Mechanics and clock situations (Video)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

JRut, the reason why I mentioned the CCA Manual is because a specific procedure exists if an official wants to make a call outside his area. I wanted to know if the NFHS mechanics manual has something similar. Just because I mention another level does not mean that my question is a priori irrelevant.

Mechanics at any level are guides. They are there to give some rules of engagement but in the real world, you have to know when to use them as hard fast rules and when to ignore the details based on the play or situation in front of you.

And if you ever go to a higher level camp, no one cares what you think the book says if a clinician is telling you how to interact in a play with your partners. The mechanics books do not cover every possible situation.

Peace

[ilyazhito]

I was not saying that the mechanics manual was something absolute, but asking if there are procedures to handle an out of area call under NFHS mechanics the way there is under college mechanics. In the absence of specific guidance to the contrary, I would borrow the suggestion from the CCA manual to give an extra toot on the whistle for an out-of-area call, if I was ever in a situation where I needed to make one. The OP situation was in a gray area, but since the play started from the center's side, and C was in a better position to rule on it, C should have taken his call and sold it all the way.

The two situations in the videos showed that the crew was out of sync, because there was no shared understanding of what to do on either the blarge play or the clock issue on the held ball at the end of the third quarter. By the third quarter, there is presumably enough time for the crew to get on the same page. I thought that State Tournament officials would be better, but every day you learn something (even if it is what to avoid). These videos are probably good as "what not to do" material at an association training session, whether we are working a state tournament game that is televised, or a middle school game in front of <30 people in the stands.