MECHANICS & TECHNIQUES 3PO

FIBA Main Competitions

Summer 2014
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 This material includes more practical approach
and detailed techniques for some key situations on
the court and it is based on FIBA Referees Manual
Three-Person Officiating.

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MECHANICS

There is one game,

three referees,
but still only one
officiating team.
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INDEX

1. Terminology

2. Tool for Decision Making

3. Individual Techniques

4. Cooperation Full Coverage

5. Clock & Foul Management

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TERMINOLOGY 1

Obvious play Play that has to be covered correct in all cases (no excuses)

Primary Area of responsibility and actions that referee has to be able to

coverage cover always
Secondary Area of responsibility and actions that referee is able to cover
coverage after ensuring that primary coverage is covered
At the highest level of officiating, an official has to be able to
Expand
expand coverage on two different play situations at the same
coverage time
Referee who offers assistance outside his/her primary and
Giving help makes correct call after allowing partner to make the call in
his/her primary

Regular call Considered to be normal call by designated referee (no assistance)

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TERMINOLOGY 2

The priority when refereeing on ball is to focus the attention on the

Referee the
legality of the defensive player while keeping the offensive player
defender with the ball in your field of vision
Cross Step When play starts to progress in one direction and designated
(Move) referee takes steps to opposite direction.
Working Area where you are normally operating most of your time in that
area position.

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DECISION MAKING TOOL

Analytic decision making / Emotional decision

Decision process is fast and accurate at same time if
properly trained
In order to have a quick decision, need to have
information available to make decision

Raise standard of quality decisions

Raise standard of quick quality decisions

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Fantasy Call

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FANTASY

What is the difference between

(causing):
Missing the Play (Contact)
or
Fantasy Call

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FANTASY

Fantasy call has normally nothing

to do with a positioning of referee
on the court.

Incorrect position only may lead

to missing contact (play).

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INDIVIDUAL TECHNIQUES

Distance & Stationary

Effective position (appropriate angle)
Adjust position
Know what to look at (active mindset, mental image and
visualizing)
Understand what you see (know the game, anticipate plays)
Throw-in administration
Signals
Lead / Trail / Center

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INDIVIDUAL - CREW - GAME

Game
coverage

Crew
cooperation

Individual
techiques

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DISTANCE & STATIONARY

DISTANCE
o When refereeing the play, maintain an appropriate distance from the
play
o If you are too close to the play, you lose perspective and it looks too
fast
o If you are too close to the play, the possibility of an emotional call
or reaction increases
o See the big picture

STATIONARY
o When making judgment be stationary eyes bounce and
concentration decreases when your feet move
o Correct decision likely when you are stationary as focus and
concentration increase
o But you must move to be in the right position. Move, Stop, Observe
and Decide.
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DISTANCE
C

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STATIONARY & UNTIL END OF ACTION

Stay with the play until end of action.

o Mentally (do not stop officiating)
o Physically, do not fade away and
release the play

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 POSITION(S) & ADJUSTMENTS

POSITION
o On ball primary: Able to see defensive player (refereeing defender)
o Off ball primary: Able to see the play in primary area without ball
o On ball extended: Able to see any other play in progress outside
primary (possible next play, open angle)
o Off ball extended: Able to see as many players as possible outside
primary (not focusing all of them)
ADJUSTMENTS
Move to maintain open angle Anticipate where need to be -
Adjust to the play (steps here, steps there)
Move with a purpose go where you need to be to referee the play
(different than Working Area)
If initial position is correct less need to move different than
being STATIC
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OPEN ANGLE & 45

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KNOW & UNDERSTAND THE GAME

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK AT

o Study and visualize the possible outcomes of various play
situations
o Scout the players in order to be in correct position
(right/left handed, shooter)
o Know what to expect, identify the second motion to come
o Stay with play in your primary until the end of action
(do not release the play too soon)

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SEE

o Know the game understand the impact of action
o Expect movement, anticipate contact and identify a foul.
Dont anticipate a foul.

