Delayed Whistle

[Rich]

Originally posted by zebraman

Welcome to the forum.

I love a patient whistle. I'm ok with a real delayed whistle once in a while, especially when it's a "gotta go get it" call in someone's secondary coverage area.

For a high school game, I'm not real thrilled about a whistle that is so late that it's obvious that the official was waiting to see if the hoop went in or not. I know a college assignor around here that hates "and ones," but I don't think that's appropriate for an NFHS game. Just my opinion.

Z

It's a good patient whistle, IMO, when you are trying to determine whether some contact put the person receiving the contact at a disadvantage. Perfect example would be a bump in the back on a rebound -- if the player clears the ball pass on the call unless it's a major BUMP, but get the call if it puts the rebounder at a disadvantage or off-balance, etc.

I think the OP is taking this philosophy too far. Not calling fouls near the hoop when the ball goes in and/or on successful drives tells the defense that they can afford to play somewhat reckless -- if it goes in, no harm, no foul. If it doesn't go in, then the foul was "successful."

I will agree that there are times when the contact is so close to the ball being laid in that I will pass on the foul as the whistle would have to come after the ball went through the hoop -- but that only seems to happen a lot in boys games where the players are really agressive and are able to get up at or above the rim.