Quote:
Originally Posted by ilyazhito
How is this relevant? In the rulebook and mechanics manual, "signal" has a specific meaning. A signal is a specific movement of the hand(s) and/or arm(s), occasionally of a foot, to indicate a specific action related to the game (signaling a foul, violation, timeout, or other stoppage of play (held ball/jump ball)).
|
I contend that the word "signal" in the actual rule is used as a generic verb (as opposed to the NFHS and IAABO "signal" charts, in which case it's used as a specific noun), and can be a visual signal, and an audio signal (and I also joked about a physical touch, or an odor, as a signal).
NFHS 5-8: Time-out occurs and the clock, if running, must be stopped when an official: Signals a foul, held ball, violation, timeout.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilyazhito
The reason is that the timer can react to the visual signal if he failed to hear the whistle (or the whistle fails to sound). If there is only the whistle, but no visual signal to stop the clock, it is possible that the timer may not stop the clock on time.
|
While most high school timers may (note that I said "may") be real good at watching for officials to "chop in" time, I seriously doubt they all actually watch for visual signals to stop the clock.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilyazhito
The reason why this is a moot point at higher levels is because they have special technology allowing the game and shot clocks to stop when the whistle is blown.
|
This "special technology" is allowed in high school games (under certain conditions), but is almost never used.
Again, the word "signal" in the actual rule is used as a generic verb and can be a visual signal, and an audio signal.
Also, I agree fully with ilyazhito's statement about audio and visual signaling redundancy.