Start/Stop Clock Signals

[JimGrillo]

I referee girls HS in New York State, and for some reason we do things a bit differently here: In boys HS basketball we use standard NFHS mechanics to stop the clock, for example on OOB we raise our hand with the whistle and point with the other hand while verbally indicating the color. In girls HS, however, all officials are expressly instructed NOT to give a stop-clock signal on OOB or (and this really makes no sense) three-second lane violations. In these instances, we are simply to blow the whistle, verbally call the infraction, and point in the propper direction.

In addition, NYS girls basketbal officials are required to "chop in" with the SAME hand used to count 5. Boys ball uses standard two-handed NFHS/NCAA mechanics. For officials who officiate both boys and girls HS in New York, the differences in mechanics (not just these, but others as well) can become confusing. I've seen evaluators rip pretty good officials because they used the wrong mechanic to stop and start the clock. On the girls side, this mechanic is actually a specific area that we are rated on when we are observed.

For the life of me, I can't understand why we make such a big deal about how we signal the clock to start and stop. In most cases, I think the stop clock signal is redundant because most timers listen for the whistle anyway. But as I said, in NY at least, these mechanincs are considered paramount.

I'm curious if other state associations are as stringent with these mechanics.