In Diagram 49 and Diagram 50, the ball is located in rectangle 4. The lead official now
positions himself with his hips open to the play (playing court) and is responsible for
play immediately around the ball.
He should not move to his left beyond the three-point line.
From here he will still be in a good position to make judgmental decisions when the ball
goes out-of-bounds near the sideline to his left. He will also be able to indicate to his
partner when a three-point field goal is attempted from this area.
Although he is responsible for on-the-ball coverage, his secondary duty with the ball in
rectangle 4 is to watch the players in the low post area on the side of the ball.
When the ball moves into the restricted area, rectangle 5, (Diagram 51 and Diagram 52),
the lead official watches the play directly around the ball.
As a guideline, he should watch the defensive player in all shooting or one-on-one
situations.
As the lead official and the closer to the play, he is in the best possible position to make
judgmental decisions on all contact situations involving the shooter and the defensive
player guarding him. Incidental contact should be ignored particularly when a player
drives to the basket and scores. It is not his duty to watch the flight of the ball.
In Diagram 53, with the ball inside the two-point field goal area in rectangle 6 the lead
official moves over to cover the play around the ball, but always keeps his hips open to
the play (playing court).
He does not need to move beyond the edge of the restricted area to his right.
However, when the ball is in the three-point field goal area, rectangle 6, (Diagram 54),
the lead official has the primary task for off-the-ball coverage. In particular, he watches
the low post areas as well as all other players away from the ball, especially those
involved in screening situations.
The lead official is responsible for on-the-ball coverage when the ball is located in
rectangles 4 and 5. He is also responsible for rectangle 6 when the ball is in the low
post area or the player is moving towards the basket on a drive. The lead official should
referee the defensive player when the offensive player with the ball in these areas is
attempting to shoot or dribble.