Bi-directional control groove design for engine rotation reversal on engine with sliding camshaft

A camshaft assembly includes a camshaft rotatable about a cam axis, and a lobe pack slideably attached to the camshaft. The lobe pack includes a barrel cam that defines a control groove disposed annularly about the cam axis. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a first rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against either a first or second shifting pin, to guide the lobe pack along a first or third path respectively, into a first or second axial position respectively. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a second rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against the first and second shifting pins to guide the lobe pack along a second path, into the second axial position.