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 THROW-IN

1. Designate a throw-in spot

2. Use preventative officiating
eg. on the spot, stay or dont move
3. Maintain distance from the play
4. Put whistle in mouth while holding ball
5. Bounce ball to the player
6. Start visual count
7. Observe throw-in and action
surrounding
8. This needs to be a automatic
procedure (muscle memory action)

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 SIGNALS

1. Use official and authorized FIBA

signals
2. Rhythm (start & stop)
3. Strong, Sharp, Visible and Decisive
4. Use both hands for direction
of play to stay open to court
5. Same treatment in every play
6. Reporting foul: RUN, stop, two feet
on the floor, breathe (body balance)
7. Nature of the foul must be the same
as what really happened in the play

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 INDIVIDUAL / LEAD

x x
In transition from T to L
o Run as fast as possible in straight
line to set-up position (middle of
restricted area and three points line)
on baseline and facing the court all
the time.
o More time you have on the
baseline, more time you have to
identify the progress of the play.
o Dont curve or run under the
basket or closer to the play
keep distance (stay outside).
o Run, stop & referee the play
o No rotation in transition wait
for new T to be in position to get to
C when you rotate, cant leave an
empty space in new C position. 22
 INDIVIDUAL / LEAD

Generally
NON
working
area
Working on the baseline
o Keep torso toward front of rim (45)
and adjust position with ball to
maintain open (wide) angle x x
o Field of vision should enable you to
see horizontally and vertically as
clearly as possible (keep distance from Close
play) Down
position
o Find the initial position where you are
able to cover the next play situation
(anticipate the next play)
o Look for reasons to rotate
(hold your rotation on quick shot/drive
from C side, use shot clock)
o Close Down position for starting
rotation
o Ready to assist with game &
shot clock
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 INDIVIDUAL / LEAD

Open Angle / Cross Step

o Play in low post o Players move to the basket -
o Find the initial position where step wide (Cross Step).
you are able to cover the next
play situation (anticipate the
next play)

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 INDIVIDUAL / TRAIL

In transition from L to T
o Stay behind the baseline (back
court) until the ball has been passed
from throw-in
o Trail the play all the time,
2-3 steps (no overrunning)
o Find the initial position where you
are able to cover the ball and see
possible next play in progress (45).
o Keep distance from the play
o 2/3 point shots (read the play)
o Control of the game & shot clock

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 INDIVIDUAL / TRAIL

Half-court coverage
o Find the initial position where
you are able to see the
defensive player when
refereeing on ball
o When the ball is near the
sideline, move onto the court
to maintain open look
o Find the initial position where
you are able to see as many
players as possible when
refereeing off ball
o Keep distance from the play
o Adjust your position according
the play, read the play and
react in time (one step ahead of
the play)
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 INDIVIDUAL / CENTER

In transition from C to C
o Facing the court all the time.

C
C
o Be ready to referee any play on
the side of C (help the T to have full
coverage in transition)
o Control the game & shot clock
(8 violation)
o C must adjust position at free
throw line extended to create
open looks based on the
position of the players in the half

C
court set
C

o Run, stop & referee the play

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 INDIVIDUAL / CENTER

Half court coverage

o Find initial position where you are able
to see the defensive player when
refereeing on ball
o Find the initial position where you are
able to see as many players as
possible when officiating off ball
o Keep distance from the play

C
o Adjust your position according to the
play - read the play and react in time
(one step ahead of the play)
o Be ready to referee on ball when ball
is in C primary
o Play starts in the Cs primary or goes
to the basket from Cs side, C will stay
engaged with the play until the end of
action (eg. Block / Charge on C side
not Ls primary call across paint) 28
 INDIVIDUAL / CENTER

Cross Step
o Players start to move towards the
o Find initial position where you are
basket
able to see the defensive player when
refereeing on ball o Center should step in opposite
o Find the initial position where you are direction (Cross Step) of the players
able to cover the ball and see in order to maintain the open look
possible next play in progress (angle) on the play.

