Clock operator error

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

That rule says "an official's count."

You forgot to mention the "or" part.

2-5-5: The referee shall: Decide matters upon which the timer and scorer disagree and
correct obvious timing errors.

5-10: ART 1 The referee may correct an obvious mistake by the timer to start or
stop the clock properly only when he/she has definite information relative to the
time involved. The exact time observed by the official may be placed on the clock.
ART. 2 If the referee determines that the clock malfunctioned or was not
started/stopped properly, or if the clock did not run, an official’s count or other
official information may be used to make a correction

Nevadaref is correct about an "officials' count", but the rule also includes "or" other official information.

In my opinion it's always preferable to have a visible count in such situations, but lacking that, it is also permissible to use "other official information".

The NFHS trusts officials to use their "mental clock" to accurately create a visible count (and a nonvisible count for three seconds), then why wouldn't they allow us to use a mental count when we have it (I'm not talking about just making up a mental count (guess, estimate), but to only use a mental count when we actually have it).

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Most good officials have mental countdown counts going on in their heads near the end of periods.

At the minimum, I believe that the NFHS would allow officials use a non-visible three second "mental count" to correct obvious timing errors. Hopefully, Nevadaref, and I, can, at least, agree on that.