I just want to make sure on this one. I cannot find in the book where it covers this but have always stopped play when that players team got control of the ball unless they were on the attack.

In my freshmen game last week, and our varsity girls game at my school this Tuesday we both had to call a TO to get the shoe back on our players. Here is the scenario in both cases. My player lost his shoe while playing defense in the half court. Now I know his is not going to get it back at that time, but they made a shot and the official just let play continue. We came down and turned it over, they came down and scored, we take it out again and are coming down floor and I say something to the official about stopping the clock for the shoe and he says no, so I call a 30 second TO. I tell him I should not have to call a TO for that but get no response.

Is this in the book, or just a common courtesy ?

There's nothing in the book that requires the official to stop play so that a player can put on a shoe or tie it.

Since your team is on offense, why can't you simply hold the ball for a few seconds while he slaps it on or while you're bringing it up the floor? That's usually what I see kids do.

I have found nothing in the rules allowing a "courtesy" time-out to put shoes back on. In my cynical world, I can see a coach using such a provision to his unfair advantage.

Instead of using a 30-second timeout, you should've taken a full and used the 60 seconds to teach your kids how to tie a double-knot. ;)

FWIW, Only time I MAY stop the clock is for small kids. They have a tendency not to tie shoes very well. No way I am stopping play for MS, Freshmen, JV, Varsity or college games.

Bow biters