Delay of Game

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It's in the books. Never seen it called.

I've only called it once in six years.


Someone from the home team spilled a bit of water on the court right as the timeout ended. Had they been able to clean it up right away with little to no delay, I might have passed. However, it took them 2-3 minutes just to get someone with a mop to begin the cleanup, so I saw no choice but to assess the DOG warning as the game was truly delayed.

[crosscountry55]

With apologies to the late Antonin Scalia, context matters (i.e. I agree with BillyMac).


I think the intent of the rule is to keep teams from getting extended timeout time while they clean up a mess. Picture this situation with an assistant coach: "Oops, oh silly me. I just spilled water all over the court. Now I need to go find some towels." Meanwhile, HC keeps talking to his team for 1-2 additional minutes. Yeah, I'd say that would warrant DOG warning.


Whereas if someone clearly spills something by accident, and there doesn't appear to be any attempt to benefit from it vis-à-vis the huddle, I'm probably not issuing the DOG.


P.S. 10 years, never called it. Came close only once.

[Zoochy]

Here was the reason for my question.
A 30 second TO was called. Teans are standing on court . Water is handed to them. Partner approaches Team A and informs them to NOT bring water anto the court. The 2nd horn for the TO sounds as teams are breaking huddle a player from Team A throws their bottle/cup towards the bench. Water from the bottle/cup spills onto court.
From the time of the spillage and clean up to the time the DOG warning was at least 45 seconds to a minute.
Thus my question.. How long do you wait?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

Partner approaches Team A and informs them to NOT bring water onto the court.

Citation please.

Originally Posted by Zoochy

How long do you wait?

Great question. Better question is under what circumstances does one officially warn, or charge a technical foul for such a delay?

Context? Completely and innocently accidental, or was it utter stupidity and total carelessness (like throwing a half full paper cup of water)?

I've never warned, nor have I ever charged, but it's still a tool in my black referee tool belt that I may use at some point in the future, but I'm going to have to be there and see it in person to make my decision.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

Here was the reason for my question.
A 30 second TO was called. Teans are standing on court . Water is handed to them. Partner approaches Team A and informs them to NOT bring water anto the court. The 2nd horn for the TO sounds as teams are breaking huddle a player from Team A throws their bottle/cup towards the bench. Water from the bottle/cup spills onto court.
From the time of the spillage and clean up to the time the DOG warning was at least 45 seconds to a minute.
Thus my question.. How long do you wait?

1. The teams may drink water in their time-our area. They may also move chairs onto the court in that area. This is a 30 so the five players must remain standing, but anyone else may sit or stand as desired.

2. The answer of how long to wait for the DOG warning is simple. If the team doesn’t have the court ready for play when the second horn sounds then they are delaying the game and have earned a warning.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If the team doesn’t have the court ready for play when the second horn sounds then they are delaying the game and have earned a warning.

Well stated. Simple and factual explanation. Agree 100% in theory (by the book), but what do you actually see in practice in your little corner of the country?

[Raymond]

The purpose of the DOG warning for water on the court is to discourage teams from drinking water on the court during time-outs.

Originally Posted by Raymond

The purpose of the DOG warning for water on the court is to discourage teams from drinking water on the court during time-outs.

Also to, you know, keep the game going.

[BillyMac]

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1798)

Originally Posted by Raymond

The purpose of the DOG warning for water on the court is to discourage teams from drinking water on the court during time-outs.

And just how has that been working out for us?

I'm old enough to remember when athletes were discouraged from drinking water and salt pills were handed out like penny candy.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

The purpose of the DOG warning for water on the court is to discourage teams from drinking water on the court during time-outs.

No, it is not.
The purpose is to prevent teams from taking advantage of a safety situation to prolong a time-out in order to gain extra rest.