Held ball, followed by timeout

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

It's great that you have such a great memory. I don't. You must not work a lot of girls middle school games.

Post of the week nominee.


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[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Altor

Every time I've noticed an official using this technique, they are almost always switching it shortly after they confirm the arrow at the table and point in that direction...before the AP throw-in completes.

Officials should be in tune to the game they are working, not relying on something that requires them to do something and forget they did not change. I have seen many officials not switch and add more confusion as stated because they are worried about what whistle their pocket is in. You should know the circumstances the last time you called a held ball, just like you know the circumstances you called your last few fouls. Just an opinion.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Officials should be in tune to the game they are working, ... you should know the circumstances the last time you called a held ball ...

Agree.

Redundancy. Whistle, game awareness, arrow at the table, and arrow on the scoreboard (not legally used). With definite game awareness (memory) trumping all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

... something that requires them to do something and forget they did not change.

Officials just as easily can forget the last alternating possession situation as they can forget their whistle swap. Whistle just adds an extra layer of redundancy.

And once in a pocket, the whistle (and the arrow once changed) doesn't fade over time, or get distracted by other matters.

The arrow is as much a crutch as the whistle, the difference is that the arrow is a crutch by rule, the whistle is an optional crutch.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... definite game awareness (memory) trumping all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Altor

I know some carry an extra whistle. Do you swap it at the time you call the held ball, even before the throw-in?

For those of us that carry an extra whistle and use it for held ball/quarter situations, there are different techniques. The most important thing is for such an official to remain consistent with his technique and to have it become a regular habit, an almost unconscious habit.

I swap mine before (not the legally correct time, I've already got enough to do immediately after the throwin) the held ball alternating possession throwin (and at the end of the first half). Obviously, my extra whistle technique wouldn't help me if something weird (technical foul, kick, etc.) happened between my swap and the alternating possession throwin, leaving it up to my game awareness and hopefully good communication with my partner and the table.

If a timeout is called after I've already swapped my whistle, but before the throwin, I hold the ball in such a manner (right, left, lane side, not lane side) to remind me of what type of throwin and which way we're going. I also visually communicate such to my partner during the timeout.

Repetition, consistency, and redundancy are the keys.

Without good game awareness and good communication, "tricks" are just "crutches", and may not be infallible.

[crosscountry55]

Count me in the camp of using my “pocket arrow” and switching it as soon as the call is made. In that moment, my memory is fresh enough to know I’m giving the ball to the correct team, and in the unusual situation that the arrow is postponed, the mere fact that this is unusual is enough to remind me to switch it back. Never had a problem with this.

In games with a good arrow display where the table demonstrates competence, I’ll usually stop using my pocket whistle and convert to just making sure the arrow is switched after timeouts or the beginnings of periods. When it doesn’t, I address it first dead ball and/or when I run by.


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