Clock operator, scorekeeper duties...

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by Nevadaref
I've said this before, but it is worth repeating. I believe that every official should have the experience of keeping score and running the clock. It really opens your eyes to the fact that those jobs are not so simple. Once you understand that you have a new appreciation for your table crew. It always pays to be nice to those folks.

Thanks, Nevada.

In Nevada we used non-working officials for the clock/scoreboard and book during the state tournament for years. When I was in the DC area, MD used an alternate official for all postseason games. Both of these experiences were valuable to me.

During the A-10 women's tourney, we had an alternate official at the table for every game, and many of them remarked about how they had never realized the challenges inherent in the clock & book.

I must say, I was even a bit relieved when the one mistake I made the entire tournament was also made by the alternate official.