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 COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE 1

Rotation & Coverage 1 (L&C)

o In modern basketball it is important to
have two referees always on the ball
side (T/L)
o With two referees on ball side you will
have secondary coverage in case the
referee with primary misses the play
o L dictates the rotation according to
position of the ball
o Rotate early / often. Be quick but dont
hurry. No need to rush (sharp walking)
and keep refereeing during entire
rotation. Scan the paint as rotate
o When L starts rotation, C needs to
stay in his position to cover the play
until L has arrived to new position on
ball side and is ready to accept and
referee the play (45) 30
 COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE 2

Partners Position & Coverage

o It is important understand that your
coverage depends on two factors
a) play situation
b) your partners position
o This means that even for identical
play you might have different
coverage due to different location
of your partner referee where
your partners cannot.

o Eg. Low post curl on baseline away

from L. Offensive player could hook
(first action) and L has no chance to
see it. C has open look to ref curl play
and hook by offensive player.
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 COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE 3

Partners Position & Coverage

o Eg. If offensive player in the

post hooks with right arm L
has no chance to see it. C has
open look for this play and
hook by offensive player with
right arm.

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 COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE 4

Partners Position & Coverage

o Eg. In the same play primary

coverage might change due to
the position of players and
referees.
1) L has the beginning of the play,
2) T/L has the middle of the play,
3) C has the end of the play..
C

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COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE

Rebounds Coverage
o In rebound situation we might have
maximum of 5 matchups (in theory)
o If each referee picks up only one
match-up, we have around 75%
coverage (three out of four).
o Challenge is that every referee
picks-up
a different match-up
the most appropriate ones.
o Priority of my side?
o There is normally one match-up
you can easily rule out (players not
actively engaged).

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 COOPERATION / FULL COVERAGE

Fast break coverage

o In the fast break, L has to be able to
be ahead of the ball and looking at the
play
o L stops at the baseline in position
where is able to see the front of the rim
(possible goal tending if C is not engaged
with the play), focus on defensive player
coming from behind
o It is important to have dual coverage
by L and C (from their respective sides)
o C needs to catch up with the speed of
the fast break and ready to referee
from his side.
C

o Sprint to position, be stationary,

observe play, make a decision
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 SUMMARY

LEAD CENTRE TRAIL

Run straight to set up position Always face the court in Stay on baseline until ball has
Always face the court in transition been thrown in
transition Set up at free throw line Trail the play in transition and
Sprint, stop and referee extended have appropriate angle (45)
Maintain open angle (45) Adjust position for open looks Step onto court when ball goes
Adjust your position according Maintain open angle to the play near the sideline
to positioning of players and Stay mentally active ready to Stay with ball in primary until
actions on the court make the call the end of the play
Look for reasons to rotate Shot / drive from C side, Cs Maintain open angle (45) and
Rotate early/often and with primary coverage look
purpose Stay on the play until L has Maintain in the position after
Referee the play when rotating completed rotation, has the shot that you are able to
Stay with your play in coverage accepted play by making eye referee perimeter rebounding
until the end of the play contact with C and is ready to and second motions.
Do not leave your position referee Goaltending / basket
during shot / drives to basket Stay with ball in primary until the interference
or rebound situations end of the play Control game & shot clock
Be ready to assist with clocks Maintain in the position after the
(game and shot) shot that you are able to referee
rebounding and second motions
Goaltending / basket
interference
Control game & shot clock 36
NJIT Referee Camp Istanbul, May 2012
 TIME / FOUL MANAGEMENT

Control of Clocks
o New team possession,
pick up the game & shot clock
o Eye contact on game clock on every
start of possession
o Use game clock for shot clock if
necessary
o Use math to solve it
o Identify your important digits (personal)
o Know your numbers (time & fouls)
o Communicate with your partners

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TIME MANAGEMENT / TWO DIGITS

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TIME MANAGEMENT

Most common play situations

o Jump ball and first possession
o Out of bound play
o Throw-in
o Rebound play (new possession)
o Saving ball (out of bound play)

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SUMMARY

Less guessing
More knowing
High standard
of performance
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