Whistle at first horn

[Rich]

One of our big dogs recommended this when I worked with him last year, and I adopted it immediately. So have my partners. An easy "tweet tweet."

Guess what -- huddles start breaking when they hear the whistle much more effectively than when we come in simply saying, "First horn."

Book mechanic or not, it's worked really well for us, and our association's training program included this -- no surprise, since the big dog was teaching at the time.

Originally Posted by Rich

Guess what -- huddles start breaking when they hear the whistle much more effectively than when we come in simply saying, "First horn."

I concur. I wait a few seconds after the first horn then hit my whistle. Works like a charm.

[Raymond]

Our horns were slow last night, so I did it a couple times to speed things up.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Rich

One of our big dogs . . .

Something that has made it a lot easier to "bring 'em otta the huddles" we discovered from video evidence of last year's games...
In the past, when a timeout was granted, most officials inevitably reported it to the table right away and got the clock started way before the players had any realistic opportunity to even make it over toward their bench areas. Then, when the first horn went off, they barely got the deserved time from the timeout requested. Yep, we had a hard time getting them to come out and resume play.
This year, having had it on the agenda of a rules meeting, some in our area started taking our time with that report to the table. That is, timeout is requested, then granted, then the reporting official backs out to the midcourt area to signal to partners and the other coach what kind of timeout was requested, then after players are observed crossing or making their way to the benches, the report is given to the table and the point and verbal "Start the Clock" is issued to the timekeeper.
Now, that sounded a lot more elongated than it really is in real life, but the result we're enjoying is this: when they get full value out of the timeout requested, they're very easy to bring out of the huddles to resume play.
Perhaps this is how others in other areas have been doing it all along, and we were behind the curve.
But this is working well for us the first few games of the new season and I thought it might be worth mentioning.
If not, disregard. If so, try it.
Arf...arf.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Freddy

then after players are observed crossing or making their way to the benches, the report is given to the table and the point and verbal "Start the Clock" is issued to the timekeeper.

Been doing it that way (sort of) for as long as I can remember. I don't start the report and have the clock started until they are actually at their benches or at least had plenty of time to get there. The rest of the process, while a good idea, doesn't really affect what you're waning to accomplish...getting them out of the timeout at the end.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Been doing it that way (sort of) for as long as I can remember. I don't start the report and have the clock started until they are actually at their benches or at least had plenty of time to get there. The rest of the process, while a good idea, doesn't really affect what you're waning to accomplish...getting them out of the timeout at the end.

This is how we do it. Even if I start my report early, I hold off on starting the clock until both teams have had ample opportunity to get to their benches. I won't wait for the lollygaggers, but that's rare and the coach normally deals with Johnny C. Lately.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Adam

This is how we do it. Even if I start my report early, I hold off on starting the clock until both teams have had ample opportunity to get to their benches. I won't wait for the lollygaggers, but that's rare and the coach normally deals with Johnny C. Lately.

We already do it this way.

It's not a "hurry up" tactic for us. The horn blows, the covering officials hit their whistles before the usual "First horn" and what it does is gets people moving towards ending the timeout.

I noticed it on Friday when I worked with two new partners and I forgot to mention it during the pregame (I was the R). We had a team that wouldn't even start to stir until the second horn. Unless I was covering and blew the whistle. Some coaches get really absorbed by the timeout and the whistle for some reason jars them into action.

[refiator]

Originally Posted by Rich

We already do it this way.

It's not a "hurry up" tactic for us. The horn blows, the covering officials hit their whistles before the usual "First horn" and what it does is gets people moving towards ending the timeout.

We are required to do this. I have had more than 1 occasion in a loud gym where the teams did not hear the horn….You need to ensure that the head coach makes eye contact with you as you yell in the huddle, "First Horn, White". This way there is no reason you not to envoke resumption of play if needed.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Adam

This is how we do it. Even if I start my report early, I hold off on starting the clock until both teams have had ample opportunity to get to their benches. I won't wait for the lollygaggers, but that's rare and the coach normally deals with Johnny C. Lately.

Same thing as long as I can remember too.

[Sharpshooternes]

Had a euro professional league official give me a pointer about this very thing this week. He suggested that after a timeout is requested and granted, that the partners get together quickly and determine who's ball it is where the ball will come in at. THEN report the timeout and start the timer. I tried it this week and I rally like it. By time you finish your pow wow with the P, both teams have had sufficient time to get into their huddles. I like the whistle suggestion and will try it this week.

[grunewar]

Never used the whistle to hurry folks out of the huddle before. Never even heard the suggestion. Interesting.

As for Freddy's point, I was always taught to let the teams get near or to their benches before signaling the timeout and to start the clock. Don't know how much that works, but, it does give them the full amount of time.

I'd try anything that works......including putting the ball down at the spot and starting my count......which I will do too.