Fwiw, setting the ball down at the throw-in spot has been a mechanic in NCAA-W for a couple of years now. (Or, maybe it was just last year, with it being an experimental mechanic the year before?) Anyway, I was against it for all the reasons listed above - people tripping over it, kicking it away, taking it when you're not looking, etc. But I have not seen or heard any examples of those problems. The main reason for this mechanic is communication with the players and coaches as to where the ball is to be put in play. Usually the best example of this happens near the end of a game - there's a turnover, the ball goes OOB along the baseline, then there's a TO. The crew might get together near center court to go over things (who's got last shot, watch for the trap on the throw-in, keep an eye out for intentional fouls, white's in the bonus, but blue still has only 5, let's stay in this one, etc.), and that's when usually an asst. coach sticks their head out of the huddle and asks, "Where's the ball?". Now all we have to do is point at the ball sitting right on the throw-in spot.

In most other normal game situations, the official administering the throw-in will be standing right next to the ball, so there are less opportunities for shenanigans and stuff. I was against the mechanic in the beginning, but I've grown accustomed to it.

Good grief. :(

Some people can find a problem anywhere they look. :o

It says you "may" do it. It does NOT say you "have" to do it.

The mechanic for standing out on the floor away, from the bench, when the ball is going to be put in play in front of the bench has not changed.

are you just referring to me? or the others that don't like the changes too?

Good grief indeed!

Ah.....who did I quote? :rolleyes:

The rule has nothing to do with standing in front of the bench. Did we stand in front of the bench last year? No. We moved onto the floor away from the bench. What do you see in the original post that says that's changed? Where does it say you have to put the ball down before going to speak to the opposing coach?

Sad day. :(

I think this is what drew the "good grief" comment. We have all these people concerned about the legal ramifications should someone trip over the basketball while it is on the floor and all the problems that can arise if someone moves/hides/steals the ball.

How about this...since, with one possible exception, the posters here are at least semi-intelligent and observant...IF YOU THINK SOMEONE WILL GET HURT FROM A SITTING BALL OR MOVE, HIDE OR STEAL THE BALL...DO NOT SET IT DOWN!

It states the official MAY set the ball down on the floor (not sure how one would set it UP on the floor, but that is a different discussion), not that the official MUST set the ball down on the floor.

IMO, if you are a good enough official to be assigned a varsity game you should be alert and observant enough to know when it is safe to use that option.

Believe it or not some here even think the MAY is a bad use of language for this mechanic. And believe it or not, someone will not look at this as MAY and might use this as a reason to ding officials over. The point that I have made we did not need this mechanic even as a MAY as apart of the language.

Remember not everyone that uses NF mechanics are 10, 20, and 30 year veterans and will know when to use and when not to use mechanics. There will be some young officials that might do something they read and take it to heart more than someone like me that has been around might know when to pick and choose. Also not all levels are the same. Working a freshman game where 10 people are in the stands are a little different than working a sophomore or varsity game where cheerleaders might more likely be present and the atmosphere is drastically different. I am not concerned about veterans that have been around the game, I am more concern with the newer official that is worried about what they are calling than the many things going on during a timeout which a veteran might do as common place.

Peace

10,000+ post to just over 100 post...hmmm...as Rut mentioned you never know which one of you vets is going to ding a younger guy for something like "MAY" and that something you "MAY" not like might be something you vets already do but just want to ding a younger guy, just because you have more experience doesn't make it right...i guess i need a few more than 100+ posts to get a "little" respect from vets like you...

sad day indeed!!!

Well, I don't have a schnauzer in this particular dog fight but.......the way it works here is that you get respect for <b>what</b> you post, not the number of times that you post.

Back to our regular programming.....:)

predictable!

John, he was responding to something very specific in your post that was incorrect; or it at least had incorrect implications.
Resorting to complaining about how the vets are picking on you? That's your response? Wow.

my bad, my bad...must be the lack of coaches chatting with me or maybe just the cold of the North...my apologies to BktBallRef and the rest of you all...my wife says I was doing the very same thing I dislike the most about this forum...

It makes no difference to me whether you just got here or you've been here 10 years. The info presented in your post was incorrect. Don't be so sensitive about it. It's just discussion.

We all do it occasionally.

You are right...

Sounds good to me, all three.