[JugglingReferee]

Originally posted by Nevadaref
I am a firm believer that there are no do-overs in NFHS basketball. The rules just don't provide for it.
My ruling on the play would be that the goal counts. I would say that I have definite knowledge of an obvious timing error which I can correct and that in my judgment the tapping took less than .3 of second, so the goal is good.

You do not have definite knowledge that the tap took less than 0.3 seconds. Simple because of the fact that the two events occurred at different times during the universe's timeline. No definite knowledge = no definite ruling. The only definite knowledge is that there was 0.3 seconds on the clock and it was improperly started.

The heart of my argument is that the referee can "correct obvious timing errors." (2-5-5)
The book says nothing about the manner in which the referee can correct them. It does NOT say that the referee is limited to adjusting or resetting the clock. Therefore, I take a more expansive view and say that the referee can correct the timing mistake by allowing a play and a basket to count if in his judgment it would have been legal action if not for the timing error.

IMHO, this is too much of a stretch.

To really understand my argument, consider the converse situation. Near the end of a quarter the timer forgets to start the clock. Let's say there was 1.2 seconds remaining. No one has a problem disallowing a basket and ending that quarter, if in the official's judgment the scoring play took longer than the time that was remaining. I don't think that any of us would have a do-over.

Many times in these circumstances you have a visible or non-visible count going. These counts are definite knowledge. If you can count in tenths of a second accurately (and prove it!), then yes, I will buy your original elements. Tenths of a second accuracy are needed because the shot can be released between 00:01.00 and 00:02.00.

For those times where there is no visible or non-visible count (FC throw-in, because there doesn't have to be a 3-, 5-, or 10-second count started), or a referee that doesn't do a visible count anyways (to provide herself with definite knowledge if needed), then if the clock is late starting and:

- the shot is missed: the defensive coach will not say "boo" for obvious reasons, and the offensive coach will not say "boo" either because with the way the play happened, they got a shot off illegally (let's say the whole thing actually took longer than 1.2s, but still before the late buzzer)

- the shot is made: the offensive coach will not say "boo" for obvious reasons, but the defensive coach will tell you that the clock started late (d@mn home timers ), thus promoting the possibility of a shot actually taken after the buzzer should have sounded and if you're an official that notices this, and you do not correct it, you are guilty of unethical behavior. If you do not notice it, then there is nothing that can be done, because there is no definite knowledge.

In addition, if you notice the clock starts late, and the shot goes in, I think ya gotta hammer on the whistle right away and get the call right. Ya, it sucks, but do the proper thing: cancel the basket, re-align for another throw-in, and move on.