to 5- ---5 sec to get across division line
Basket Interference and goaltending- responsibility of outside official opposite the play -the outside official on the shooter side has secondary responsibility.
On a fast break, it is okay for the lead to pull up, stay on the court where you are able to see basket and backboard and make the call- particularly if C is not in position. Of course, our goal is to be on the endline to accept the play.
Foul calls-athletic walk to a clear spot where you are visible to the table, there is no reporting box .
Free throw coverage- lane violations are now called immediately once shot is in the air- if the ball goes in , count the basket and now we have to handle ball- so these lane violations or an outside player entering 2 point area before ball hits the rim are now called just like a shooter violation for entering lane too soon- we always blow that right away. All violations are blown immediately after the ball is in the air.
The trail official is responsible for all players outside the free throw line and the 3 point area.
Rebound coverage- each official is encouraging to pick up 2 rebounding match ups. If you do not have anything in your primary, you may have to go to the next nearest competitive match up.
Last shot of period- outside official that is opposite the play- if C has the active play in his primary, the trail official will have the last shot responsibility.

Note: The lead must show patience on calls in the opposite low post - centre primary. More rotations are needed by the lead. Locate the semi circle. Call the crashes correctly.

Blows to the head are unsportmanlike fouls. Stay in tempo\rhythm by recognizing your partner calls. Get the ball back in play quickly.

FIBA 3-CREW ADVANCED