End of game

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

Well, I'm going to respectfully disagree, with a caveat. As soon as you notice that the clock has not started, kill the play and have the timer set the clock to the correct time. Here's the caveat -- do it only if you can blow the whistle before the offensive team has started attacking the basket.

People will be much less unhappy if you correct it immediately than if you "surprise" everyone by killing the game without a horn.

The case play cited above specifies that the official was unaware of the timer's error. The timer informs the official of the error. But if you know the error has occured, correct it as soon as is reasonable.

If you can't stop the play before the offensive team starts attacking the basket, then keep your count going. But if people don't notice that the clock is still stopped, they're not going to notice that you're swinging your arm.

Coach: "Why didn't you correct the clock?!?!?!"

Official: "B/c I was keeping the count myself. Didn't you see me swinging my arm?"

Coach: Unprintable.

Official: "Whack. Good-bye!"

Chuck, I see your point. But I guess I'd sort of assume they are attacking the basket as soon as they get their hands on the ball, even if that's back under the other basket. So in your procedure, do you give the ball back approximately at the point where it is, with whatever seconds you think they have remaining? Or do you go back under the other basket, and have a do-over with 8 seconds?

Does anyone have the link to that similar thread we had a few months ago where the ref chopped the time in too early? Or was it the table that got it wrong? This isn't quite the same, but the same philosophies might be applied. Besides, there isn't much else to argue about right now, is there?