Quote:
Originally Posted by dave30
I'm still confused !
If it happens again in the future. Should I :
A. Take the ball back to the original throw-in spot and not worry if the defense presses?
B. Estimate the time elapsed. Tell the clock person to run off 8 seconds and give them the ball in the frontcourt?
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Dave,
I am NEVER going to do A. I cannot justify a do-over in an NFHS game. You need to make your own decision of how to handle this situation should it ever arise in one of your games. So I will give you some points that helped me make my choice.
First, the NFHS rules state that you cannot "estimate" the time elapsed. You have to have
DEFINITE knowledge. In this case, that means you had a count of some kind or the official timer started counting when he noticed that the clock malfunctioned and wouldn't start. In short, if you don't KNOW, you can't change the clock in an NFHS game.
(That being said, you can confer with your partners and make an intelligent decision. Look at what the NCAA now recommends. I posted it a bit further down.)
Secondly, the NFHS has yet to come out with a clear play ruling on this, but the NCAA has. Since people have made the case that the NFHS rules are unclear and that the play should be handled in one of two ways, you need a reason to pick one method over the other. I would advise you to follow what the NCAA wrote on this. That way you at least have something in writing to point to. Note that I am not advocating that you do something contrary to NFHS rules, I am merely stating that you should enhance your decision by drawing upon this further knowledge since you may have to rely on 2-3 to make a decision. Additionally, the NFHS usually follows what the NCAA does after a few years, so you might be ahead of the game.
Here is what the NCAA published in a bulletin (2/21/07) on the women's side last season:
1/25/07 Correcting a Timer’s Mistake
Interpretation: The following interpretive ruling should replace the ruling in A.R. 120. This ruling was changed to clarify that officials must utilize all available resources and information when making a decision regarding game and/or shot clock time adjustments. Officials may not always know the exact time, as stated in the original ruling, which shall not prohibit them from adjusting the clock(s) appropriately.
Play: A.R. 120. With a few seconds remaining on the game clock in the first half, A1 makes a throw-in to A2 (game clock not started—official timer’s mistake). A2 dribbles into the front court and misses the try. B1 recovers the rebound and dribbles the full length of the playing court. As the player passes the bench, the coach of Team A notices that the game clock has not started and calls the mistake to the attention of the official timer, who starts the game clock. With one second left on the game clock in the half, A2 fouls B1. The bonus is in effect. Time expires before the official timer can stop the game clock.
Ruling: A2 shall be assessed with a personal foul. The referee cannot correct this official timer’s mistake unless he or she knows relatively how much time had elapsed while the game clock was stopped. The referee shall conduct a reenactment of the sequential occurrence of the play to determine that relative time. To assist the referee, information may be attained from the official timer or from the use of an official courtside monitor, when one is available. After a conclusion has been reached, the referee shall put the determined time on the game clock Play shall be resumed at the point where the ball was located when play was stopped to correct the timer’s mistake. In this case, B1 shall be awarded the entitled free throw(s) for A2’s personal foul and play shall be resumed from that point with the corrected time on the game clock. A correction is only permitted when it falls within the prescribed time frame limit as described in Rule 2-5.1.f and Rule 2-6.1.
__________________________________________________ _________________
Play 2: With 4 seconds remaining on the game clock, A1 makes a throw-in to A2. The game clock does not start when the throw-in is touched inbounds by A2. The ball is passed twice, a shot is taken and the rebound is tipped out of bounds by B1. Prior to placing the ball at the disposal of A1 for the throw-in, the official realizes that there are 4 seconds on the game clock indicating that the game clock was not started on the previous throw-in.
Ruling 2: Rule 2-6.1 states that when an obvious timing mistake has occurred because of failure to start or stop the game clock properly, the mistake shall be corrected only when the referee has definite information relative to the time involved. The officials have definite information that the game clock did not start. If a monitor were available, the officials would be permitted to go to the monitor to determine the correct time to be placed on the game clock if any time remains (2-5.1.f; A.R. 8). If a monitor were not available, the officials are to confer with each other and/or check with the official timer to determine the correct time to be placed on the game clock or if any time remains in the game. By rule, a decision must be made relative to the time involved. The officials are not permitted by rule to leave 4 seconds on the game clock and repeat the initial throw-in by A1. According to NCAA rules, there are no ‘do-overs’.
Additionally, this quote also appears in that bulletin:
"According to NCAA rules, there are no ‘do-overs’. Officials commit errors and timer’s make mistakes and only a select few of each are permitted by rule to be corrected. Officials must know which errors or mistakes are permitted by rule to be corrected and what time limits restrict those corrections."