Ref Signal - #2
 

Lately I've observed in NCAA/NIT games a Lead will point in the other direction after a made basket, any idea what mechanic this is? Is this an old mechanic that a relatively new guy such as myself wouldn't know about? I've seen it before but never inquired about it.

Seems as though its used mostly when there might, could, would, should of possibly been something called and instead they point the other way, almost in a "nothing to see, move along" the other way type of signal. This is purely conjecture on my part.

Thoughts?

This seems to be an old-school mechanic. I have only seen it used at the college level. I frequently see it when a team scores a goal. The new Trail will point in the direction of the team now entitled to the end line throw-in.

I know of nothing in any current manual that says to do such. One of the NCAA guys will be along shortly to shed more light on this.

It seems to be a confrence thing. The guys from the ACC do it. Also the SEC and a few others. The new trail always signals a two in front of him on a field goal. Out west I've never seen it.

Are you sure he's not getting ready to begin the 5-second count, and then signalling the shot clock (and game clock in the last minute of the game) to start?

Yup, they do it right as the ball goes through the hoop. Their arm goes straight out w/ two fingers extended.

No, Bob, that's not it. I know what he's talking about, although I don't think it's a conference thing. It's more like an indication that possession has officially changed and we're going "that way" now. I think it's probably a long lost leftover mechanic. It just looks silly to me.

I remember when I started that the old trail/new lead had to signal the baskets to the scorers table. Talk about stupid mechanics....

It's tough to say that certain mechanics are conference based when so many D1 guys are working multiple conferences.

I see older, established refs make this "signal" all the time. Tim Higgins and Jim Burr use it every time they are the new Trail. I haven't noticed other guys using it, but I'm sure there are plenty.

I saw Donnee Gray use it this past weekend. I notice some NBA do it from time-to-time, usually after a made basket that involved some contact.

i use
 

it now and then if something happens and a player wants to argue a block/charge no call or contact just to remind him that play is going the other way.

I use it for the same reason even on plays where there is a good amount of contact an the ball doesn't go in.

This sounds clearly like the official is "counting the basket" by indicating how many points are scored. This mechanic was eliminated a year before I started officiating and I remember guys using this the first year I worked basketball. It is not a conference thing, it is just something officials that have been around a long time have been doing and did not ever change. It really is not a big deal; I can just tell who has been working games longer than I have when I see the signal.

Peace

this is still the mechanic in FIBA. Funny, but I've never thought of it as being stupid. Why do you say that it is?

Would the players, fans, coaches and the table know that a basket has been scored and we're going the other way if you didn't signal?

Of course they would. That's why it's stupid. :p

And no, it's not an ACC thing.

My first game back after a 26 year layoff I signaled the '2' to the table, in the 1st half. That's the way it was in pre-zebra shirt days.