The other day a JV official asked me where is the rule that says players cannot sit on the bench during a 30 second timeout. A coach ask him why they could not. I thought it was easy and was going to show it to him in the NF rule book. That is when I found that it did not state in the timeout rule that they could not sit on the bench. In the mechanics manual it states it, but how can we enforce mechanics?

[Edited by ur call on Jan 11th, 2001 at 11:54 AM]

ur,
Let 'em sit. As long as they're ready when you are, there is nothing about which we should be concerned.
That used to be a recommendation, along with no water, but NFHS has now passed on it.
There may be a liability thing about exhaustion leading to injury, or somethin'.
mick

As I suspected....
 

MIck has the realistic "Don't sweat the petty stuff" attitude...

Looking at the big picture... Does it really matter? 30 seconds is a short time to remind your players of what you want...

College rule
 

This is the college rule. The NF used to "imply" that you had to stay on the court, but the wording was ambigious at best. But the picture in the NF "Simplified and Illustrated Rulebook" showed players staying on the court. So the second year after this rule was put in, the NF changed the wording and basically stated that it does not matter where the players stand as long as the players are ready by the second buzzer. This confusion was all over the NCAA rules on this issue.

I did 30s on the court (both the players and me) until I had one ref tell me I can't be on the court and the players can't leave the court. By his mechanic, I must speak across the sideline at the floor players. I always do that now, although I could find no rule reference and I don't have a mechanics manual except for my Chiltons. But I just figured nobody would tell me it was wrong any more, players on the bench can hand the floor players water if they need it, and if the floor players need to sit I have subs that are always begging to play. Only if I have no subs or few subs, will I bring them to the bench to sit and take what little rest they can get and hope this ref doesn't have my game.

Just to let you know Hawks coach....on a 30 sec. TO, you can have that timeout anywhere you want. If you want to go out and have it at the foulline...then so be it. Have it at half court if you want...there is nothing in the book that says you can't do this. The only thing in the book about timeouts, is that on full timeouts...they must be taken y the bench area.