Watched the Cinn-Louisville game tonight. Tim Higgins has been a long time member of my NJ board so I always watch him a little extra. I noticed that he has a small retangular box attached to the right side of his belt. He places his hand on it when not in active motion. Does anyone know what this is? Is it something he uses for officiating?

Timing device. It stops the clock on his whistle. I'm not sure exactly how it works since I've never used one. I'm guessing there's some sort of a reset button, but again, not sure.

When I was watching those boxes up close last week, it looked like at least 1 official, sometimes more than 1, flipped a switch to start the clock. So instead of chopping in the clock on a throw in, they flip a switch. I'd love to know how this works though.

They're using a system called "Precision Timing". It's used by the NBA/WNBA as well as several D1 conferences and even some high schools.

Here's a link to the manufacturer of one type of system:
http://www.precisiontime.com/systems.htm

It is called the Precision Timing System.

This is a battery operated devise that has a lanyard with a small microphone that is next to the whistle (you must use a Fox 40 BTW). When you blow the whistle the clock stops on a dime. There is a button on the belt device that allows the officials to start the clock as well. The table has a wireless remote that can start and stop the clock as well as a safety device to start the clock or stop the clock in case the officials PTS devices do not work. I have used the system about 5 times so far in my career. Many conferences use the system and have for some years now. The NBA uses the system exclusively if you watch the officials.

Peace

Precision Time
 

A small mic is wired from the box to the whistle lanyard. Blow the whistle, the clock stops. Press a button on the bottom of the box to start the clock.

Many college conferences have sopped using the device. It's not used in the NCAA tournament.

Re: Precision Time
 

Did you mean stopped? If so, do you know why?

The cool thing is this was developed by a fellow official and an Amateur Radio operator!!!

JRut, I saw a guy use it the other night with the fox 40 dolphin, and it worked. Just letting you know.

good info
 

thanks for the input guys. New info for me. when it is used, do all the three officials have the box wired to their whistles? I did not notice it on the other two officials working with Higgins.

Yes they all wear it.

I did not say it only worked with only with a Fox 40 Classic. I said it worked with a Fox 40. It works with a Fox 40 Mini. I should know that was the only whistle a partner of mine had was a Fox 40 Mini about 3 years ago when I used the PTS during a HS game.

Peace

Re: Re: Precision Time
 

I'm with Snake, Tony if you could, please fill us in on why they aren't using it anymore. Thanks.

I've heard the opposite. The NCAA Is looking to use it in the tourny. The only reason it wasn't used past the individual confrence finals last season was because not all sites had a PTS system. But I think every major DI confrence is pretty much using it these days.

I can't resist xD
This is from there website:
Erhm, how can you stop the time at the speed of light if you're using the audio to give the signal, the time would stop after the sound has reached the mic, the system realises they're there, and then the signal would be sent to stop the clock, it's not even close to the speed of light :p alright, it's still so darn fast that no human would notice the diffrence, still, not the speed of light.

Couldn't resist :D

For those of you that have used the PTS, did you like it? Did you have any problems with it?

Not even most conferences
 

That would be incorrect. The Big Ten does not use it. It is not used in many other conferences at least not on a consistent basis. It is also not used in any of the mid-western conferences that you might not consider "major" as well.

Peace

There were several NBA/WNBA officials and an evaluator at a camp I attended...they talked about the PTS system, and were even laughing about the fact that the NBA tracks which one of the officials gets the clock started correctly the most often. I was never sure if they were just joking around about that or not...can the PTS track that kind of thing?

I like the system but it takes some adjustment. The main problem is that you do not have a set mechanic for its use. So when you use it you do not know exactly what to do and there is some confusion (at least there was in my mind) about who does what. Other than that I liked the system and wish I could use it more often.

Peace

Good question. I have conflicting, and potentially apocryphal data on that.

One ref in our area owns a PTS system and takes it to games with him. If both coaches agree, he uses it. I had a good look at it once and didn't notice any means for tracking or recording anything.

On the other hand, I've been told (heresay, for what it's worth) that the MWC went to PTS so that they would have record of which official's whistle stopped the clock.

Perhaps there are different PTS systems, ranging from basic to more sophisticated?

Perhaps the NBA tracking who pressed the button and who didn't. But if they're joking about who pressed it closest to the ball being touched, how could you track that? You'd have to correlate PTS "logs" with game film or something like that. Sounds far-fetched to me.

