I've been asked to be a scorekeeper/clock operator at a tournament this weekend. I've never done either. I need a quick lesson in things to look for to run the clock so I don't make a complete fool out of myself. I have never run a clock so I have no idea how to interact with ref from this perspective. It's a high school AAU tournament, 16 minutes halves, clock stops on all whistles is all I know. Is there anything else with starting time etc?

thanks,
Coach Gbert

NFHS has a PDF file at http://www.nfhs.org/staticcontent/pd...rerstimers.pdf

Also - Keep your eye on the ref for re-starting the clock. Don't forget to change the arrow at the start of each period. Double check with the scorebook at each timeout - score, team fouls, individual fouls, whose possession coming out, time left and score (in case clock gets unplugged or spazzes out - it happens). If you have to keep track of individual scoring, it helps if you and the book have a spotter.

Watch the official...don't anticipate the play.

When the official blows the whistle (and hopefully raises his/her hand) stop the clock.

When the clock is stopped and you are preparing to start the clock, don't watch the play, watch the official for the "chop start".

When he/she chops the hand in a downward motion, that is when you start the clock.
This is particularly true during a free throw...watch the official with his/her hand raised, not the ball.

Interact with the officials and have fun...that's what it's all about...you guys are a team now...and thanks for helping out.

Thank you!!
 

Wow, thank you so much for the replies. The NFHS link is a tremendous source of info. I didn't even know it was out there. I appeciate the responses. Since it's a high school tournament I feel the need to be better prepared, so I don't let them down. If it was 5/6 rec ball I don't think I would have such anxiety. I wish I could have started with rec ball, but the AD at our school called and needed help, so there I will be.


thanks again to all,
CoachGbert

Let official report foul before you start recording it, he may have if differently than you! Also watch official for 3-pt. goal signal, don't try to make your own call. I've been helped quite a few times by an alert scorer and/or timer. Have fun!

Watch closely before you hit the horn. You don't want to hit the horn to alert the refs of subs when their shooting the first of 2 free throws. Just make sure the ball is not live when you hit the horn, it usually confuses players and creates something the refs have to sort out.

When a foul is called, try to get eye contact with the calling official so he can report and get the ball back in play quickly. 16 min stopped clock makes for a long day of AAU.

DO:

- Watch the official and start the clock on the chop each time. Nothing bugs me more than having to remind the timer to start the clock while the ball's in play.

- Know how the control panel works. Very annoying when it takes 5 minutes for the operator to put 5 seconds back on the clock.

- If you have the book make eye contact with the official as he reports fouls.

- If you have the book keep track of the arrow

- Time the timeouts & hit the horn at 45 sec & 60 seconds.

- Keep track of team fouls & make sure the officials know before a team is in bonus.

DON'T

- Hit the horn on every substition.

- Hesitate to call an official over if you didn't get a number or if there's any problem with the score or the book.

- DON'T do this during a live ball.

And don't forget to have fun!

As to interracting with refs - unless you know them, it's best to be like a child - "don't speak unless spoken to" (especially on the clock).

Be ready to help when needed (and if the refs are working a ton of AAU games, they'll be grateful for the help), and just stay focused in the game.

What everyone else has said here for clock is great - just be careful on made free throws - don't start the clock when the trail (near the midcourt line) official puts his/her hand down.

On the book - USE PENCIL!, especially if it's your first time. Always compare the book with the unofficial scorebook (if there is one), and if you are unsure of anything, get the ref's attention to get it checked out. Remember - most mistakes can be corrected, IF they are discovered soon enough.

Your first time 'ey? :D

It's also customary for the timekeeper to bring hot dogs and Gatorade to the referees at halftime and nachos and soda after the game.

DON'T hit the horn on every substitution?!?

The correct mechanic is to withhold your whistle on the sub, wait for the horn and then beckon the subs in.

Personally, I'm more of a no horn and no whistle on the substitutions. It seems like an unnecessary waste of loud noise and attraction to myself. Don't get me wrong I'll use the whistle if need to get the subs attention, but just personal preference.

