Pointing direction at tip

[BillyMac]

In my high school games, when I'm administering the jump ball to start the game, I point to the right side bench, say "Blue"; point to the jumper standing to my right, say "Blue"; and point emphatically to the left in the direction Blue's basket and say, emphatically, "Blue".

Then, I point to the left side bench, say "White"; point to the jumper standing to my left, say "White"; and point emphatically to the right in the direction White's basket and say, emphatically, "White".

Then I sound my whistle, drop the whistle from my mouth, toss the ball, and we're on our way.

It takes an extra five seconds, but I'm never, ever, starting the game going in the wrong direction, unless the players screw up, and I can't control that.

(Of course, this procedure is slightly modified to start an overtime period.)