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To: IHSA Basketball Officials
From: Beth A. Sauser/Kurt J. Gibson
Date: November 16, 2004
Re.: Mercy Rule/Long Switch Mechanic
Since the basketball rules interpretation meetings, there have been a number of calls and e-mails to the office concerning the Mercy Rule and the Long Switch Mechanic to be used in 3-person crews. The purpose of this memo is to hopefully clear up any lingering questions about those two issues.
As explained at the rules interpretation meetings, the Mercy Rule will be utilized in contests with a 30 point differential in score during the fourth quarter only in all regular season basketball contests in Illinois this year. Schools do not have the option to determine whether or not a contest can use the Mercy Rule. It must be used in any regular season contest that has the necessary conditions for implementation.
Once the clock begins running continuously because of the point differential, it is to remain running for the rest of the contest, even if the point differential drops under the 30 point barrier during the fourth quarter. Before listing the five times when the clock may stop during a contest where the Mercy Rule is being utilized, two more notes. First, if a contest should begin its fourth quarter with a 30 point differential in score or greater, the entire fourth quarter will be played with a running clock. In other words, the Mercy Rule will not be used prior to the fourth quarter of any contest. Secondly, if by chance, a contest used the Mercy Rule because of the point differential and the trailing team somehow tied the contest at the end of regulation, any and all subsequent overtime periods would be played using the continuous clock. Although it is highly unlikely that this scenario would occur, we want you to be prepared to handle that situation.
The five times, then, when the clock can be stopped once it starts running due to the Mercy Rule are as follows:
A team time-out
To replace a disqualified player
To administer a technical foul
To attend to an injured player
Any other situation of concern to an official
In addressing the Long Switch mechanic with 3-person crews, there has been some discussion concerning whether or not a switch should occur when a foul is called in a teams front-court, there will be no free throws shot, and the subsequent play is going the other way. While officials realize that this year the calling official is to go table side after making his/her call, in any situation where a foul is called, no free throws will be shot, and the play will be going the other way, no long switch needs to occur by the officials in a contest. In the play being described, the calling official simply needs to clear the action on the floor, get to the reporting area and call the foul, and then return to his/her position for the subsequent throw-in. All officials are strongly encourage to review the 3-person mechanics PowerPoint presentation on the IHSA Officials Center. Not only is it a great review, but it contains this exact play, and would be a benefit for all officials to review.
Thanks for your attention to these matters. As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to contact either Beth A. Sauser or Kurt J. Gibson at the IHSA Office.
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