The Possession Switch

[Daryl H. Long]

Not me. Besides it costs as much as a whistle. I can spend that money on something other than a devise that makes me do the scorer's job.

Next they will try to sell us a devise we can put on one finger of each hand so we can keep track of points. Maybe a white one for the home team to be placed on right hand and a black one on left hand for the visitors.
Something similar to the devises that track the number of people entering a
game.

[tjones1]

I was thinking something like this was already out there. However, I was under the impression it fixed on the top of your whistle.

Either way, I don't plan on using it...I can keep track in my head.

[jkjenning]

Whistle[Listerine pocket pack, whatever] in the pocket works... right pocket goes to home, left to visitors or whatever your scheme. I'm not going to rely on remembering the arrow and tracking the arrow myself gives me a good indicator of how alert I am and/or how alert the table crew is. I don't want to spend more money for an extra device, though.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Daryl knows that I have had owned a couple of possession switches for a number of years. I have them on two of my Fox 40's. I rarely use them and when I do it is usually in youth summer recreational leagues and H.S. team summer camps where there is no AP Arrow to begin with. They do affect the sound of the whistle somewhat. I would never use them during real games, i.e., H.S., college, and summer national tournaments.

And yes, Daryl is that cheap as not to buy one.

MTD, Sr.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

And yes, Daryl is that cheap as not to buy one.

It's probably more of a case that Daryl would be ashamed to be seen wearing one.

[Old School]

Rubber band, face the table, rubber band goes on hand that points to bench.

Jump ball, face the table, rubber band on right hand, point to team bench on the right side of table. Change to the other hand b4 you put ball back in play. Don't set to the basket like the arrow would point if there was an arrow, because this will screw you up in the 1st half.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Old School

Rubber band, face the table, rubber band goes on hand that points to bench.

Jump ball, face the table, rubber band on right hand, point to team bench on the right side of table. Change to the other hand b4 you put ball back in play. Don't set to the basket like the arrow would point if there was an arrow, because this will screw you up in the 1st half.

Sigh.....

It never stops. A perfect 593 for 593.

Players are not allowed to wear rubber bands. It's in the rules. You'll have to trust trust me on that, seeing that you and rulebooks are strangers to each other. It isn't recommended that officials wear anything that players aren't allowed to use.

The only people that would even consider doing anything like that are the Old Schools of the world. It might be OK in rec leagues, but it sureasheck doesn't fly anywhere else. Don't be that guy.

Is that the recommended procedure used in your college games, OS?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

It's probably more of a case that Daryl would be ashamed to be seen wearing one.

So true, so true. And then there is the fact that he has to officiate with me too.

MTD, Sr.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by jkjenning

Whistle[Listerine pocket pack, whatever] in the pocket works... right pocket goes to home, left to visitors or whatever your scheme. I'm not going to rely on remembering the arrow and tracking the arrow myself gives me a good indicator of how alert I am and/or how alert the table crew is. I don't want to spend more money for an extra device, though.

iirc, you're a relatively newer official. The technique you suggest is often used by newer officials (or, and MTD points out, in summer games where you're working several games in a row with less-than-perfect table personnel and equipment). As you gain more experience, you should try to wean yourself from this habit and remember the arrow.

[jkjenning]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

iirc, you're a relatively newer official. The technique you suggest is often used by newer officials (or, and MTD points out, in summer games where you're working several games in a row with less-than-perfect table personnel and equipment). As you gain more experience, you should try to wean yourself from this habit and remember the arrow.

Nope - yours is one opinion and I know very respected college officials who do this as well. I do not see this as a new official gimic but as a good habit begun at the right time.

[zebraman]

Originally Posted by jkjenning

Nope - yours is one opinion and I know very respected college officials who do this as well. I do not see this as a new official gimic but as a good habit begun at the right time.

Seriously? I've never worked with a single college official (or a top-notch HS official) that uses a device to keep track of the arrow (rubber band, whistle in the pocket etc.) They have all learned to manage the arrow that the official scorekeeper uses.

Low-level games where the official scorekeeper makes a mess of the arrow are the perfect place to practice arrow management.

IMO, nothing screams "rookie" or "sloppy veteran" like the rubber band technique or something similar. I've been to camps where an observer comes over and takes a rubber band (or whistle) away from a camper and tosses it in the nearest garbage can.

[jkjenning]

Originally Posted by zebraman

Seriously?

Yes, seriously - well respected officials. I started using a whistle in my pocket my first year and it is now what I consider to be a good habit, so I'll keep it [well, now I use an empty Listerine-strip packet]. Do you seriously find that most officials accurately keep track of the arrow in their heads?? I can't imagine using a rubber band - bad example for the players if nothing else.