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Old Sun Mar 04, 2001, 11:05am
Hawks Coach Hawks Coach is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2000
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Mark,
My understanding of the lag time rule is it allows the timer 1 second to get a clock stopped after a whistle. It protects competent timers from constantly having their work questioned. This clock would keep going after the timer tried to stop it, then automatically recover to where it was when the timer stopped it. That latter condition is what is covered by lag time. A clock that has a delayed stoppage would also be covered if it did not rewind to the exact point that the timer stopped it. For example, a clock that takes .2 seconds to stop would fall under lag time if the elapsed time between whistle and clock stoppage did not exceed the 1 second.

This case is different. It appears that the clock runs for quite a while after stoppage (for some unexplained reason) then recovers to the point of stoppage. That point of stoppage should be played at all times with this type of clock, including end of game.

I also do not agree that this clock is set for NCAA rules. There is no "automatic" clock reset in NCAA. In NCAA you have to check the tape and manually reset to the point that the clock should have stopped. The clock doesn't have independent knowledge of these facts so that it can reset itself, as this clock does.

Blacktiger, I am not meaning to criticize, rather to give an opinion on this with the benefit of hindsight and no pressure to make the right call (and clearly not everyone agrees with my interp!). You made a call that is clearly defensible within the rules in a high pressure situation. You asked the relevant questions based on your knowledge and experience. And the next time, you were even more prepared. Good job.
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