[Back In The Saddle]

It appears that we're in agreement that fixing the mistake is the right thing to do. Really that is the important thing.

As far as the specifics and our interpretation of 2-11-11, this is admittedly a gray area. But I believe that 2.10.1.A is fundamentally different situation than incorrectly reporting a fouler's number.

An official is required, by rule, to signal that a shot is a 3. There cannot be a 3-point shot without the active participation of the official. In essence, he is awarding the extra point for his judgement that the shot was taken from behind the line. If the signal does not happen, the basket counts for only 2, the default case. Failing to perform this required duty is handled under 2-10 and the timeframe for correcting this failure is clearly spelled out.

Reporting an incorrect number is not failing to perform a required duty, it is simply a mistake in handling the reporting aspect of the bookkeeping.

Taking it to an admittedly absurd extreme, imagine you call a foul on #15, but report it on #12. But there is no #12 in the book. Do we now add #12 to the book and assess an administrative T? If we class this as an official's error, then that's the way it has to be, right? Things called official's errors are called that because, in the end, everybody is stuck with the erroneous result -- like the 3 that is counted as a 2. The only exceptions are a handful of correctable errors detailed in 2-10.

Also, just because a bookkeeping error cannot be discovered by comparing the books does not mean that there wasn't one or that it cannot be fixed. Earlier this year I had a MS game where neither scorekeeper was keeping team fouls. It was not brought to my attention by the scorekeepers. It was not discovered by comparing the books. Was there a bookkeeping error? Most definitely.

Like I said earlier, the important thing is getting it fixed when you can. But I do believe that the definition of bookkeeping mistakes encompasses mistakes that occur in anywhere in the process of keeping the books, and that includes mistakes in reporting.