Play The Whistle …

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not work for IAABO anywhere and they do not determine what we do in games where I live.

While it was indeed an IAABO answer (that I may not agree with), the question can stand alone and be answered only using NFHS rules and interpretations, no need to get IAABO involved. Also, we never did get a correct answer from IAABO, just that the situation was handled incorrectly, beyond that we're just speculating. Maybe IAABO wants some type of additional statement that the official deemed the ball to be dead after the erroneous horn, before it went, untouched, out of bounds (throwin violation)?

I contend that an official has to ability to deem a ball to be dead (even with a late whistle) whenever something really, really weird happens in a game, weird enough to possibly confuse players, coaches, table personnel, or officials.

7.1.2 SITUATION C: A1 is dribbling in Team A’s backcourt when the ball is deflected by B1. The ball gets away and contacts a child who is walking inbounds (on the playing court). The official sounds the whistle. RULING: The ball is not out of bounds since the person contacted, the child, was inbounds. However, for safety reasons the official should stop play and resume from the point of interruption. Team A, the team last in control, will be awarded a throw-in at a spot nearest to where the ball was located when play was interrupted.

While the situation above involves a safety issue, I believe that we can extrapolate it to other odd, weird, player affecting, game affecting, confusing issues.

NFHS 2-3: The referee must make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.