Never really knew there was a textbook mechanic on it.

That's right Dribble, DON'T hit the horn on every sub.

I make it a point to always know when there are players at the table. If I've hit the whistle to beckon the player in there is no reason for the table to hit the horn. Which is what I tell my table, especially at these aau things.



[Edited by Dan_ref on May 7th, 2005 at 11:23 AM]

especially if you're working side by side courts. If the ref calls for the subs to come in and they don't move, simply give them a kick in the pants from under the table or you can tell them to go in, whichever you feel is more effective without hitting the horn.

So, coachgbert, I'd be interested in hearing how it all went! When you check in next.

Dan_ref, my point is that you shouldn't be putting air into the whistle on subs anyway. That's the job of the horn.

I can't recall any high-profile televised NCAA or NBA game (for common reference) that the officials consistently brought in subs with their whistle. It's always done through the table.

and Dan's point is that this isn't a high profile NBA or NCAA game (which BTW requires a whistle for subs in women's play), but rather is a summer AAU tourney and we don't need the excess noise. It becomes rather grating after 3 or 4 games. So just "look over and wave" becomes the mechanic.

When I'm working high-profile televised NCAA or NBA games I'll remember your advice. Until then I'll bring them in when I'm ready and hit the whistle if I need to get the sub's or my crew's attention.

And if the subs are already coming in there's no reason for the table to hit the horn.

So I survived...
 

I survived the experience of timekeeper with no major mishaps. I did learn that every game and every set of refs had a different method of wanting me to alert them to subs. With four courts running side by side and simultaneous games, the amount of whistles and horns were distracting among the games. Some refs wanted me to sound the horn with every sub, others said to verbally alert them, no horn necessary or desired. I don't recall anyone whistling the subs in. Most just waved them in and started play. The coaches on the other hand wanted me to hit the horn with ever player ambling to the table and were mortified when I ignored them and did what the refs wanted.

I asked before every game how the refs wanted me to work, what they wanted to know and how they wanted the clock started/stopped. Some said to be patient with stopping the clock and only stopping AFTER the whistle when eye contact is made with the ref. Others wanted me to immediately hit the clock with every "tweet" (I finally got to write the word tweet!).

It was interesting to see how the various styles all played out on the court. After the first game it wasn't nearly as scary. They were desparate for table personnel so my 13 year old kept the book. All in all we made a pretty good team. She checked with me on every possession change, when tracking fouls and told me when to start the clock for time-outs after the ref reported it.

It was a long evening, but I learned how to timekeep and score. I also learned there are as many styles of reffing as there are of coaching. All of them were willing to answer any questions we had. Most ignored the loud, screaming coaches, some screamed back and one even tossed a coach and a spectator (someone's dad that got out of hand. I enjoyed being on the other side of the table. The refs had the greatest respect for both me and my daughter.

Thanks to everyone for the responses. They were extremely helpful.

Coach Gbert

Re: So I survived...
 

So these refs looked at you and made eye contact after every whistle? Then wanted you to stop the clock? Must have made for a long game. Hmmm...

Re: Re: So I survived...
 

He explained it because he was worried about the timers reacting to all the other whistles in the gym due to the four courts side by side (seperated only by the drop down screens). He told me that in the earlier games the clock was stopped on whistles from other courts and it was taking too long to sort it out. He wanted me to watch the refs and said they would blow the whistle and immediatley look at the table, so I should watch for them. It seemed to work okay for that game.

Re: Re: So I survived...
 

Actually it would shorten the game. For each whistle, there would be several seconds used up that normally would have to be played.

Why didn't they tell the timer to just wait to see the three clock stopping signals?

Re: Re: Re: So I survived...
 

I think you hit it, they wanted a few extra ticks to run with every whistle.

Coach, good to hear that you enjoyed your experience. I think experiences like this will somehow incorporate into your attitude when coaching. It helps you to be more patient with all those involved as you better understand what they are going thru. Be careful as it can also frustraite you when they are being lazy as you also know how it "should be" done.

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.

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.

Thanks, Nevada. :cool:

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.