I was helping someone out last night and called a JV game. The person doing the book was on her cellphone while my partner was going make the call. My partner fired her right on the spot. Would you have done the same thing?

I would have. If I don't I just have myself to blame for any book errors. Way to go partner!

One of the worst possible things is a scorer that isn't paying attention. I've done games where the scorer has earbuds in and is listening to music. Well that scorer didn't last too long :p.

Absolutely. I've gotten in trouble too many times by trying to "work with" a scorer who isn't doing the job. If the home school doesn't have anyone else, you can officially designate the visitor's person the "official book"

On the other hand, I'll work carefully all night long with a scorer who's trying very hard, but not getting it. I am absolutely rigid about not nagging or hounding a scorer who is new, or just not very smart. I don't let ANYONE bug them at all. In a varsity game, I'd try to get someone to help, but at any level lower than that, the official scorer is just an extension of myself, and gets the same respect I give myself.

I don't know I would have the guts to do it but if the scorekeeper can't multi-task and keep up with the game while on the phone then yes I would. The phone call should be no more the 30 seconds anyway.

Where I work, we have classes for the managers. In those classes the first thing we are taught is to turn off all pagers and Cell phones. Our stores will survive while we are there. Then they teach us the phrase "Be here now". I think it is a great slogan for officiating. If you can't be at the game mentally then you don't need to work the game. If you are at the table, or on the floor. Turn off your cell phone.

One thing that really bugs me is when I show up at the game, and see 5 people sitting at the scorers table, all for the purpose of making a social event out of the game. I don't like more than 2 people at the table, 3 if it's really necessary. And it makes me look like the bad guy telling them that they can't be there, ah well, I wonder why I choose to referee if I don't like looking like the bad guy :D

I get nervous if I see less than 4 people sitting at the table.

If she was ordering deep dish pizzas with cheese stuffed crust for the entire officiating crew for after the game then I would not fire her.

MTD, Sr.

I still want to know why you need 32 people at the scorer's table durning an NCAA Div I game on TV.

Why do you need 4 people?? I find it just gets too be too much of a distraction to have more people than needed. One person on the book&arrow and one person for the scoreboard.

Game clock, shot clock, official book, visitor's book.

If there's a mic on the table I'll want to see a 5th.

Well, at the minimum, you have one scorer, a clock operator, and a shot clock operator. (3)

Usually, the visiting team will have a book (4), and in some cases, you have a neutral official book with one scorer for each team (5).

If the game is televised, there's a timeout coordinator (6) - yes, he/she gets paid to stand up at the 16, 12, 8, and 4 minute marks.

A lot of scoreboards have separate inputs/controls for the player-foul-points part of the board (7). Many time this person will have a spotter to assist him/her (8).

If there's a courtside monitor, sometimes there will be someone there to assist (9).

Stat crews can often be tableside, usually with three or four people (13), more in a televised game.

Sometimes, members of the media and/or a radio broadcast is situated table-side (15+).

PA announcer (16) takes a spot, and often has his own spotter (17).

Let's not forget the athletics department administrator (18), and the fact that the AD (19) and/or a conference official (20) is given a place at the table.

In some games, you have an alternate official (21) along with the officiating evaluator (22).

Okay - so maybe not 32, but there is (generally) a huge need for space at the tables, and everyone there is doing some sort of job.

You forgot 2 for each teams radio station and 2 for TV. A spotter and a producer for each. So that is 12 more people. You need someone to program the graphics for the jumbotron. So were at 18 people now. No wonder we need an X in front of the scorekeeper.

I don't think I'd fire her because for a JV game, that might be the only person in the gym that has a clue on how to do the book.

However, I would go nicely explain to her that her cellphone is going to be off limits until the game is over. If she didn't comply, I'd find the A.D. and let him/her "fire her" and get me a new scorekeeper.

Z

I think that could be the magic number of people you need to run the clock in a HS game. :D I had to put time back on the clock twice today.

Sensible approach
 

We have an AD at a local HS (wife's alma mater) that is notorious for grabbing two volunteers from the hallway at the end of the school day, usually 9th or 10th graders, to be the table crew for Frosh, Soph, and sometimes Girls JV games. The AD is noticeably biased toward the Boys program and it shows; the girls just won their first game in two plus seasons.

Unfortunately, the AD is rarely around after the first minute or so of the game. As you would suspect, I have had some of my most nightmarish games, in regards to table crew errors, at this facility.

I have attempted to tactfully suggest he better prepare the table crews for the "lower level games". Confusingly, the AD is a former sports official and should understand the importance of the table crew. Keep in mind, in our area officials are hired, for JV and lower, individually by the AD.

In the nationaly televised Tennesee/UConn women's game on CBS yesterday, the "32 table" managed to screw up the team total fouls in the first half and UConn thought they had a foul to "give" only to find out that the foul put Tennesee in the bonus. Later on, the "32 table" had the possession arrow going the wrong way. Fortunately, the officials conferred with the "32 table" to straighten it out before administering the ball.
Tennesee won the game by one point.

I moved out of the state of Connecticut several years ago, so I can't be at fault for the lack of scorekeeping talent at my state school. :p

All of the games I have seen there is a "Media" table on the other side of the court for TV/Radio. I know at one school they put the sports writers there too. I have never seen a basketball arena with a press box.

Generally, yes, but some members of the media are also put at the scorer's table.

Watch ESPN the next time Dicky V. broadcasts a game from Cameron . . .