Boys JV game tonight. Running late because of the weather, so the varsity game crowd had started to show up. We're down in the home team's end and the defender kicks the ball. My hand shoots up, my whistle flys out and I yell "KICK." But I forgot to blow the whistle. It took me a second or two to realize why most of the players were still playing. Fumbled for the whistle and blew it. Crowd got a good chuckle out of that one.

BITS,

My guess is that the clock operator didn't stop the clock until you were able to hit the whistle. If that is the case, then, given that TOTALLY RATIONAL response on his/her part, why does the Federation persist in requiring the stop-clock signal be given before signalling direction, specific violation, etc.?

One might respond, "because of instances just like this one." My contention is that even in instances like this one, it simply doesn't matter.

For those who know the history of officiating better than I do, what's the history of the stop-clock signal? I heard once that it was instituted in the days of low-quality whistles that were sometimes inaudible in crackerbox gyms.

Well the clock operator should see the hand go up and stop the clock from that in the absence of a whistle when one is expected. The local high school gym seats about 2500 people on four sides, not huge but hardly considered crackerbox. When its full and there is an exciting finish, you don't hear a thing. The only thing to go by is the hand, Fox40 or not. In fact starter's pistols are common during the postseason.

...in place of the whistle!?! Wow!!

Should of clarified.

The starters pistol is usually a complement to the buzzer/horn at end of quater situations.

Just trying to paint the picture of a loud gym where going by the hand may be an appropriate action.

Never seen a ref run down court wearing a pistol. Don't know if I would prefer a shoulder holster or a drop holster.

Shots fired !!!
 

It would be really fun to stumble backwards, clutch your chest, fall down, and play dead when the pistol was fired.

That would be a hoot.

Re: Shots fired !!!
 

...A shooting foul?

no, no -- shooting fowl??

Because the ref is a "turkey"?

I'll let it be known that Mick is of the highest caliber.

Sounds like he's gunnin' fer ya, Mick

:)
That's okay, Back In The Saddle.
zebra44 is a solid, patient official; slow on the trigger.
mick
<HR>
I wanted to holster his ego.

Or, in other words, a bigshot? :D