3 Person Mechanics. Tips for getting great position as the Center position.

Goal: to help you be in the right position at the right time.

Transcript. Hello everybody. Greg Austin with abetterofficial.com. We craft video to help basketball officials get better and take control of their officiating career. If you’re an opera singer and you have the high c that’s fantastic. If you’re a basketball official working 3-person not so much. That’s what we’ll cover today: center work in 3-person officiating. Today on five minutes on the officiating.

Play Analysis 01

But now the ball has passed away whereas it passed to the centers primary. The center steps down so that when the ball is caught they have an open look on the play. If they were here and they stepped up they’d be in we’d have a two trail position with an uncompleted rotation we don’t need that. We need open looks. So, our center has an open look on the play. Lead moves to close down. What do we expect to have happen? A rotation!

Play Analysis 02

The trail of course is officiating away once the ball goes into the center’s primary and is connected to the lead. Those two move in tandem. We’re back to our standard position. The 2 center position. Will be in this position a lot as a crew. When we are we’re in great shape. Open look on the ball and the defender. Center lead fantastic. So position adjust. Open look. Watching for the defender running at recognizing the rotation but holding position for a subsequent rebound. This is where i want to be. Controlled by the other team. I know i’m new lead. Off we go.

Play Analysis 03

All right ball is swung to the weak side. The center could actually step down to receive this play. There’s no other action in this primary. This is a very common maneuver forcing a switch or trying to get on top of the play. Note where the action is on the court it’s on the far lane line. Screening action officials definitely engaged thinking about rotating. Is a rotation required here? Not necessarily. The center gives up his open look for a closed look in anticipation of becoming the trail.

Play Analysis 04

New center has an open look on the play. What do we expect her to do? Nothing. Keep the open look. Steps down to have a better look on the resulting play. She knows there’s going to be a rotation. We have six players in her primary and more on the way. Step down. Get the open look. When the pass goes into the post continues up and i call this an artificial movement. A feeling that “i’m the trail i need to be up here,” when in fact, staying here would have given a better look on this play for footwork /travel. At possible traveling violation or subsequent passes to the wing here and here kicking out for a three pointer trail. New trail worsens her look by coming up to here.

Play Analysis 05

I encourage officials to fight for the open look regardless of their role on the court. As trail see more lead balls in the center’s primary. Has an open look on the play. Has awareness of a competitive matchup also in his primary. This is not a competitive matchup. Gives up the open look now has a closed look. It’s a habit. It’s a habit officials have. I would say look at it when you’re breaking down film of your games identify whether you have a tendency to want to give up your open look. Just watch the center on this play it’s got a matchup in his primary. What does he do he steps down to improve his look. That’s his new match up. It stays there to officiate that play has a good look.

Play Analysis 06

I would not drift any higher. Open up so you can also be aware of this matchup in your primary. Watch center again officiating the players in her primary. Officiating the players in her primary. Realizes a shot at a balls going to the wing here and a possible shot. Sees this defender sees this defender. Why? Because she has an open look on the play! Note the angle. She’s stepping down to improve her look. Has a fantastic look at the play. Gets the call right. Center steps down to receive the play. Has an open look on the play. Center knows they will be the trail. They’ve become the trail. The rotations have been completed. They know there the trail will they have any artificial movement as a result. I’d hope not. Steps up then has the next play want to maintain an open look on this play.

Conclusion

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