NCAA New Mechanic FYI
 

OFFICIALS: EEFECTIVE IMMEDIATLEY: The Mechanics Committee has now approved a mechanic for the following: When an offensive player leaves the playing floor under his own volition and upon his return to the floor he is the first to touch the ball it is a violation. The mechanic will be the same as a delayed Free Throw violation by the defense. When the player leaves the floor, the official who recognizes (usually the lead) the potential violation will put his arm straight out with a closed fist, indicating a delayed violation. This will notify his partners, players and coaches that there is a delayed violation, when the player who left the floor is the first to touch the ball after he returns to the floor, the violation will then be called. Once the ball is touched by another player after the player returns to the floor, the delayed signal will then be dropped by the official.

I hate how they say "first" because that is not how it is actually called and administered. The player who currently has the ball is the first. They should say either "next" or something similar so that exempts the player who has the ball. As it is currently worded, if the pass is released after the player gets back inbounds, it should be legal.

Agreed on the wording (NCAAW is the same; and I've had the same thought for several years), but I do like the mechanic.

By the by, this would be NCAAM only (for now). NCAAW hasn't put out anything in this regard.

Maybe "first to receive a pass" or something to that nature

Do you work college ball? Do these sort of mechanical additions/changes happen often?

This rule change was made for the 2004-05 and yet it took this long for the Rules Committees decided that the officials needed a mechanic for it, :rolleyes:!

MTD, Sr.

I've already called it twice this season after never calling it - but coming close - in the ten season prior. The hardest part of making the call was figuring out what signal to use. I opted for some hybrid of over-and-back and the spot violation.

Surprisingly, once of the coaches affected by the violation knew what I was calling. The other had no clue.

We've had rules changes in the middle of the season before.

This isn't a rule change. The rule was added for the 2004-05 season. The Rules Committee is just now getting around to adding a mechanic for the violation.

MTD, Sr.

I didn't say it was. I'm saying they've actually changed rules in the middle of the season, so a mechanic/signal change is minor in comparison.

And I've been reffing college ball at some level or another since 2003, so I was around for the rule change you are referencing.

BNR:

Okay. I have been jumping in and out of this thread so I may have missed the context of your post.

2003!! I officiated college ball from 1974 to 2008. Dang I am old, LOL!!

MTD, Sr.

I'm old also, but not quite that old...I didn't ref my first game of any type until 6 months after my 37th birthday.

It is not often, but it has happen where rules or interpretations have happen after the season has started. Like the "upward motion" interpretation in the middle of the season a couple of years ago.

Peace