The magic number

[Brad]

I use the shot clock because that is what the coaches and everyone else is looking at. You're welcome to call a 10-second violation with 26 on the shot clock, but there is no way that I would. If there is a problem with the table being slow to start I would address that seperately.

I stand corrected on the shot clock issue... If the shot clock is at 25 it means that 10 seconds has elapsed (at least it should mean that on most clocks -- at the D2/D3/JuCo level you never know!)

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

In fact, there was one D3 game last year where our crew had to stop play and correct either the shot clock or game clock nine different times during the course of the game.

We didn't have to correct it 9 times, but at one Juco game I did, I had to correct the game clock 3 seconds into the game. Yes, 3 seconds. Ball tossed, tapped legally and bounces OOB. Clock never stopped. Easy fix, at least.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

We didn't have to correct it 9 times, but at one Juco game I did, I had to correct the game clock 3 seconds into the game. Yes, 3 seconds. Ball tossed, tapped legally and bounces OOB. Clock never stopped. Easy fix, at least.

Each one of ours were relatively easy fixes as well, but it went well past annoying. The problem was the normal table crew was at the school's playoff football game, and the older gentleman that volunteered was having all sorts of problems. We tried to be as polite and professional as possible. But, after the crew got together to discuss the 5th or 6th problem, the poor guy was overheard saying to the scorekeepper, "I bet they're talkin' about me again..."

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

We didn't have to correct it 9 times, but at one Juco game I did, I had to correct the game clock 3 seconds into the game. Yes, 3 seconds. Ball tossed, tapped legally and bounces OOB. Clock never stopped. Easy fix, at least.

I once had a clock error 0 seconds into a D3 game.

Blew back a jump ball before it was touched to start the game. I looked up at the clock & saw that 2 seconds had come off.

[ChuckElias]

I think this is pretty silly, to be honest. 35-10=25. When you see 25, it means that 10 seconds have elapsed. If you want to allow an extra tick just in case the clock didn't start exactly correctly, fine.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

I think this is pretty silly, to be honest. 35-10=25. When you see 25, it means that 10 seconds have elapsed. If you want to allow an extra tick just in case the clock didn't start exactly correctly, fine.

Chuck, if the shot clock operation was similar to the game clock, would this still be silly? If the wording was similar to the NBA would this still be silly? If this has helped one person never forget this microscopic tidbit, is it silly?

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Chuck, if the shot clock operation was similar to the game clock, would this still be silly?

Yes.

If the wording was similar to the NBA would this still be silly?

Yes.

If this has helped one person never forget this microscopic tidbit, is it silly?

Yes.

If 35 minus 10 didn't equal 25, then it wouldn't be silly.

[tomegun]

OK Chuck, whatever you say.

[Raymond]

For folks who officiate "shot clock" games:

What have you done in the past? I've only had one JuCo game where it became a real issue. (3-man) In the 1st half I'm new trail following VISITING team up the court. As they are bringing the ball up I notice shot clock is ahead of my count. They cross division with my count at 5 seconds and shot clock at 27 seconds. I whistle play dead and have shot clock set to 30 seconds for VISITING team. (no protests from either coach). 2nd half, VISITING team is down by about 8-10 points with 3-4 minutes left. VISITING team scores, i'm New Trail. VISITING team is pressing of course and I don't get a chance to look at shot clock. HOME team crosses division line with my count at 9 seconds and almost simultaneously I have a blocking foul. I look up and see shot clock at 22 seconds. VISITING coach is having a fit b/c he says it should be a 10 second violation. After I report the foul I tell him that 10-second violations go by my count, not the shot clock and I end the conversation (I resist the urge to remind him about the sitch in 1st half that benefitted his team).

So I ask again, what have you done in the past in situations where shot clock doesn't match your count???