Actually, when we've discussed these on the board before some people mentioned that the NBA uses a very expensive ($18K sticks in my mind) that could tell which official started the clock along with a lot of other stuff (signal strength, battery level for the belt packs etc.) At least this is what I remember. I could be wrong so don't treat it as fact! :)

How does he adapt it to different clock manufacturers etc?

Is this for NFHS games? If so, he shouldn't be doing this, even with the coaches' agreement, unless the STATE ASSOCIATION has approved its use.

pricing isnt bad.

PTS 400 - $2,845.00 is 4 belt packs. 5 is a little more. Doesnt listthe price for 3 belt packs but I imagine it's less than 4. 90 dollars for a case, 75 for set up to a clock and shipping.

the software the NBA uses is i'm sure customized and plugs into the back of the unit.

From the price/product sheet I have:
RECEIVER BASE STATION - Designed to interface only with the belt packs coded to the particular school/arena. Base Station unit is equipped with start & stop buttons and (5) five Low-Battery Led indicator Lights.

TRANSMITTER BELT PACKS - worn by the on-court officials that allows them to start and stop the game clock. PTS Series 400 and 500 allow you to have additional belt packs as a back up in case there is a malfunction.

ACE,

Why in the hell are you pricing these out. Are you practicing your PTS mechanics for your driveway basketball game??? J/K

Also, you probably could never use the PTS since you are so BIG TIME and don't use a lanyard! PTS requires the use of a lanyard, btw!!!!

Sorry ACE couldn't resist. Well, no Im not but it looks good if I say it...

Sorry, haven't checked this thread since posting earlier.
 

It hasn't previously been used in the NCAA tourney because not all sites have it and they were unwilling to buy it. There are quite a few conferences and schools that don't use it. Watch different conferences and you'll see that some use it and some don't.

Usually, it works as designed. The school I'll work at tomorrow night has it but the last time I was there, one pack didn't work. Most schools buy a 4th pack as a backup. The biggest issue is the batteries. They have to be repalced after two games and PTS wants you to by them from them. Schools complain they are too expensive.

This year, we've had one school add it, one school send it back, and one school stop using it because they could get it to work with the new timing console they had purchased.

Overall, I enjoy using it. I just wish everyone had it, so that you wouldn't have to adjust your mechanics on a night to night basis.

The system the NBA using is much more complex and expensive than the version that colleges and high schools buy. But yes, the NBA system records when the whistle was blown, by which official, and also who restarts the clock.

And yes, it will work with whistles besides the Fox. Many people think it responds to that particular tone of whistle but it doesn't. For example, prior to the game, you blow lightly into the mic to make sure the clock will stop. But the whistle must be one that the mic picks up the sound of "air." I have had the mic slide down my lanyard and it wouldn't stop the clock.

[Edited by BktBallRef on Feb 9th, 2006 at 03:02 PM]

Junkie,
everyone's always sitting here speculating on the cost, etc. so I sent an inquiry off of mere curiosity. My PTS mechanics? Atleast I don't actually use them during the game like some official we know. :COUGH:

I've actually revereted back to the lanyard. Especially in last weeks games. I typically use one. Some games I do, some games I don't. The last time I went no lanyard was in a girls game before I picked up those boys game in addition to my contract. And correction, they do make a specail mic package for officials who choose to go no lanyard. According to the pricing sheet, its slightly more expensive, and it is up to the individual official to buy the no lanyard mic system, and not the leauge, arena. Clips on the sides of the v-kneck. One mic on each side, about 1 inch or 1 1/2 inches up from the V.

That's correct. You'll see the NBA officials who don't use a lanyard using this sytem. The two mics are visible on the collar.

Just got back from an OVC match-up. The officials working this game were using the system.

Okay, did anyone else originally see this thread and think it was about someone seeing a game where Tim Higgins was wearing pants - with a belt? :D

yes.

Actually it's a system that can plug into the scoring system of most major arenas. I know here in WV our HS activities commission has their own system they use for the state tournament here in Charleston. When WVU and Marshall play, they also bring theirs. It's basically a receiver that plugs into the board somehow and there are like 6 transmitters. It doesn't negate the clock operator because when I have used them they CAN mess up - so usually the clock operators still start and stop as a manual back-up. While I thought it was cool the first time I used it - I also think it's a pain in the butt to have to start the clock with it. I've only used it a few times - hopefully, I'd get used to it!

Anyway, it's not the clock system that has the technology so much as it's the site having the system to add to their existing scoring system.

I've only used this system 3 times (about 2 years ago), and all 3 times we only stopped the clock. The regular clock operator started it.