Fun With A Jump Ball ...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

A Team consists of Five Players, one of whom is the Captain ...

Back in ancient times, when Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. was officiating with his good friend James Naismith, teams only had one captain.

Now many teams will award the captaincy to almost all seniors (and occasionally some juniors). I had a game a few years ago with one team having quad-captains, and the other team having quint-captains. I was the umpire. The referee asked who was the "speaking" captain of each team, asked for their numbers (all were wearing warm-ups), and finally followed up with, "Are you starting?" (thank God they both answered yes, hate to think what would have happened next if somebody had answered no).

He didn't have enough time left to tell everyone that it was the black line all the way around.

Player: "Mr. Referee. Can we please have a defensive match-up because three substitutes from the other team entered?"
Referee: "No. You're not the speaking captain. Please have the speaking captain ask me".

Regarding the modern rules of basketball, captains are forgettable anachronistic formalities, as outdated as laced basketballs, peach baskets, and chicken wire cages around the perimeter of the court.

Maybe as outdated as Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.?