Living Fossils ...
 

Unlike the jump ball, that definitely should have become extinct with the invention of the alternating possession arrow (despite what Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. says), I do believe that there is still a place for the pregame coaches/captains/officials meeting. It sets the right tone for sportsmanship and honors the captains publicly in front of all the fans (full disclosure, I am the father of three children who have been captains in multiple sports in middle school, high school, and college).

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.n...=0&w=300&h=300

Impacting Asteroid ...
 

However: Rules regarding notifying captains when play is about to begin at the start of the game, captains addressing an official on matters of interpretation or to obtain essential information, captains requesting defensive match-ups, and the singular nature of the captain’s role; along with casebook plays regarding captains designating free throwers, and requests for timeouts; should all be destroyed by an Earth-impacting asteroid.

http://www.fallingstar.com/media/dinosaur.jpg

I'm Late For A Very Important Date (White Rabbit)...
 

Eliminating 2-7-1 (The officials must ... Notifying the captains when play is about to begin at the start of the game) will still leave us with 2-4-4 (The referee must: Be responsible for having each team notified three minutes before each half is to begin).

2-4-4 (possibly at the coaches/captains/officials pregame meeting), and a whistle prior to the jump ball (most mechanics), should suffice to get the game started in a timely manner without any element of surprise.

http://theweddingworldblogger.files....h-21.jpg?w=529

Head Coaches ...
 

All three changed to head coaches (and all players for timeout requests as already codified in the rulebook).

Simplified, and the way most of us actually do it in a real game.