[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
We shouldn't question WHY a team asks for a timeout -- not until specific language is put in the rules forbidding a timeout in certain situations, like on a player going out of bounds with the ball.

I had a situation a few weeks ago:

Team B had the ball and apparently team B's head coach started asking for a timeout right about when his player started driving to the hoop. I didn't recognize the timeout request as such until the ball was in the basket and my partner had called a block on the play.

All I did was mention to my partner that the ball had gone in and that the coach may want a timeout once he reports the foul -- what else can officials do?

I'm seriously considering introducing myself by name and asking the coaches to use my name when requesting a timeout -- the last varsity coach I worked with did this and my first name ALWAYS gets my attention. I've missed two timeout requests this season (well, until the coaches were screaming at me and thinking that I'm deaf) even though I think I do a pretty good job of anticipating a "time-out" situation.

Of all the changes made in the last five years, this is the one I wish they'd take away.

Rich

I have a question for you. B1 has player control of the ball. Coach B requests a timeout while B1 is driving toward the basket. Did Coach B make his request before B1 released the ball for a try or before B1 released the ball for a try? If the former is true then the only correct thing for you to do was to grant Coach B's request for a timeout; if it was the latter then you were correct in not granting Coach B's request for a timeout.