Held Ball Signal

[crosscountry55]

Something to talk about on Sunday while we wait for Monday (or watch the women's final which, I must say, I suddenly anticipate now that the UConn inertia has been broken...but I digress).

I've noticed while watching D1 men's officials this year, and in particular during the tournament, that many officials while signaling a held ball will use the stop clock signal first, then close down on the action, and after exhaling first, finally use the held ball signal.

I've always been taught that this is the one instance where you go straight to the signal without "stopping the clock" first. Was there a philosophy change on this in the last couple of years while I wasn't paying attention? If so, what's the rationale?

[Raymond]

You'll notice younger NBA and D League officials doing the same thing

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[tnolan]

cross, check the officials manual for NFHS...Somewhere in there it states to go straight up with the 2 thumbs for this call.

But I've noticed the same...And have been in discussions with RIs about it. Interesting for sure

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[kda89508]

In high school the correct signal is to go up with the held ball signal immediately.
No need to stop the clock as the held ball signal is the stopped clock signal in this case.
Page 54 in Officials manual.

[BigCat]

The signal is thumbs up immediately. But hesitating is used to be sure everybody is on same page.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BigCat

The signal is thumbs up immediately. But hesitating is used to be sure everybody is on same page.

That was kind of what I was thinking. But you have to admit, doing so defeats the "requirement" to signal immediately.

Anyone know if the CCA manuals directly address this?

FWIW, I actually kind of like the more methodical approach I'm seeing on TV. I've never quite understood what purpose it serves to go "two thumbs up immediately." In other words, how is a held ball call so different from other calls as to necessitate such immediacy?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Anyone know if the CCA manuals directly address this?

The rule book shows the thumbs up as "stop clock for jump ball." It also shows the open hand as "stop clock" (not "... for violation").

NCAAW CCA says "Give the signal for a held ball immediately. There is no need to raise a hand for a stop-clock signal."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

NCAAW CCA says "Give the signal for a held ball immediately. There is no need to raise a hand for a stop-clock signal."

Same with IAABO high school mechanics.

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

Anyone know if the CCA manuals directly address this?

Yes, "stopping the clock" with either a fist or open palm is something JD is very anal about.

In the 2016-17 CCA manual JD mentions it specifically in the Q&A section near the front, and again on Page 77: "When an official calls a violation: Simultaneously give a sharp blast of the whistle, stop the clock using straight arm and open hand, then drop the whistle from the mouth."

Interestingly JD isn't a huge fan of two-handed reporting yet it became mandatory last year.

[Rich]

We've either gone with am open hand or just a whistle with no signal for a few years now.

One official with a held ball and one with a foul -- we can avoid that by not hurrying with the thumbs.

[CJP]

As a newer official, all I have ever known is to signal to stop the clock with the open hand first then go to the thumbs. The first year I officiated, local association head officials made this a point of emphasis for everyone. I never read into it so I didn't know any better. This past year I moved and all of my partners went straight to the thumbs. Yes, there were double whistles, I don't recall a time where we had conflicting calls though but the potential is there. After discussing this with my new partners, a couple of them agreed that it made more sense to go with an open hand first. For me, it is a habit - either an open hand or fist on a whistle and I may never break that habit.

[frezer11]

If I have a jump ball, I hit the whistle more than once. One of the few times that I'll tweet about 3 in a row while I close down. I don't show any signal until I've closed down sufficiently, and then give the thumbs up.

The reason I (and others that I frequently work with) have adopted this system, is that it stops play, and doesn't create a differing calls situation. Especially in a competitive boys game, I think the most important thing is to get them to stop before competition and testosterone gets the best of them, and we have an elbow or something fly. So by hitting the whistle quick and multiple times, this seems to decrease any extracurricular activity we might have. Closing down is self-explanatory, but the delayed signal then also allows a partner who may have had a foul or travel prior to the jump ball come in and make their call as the only signaling official.

It has worked very well for us over the past couple years, and other than the mechanic book saying to go straight to the thumbs, I can't really think of a negative to doing it this way.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by frezer11

If I have a jump ball, I hit the whistle more than once. One of the few times that I'll tweet about 3 in a row while I close down. I don't show any signal until I've closed down sufficiently, and then give the thumbs up.

The reason I (and others that I frequently work with) have adopted this system, is that it stops play, and doesn't create a differing calls situation. Especially in a competitive boys game, I think the most important thing is to get them to stop before competition and testosterone gets the best of them, and we have an elbow or something fly. So by hitting the whistle quick and multiple times, this seems to decrease any extracurricular activity we might have. Closing down is self-explanatory, but the delayed signal then also allows a partner who may have had a foul or travel prior to the jump ball come in and make their call as the only signaling official.

It has worked very well for us over the past couple years, and other than the mechanic book saying to go straight to the thumbs, I can't really think of a negative to doing it this way.

That's what we do. Thanks for writing this more clearly than me.

[Rich]

Most know what the book says. Personally I prefer the whistle and no signal till it's clear none of tne 3 are coming in with a foul or violation. A couple of tweets, we look, we signal a second or two later, and the official facing the arrow signals direction. After all, the whistle stops the clock....or should immediately.

[JRutledge]

The problem with using the "stop clock" signal instead of the "held ball" signal is it looks like you are calling something else and then go with the held ball. I do not like it. And if you have a dueling signal, then you go with what happened first. We make the simple things so complicated some times.

Peace