Mirroring the Ball

As the lead official, you should mirror the ball as it swings from side to side and continually look for a reason to rotate to the ball side. Mirroring the ball in the lead allows you to maintain the best outside-in look and puts you in the best position to rotate if the play dictates.

Mirroring does not mean running back and forth unnecessarily.

• You should not be sprinting across the baseline
• Have a feel for the play and move with purpose

Preparing to Rotate on Weakside Ball Movement

When the ball moves to the weak side:

• If you are wide, move toward the lane line (close down)
• This positioning prepares you to rotate if needed

Closing down keeps you engaged in the play and prevents you from being late when rotation becomes necessary.

Rotating to Cover Post Play

When a competitive matchup / post up is forming in the post, the lead should:

• Rotate to the strong side
• Rotate with an accelerated pace

Too many lead officials stay wide when the ball swings to the weak side. When this happens, the center official is left to officiate the post play and the primary matchup alone.