correction

[Mark Dexter]

First, correctable errors (the 2-10 variety) and their time limits don't apply here. Correctable errors all involve scoring plays (direction/basket, who the shooter is, counting/cancelling a score, missing/adding a FT), NOT fouls.

For the "bookkeeping mistake" school - I guess you could go by this, but I don't think this falls under that heading or really fits with the "comparing fouls, points, etc." argument that has been brought up.

My take on this is that, as long as you are certain the foul was on #15 and not #35, you have to change the book - using three reasons/examples:

1) Common sense - no matter who we report the foul on, #15 committed it (ask Chuck for an explaination of the philosophy/metaphysics behind this ). Don't penalize #35 for what he didn't do.

2) Rule 4-14-1 - a player is disqualified upon coach notification after committing his/her fifth personal foul. Note that the rule doesn't say "when the scorebook has five fouls recorded for that player."

3) D-I examples: many times during a game that I'm scorekeeping, I'll record a foul, and the official will come over a few minutes later (usually during a media timeout) and correct the foul - saying it was on #X instead of #Y. The fact that this has happened multiple times, with many different officials (including some on the "Top Five" list ) indicates to me that it's acceptable by rule. (Or, alternately, if they didn't correct this, their assignors would take away games for being boneheads.)