[M&M Guy]

Ok, I've stayed up all night worrying about why I don't blow the whistle on FT situations following TO's. I mean, after all, it says so in the book, right? Well, not really. In the official's manual it mentions blowing the whistle before giving the ball to a player to start play. But, there is also a whole section on free throw administration as well. So, where in the FT admin to you blow the whistle? As they are coming out of the huddle? Before the players are lined up correctly? Before bouncing the ball to the shooter? How come the rules and mechanics don't specifiy the difference between FT's after a TO vs FT's after a foul?

Wait, I think the caffine is starting to kick in. I think I know: because it's not as important to notify players before a free throw because you have to wait until they're ready before putting the ball in play. In normal OOB plays, you don't have to wait for everyone to be set, so you are telling the players (by blowing the whistle) that play is going to start. The same with the resuming play procedure - the whistle tells the slow team, "Hey, we're tired of waiting; we're going to start now!"

Now, all this discussion amounts to a waste of time, because it really isn't that important in the overall game of basketball. We have tried to impart our vast knowledge to let it be known that, at least in our area, and many areas, it's not done. If, in watching the better officials in your area, or by talking to your assigner, that you see it is done that way, then you need to do it as well. But we hope your concentration on this minute level of detail is carried over to the important aspects as well.

I am now leaving to go prove the theory that new golf balls are more attracted to water than old balls.