Wrong team awarded AP throw-in

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

A play straight out of the NFHS basketball case book occurred tonight in the large-school boys regional championship game.

6.4.1 SITUATION D: It is Team B’s turn for the next throw-in under the alternating- possession procedure. By mistake, Team A is given that throw-in. Team A completes the throw-in to teammate A2. RULING: Once the throw-in ends – it is too late to change anything ... it is too late to correct the error of awarding the ball to the wrong team. The alternating-possession arrow will remain for Team B’s next throw-in. (4-42-5; 6-4-4; 6-4-5)

7-6-6: When an official administers a throw-in to the wrong team, the
mistake must be rectified before the throw-in ends.

The way I remember this AP interpretation is to use the silly phrase (not actually stated to the coach, that wouldn't sit well with him), "Sorry coach, but you'll get two of the next three".

If the NFHS wanted this interpreted a different way, they would have made it a correctable error (or somehow changed it) a very long time ago.

7-6-6 is very clear, doesn't leave any wiggle room, and can be consistently applied, even if it doesn't seem fair (like some actual corrected correctable errors).

I believe that in situations like this, it's probably best to go by the written rule (it's pretty difficult for someone (coach, assignment commissioner, athletic director) to complain when one goes by the book (even though they may still complain about the original error).

Just be 100% certain that the offended team gets the next arrow. To do otherwise would invite disaster.



But who knows? Managing the game is sometimes more than just rulebook knowledge. Maybe two wrongs do make a right?