Pass/Crash
One of the plays that all officials face from time to time is pass/crash. This is the situation where a ball handler makes a pass and then subsequent to this collides with a defensive player. Sometimes the passer may be airborne but that is not always the case.
How do we handle these plays?
The first step in creating an environment that leads to accurate rulings is to talk about this play in our pre-game discussions. When we do this, we remind ourselves and our partner(s) just what each of our responsibilities are. This is a good thing to do.
Let’s look at three-person crews and two-person crews separately.
Three-Person Crew…A three-person crew provides us with an extra pair of eyes to help in judging these pass/crash situations. A very simple explanation of the how is that if the ball is passed into your primary coverage area (PCA), then you have the responsibility of going with the ball. Someone on the other side of the court becomes responsible for the crash. Of course, this may require the official on the other side of the court to extend his/her coverage into a secondary area.
Let’s look at some specifics.
First, the ball is in the Trail’s PCA when it is passed into the corner on the Center’s side of the court. The Center will pick up coverage of the ball. The Trail must resist the tendency to follow the ball and instead be cognizant of any interactions with the passer and defenders who may be nearby.
Second, the ball starts in the Trail’s PCA and the ball handler dribbles towards the lane and makes a pass towards the corner on the Trail’s side of the court. Both the Trail and the Lead may need to pick up coverage of the ball. The Center becomes responsible for officiating any and all contact that may occur between the passer and one or more defenders.
Third, the ball starts in the Center’s PCA and the ball handler dribbles towards the lane and makes a pass towards the corner on the Center’s side of the court. The Center will need to pick up coverage of the ball. The Trail and perhaps also the Lead will need to officiate any and all contact that may occur between the passer and one or more defenders.
These examples provide the basis for how we can do an excellent job when these plays occur.
Two-Person Crew…A two-person crew is a bit more difficult but still follows the same basic principles as outlined for the three-person crew. If the ball is passed into your primary coverage area (PCA), then you have the responsibility of going with the ball. In particular, the Lead may need to extend his/her coverage to help the Trail out with some of these plays.
In the two-person system, the Trail’s PCA is considerably larger than in three-person coverage. So, there will be more opportunity to have both the passer and the receiver of the pass to be in the Trail’s PCA.
The Lead needs to be aware of this and to resist the temptation to follow the ball when it is not passed into the Lead’s PCA. Doing this enhances the crew’s ability to handle these sometimes difficult plays.
Tips
More on the need for clear, preliminary signals.
