Wartank wrote:taking this thread clearly away from the original direction, but i have an obvious interest in this conversation. does anyone who knows about observers know what the role of sideline observers is when they are not in danger of having to make a sideline call? what if it was to watch explicitly for things like travels? what else is commonly called but frequently missed by the on-field observers?
Hey there. I can answer this... or at least what I think you're asking.
The role of each observer in the various different formations (e.g., one observer alone, one with a lineman, one plus two linesmen, two observers, two with two linesmen, and four observers) is clearly defined in the Observer Manual (easiest to find it on the USA Ultimate website), and difficult to completely answer here... at least not without cutting and pasting multiple pages.
At CUC, we used a few of these models, essentially all those in the above examples that did not include linesmen, and also used a couple of hybrid models (e.g., some 3's), but in all cases, all observers were working as true observers, and we did not work any games with people only in a linesmen role. Which means that they're all actively watching the play in order to be able to help resolve a call that goes to the observers. Yes, some may be primarily responsible for different primary duties (e.g., thrower/marker interaction, lines, mid-field pick and fouls, downfield receptions, etc.). Specifically for the observers with primary line duties, they're also actively watching for any/all of these as they are able.
I don't think it's accurate to say that travels are "frequently" missed by on-field observers. Sometimes, sure, for not so much as frequently. Picks, on the other hand, ARE frequently missed, especially those nearer to the thrower/marker. The down-field on-field can realistically only keep track of the 3 or 4 pairs down at that end, and the handler observer will often be too focused on the thrower/marker pair to keep track of the other couple of pairs. This is often what the lines observers are helping with, those 6 pairs of folks. And can often also give some perspective on the thrower/marker interaction.
There's so much more to say. Interested in attending the next 2-day Observer clinic to get the full answer?
