Coach wants a timeout...
 

...after the first free throw. He tells you before the first free throw is administered (while you're reporting the foul). Do you give it to him as soon as the first free throw is finished or do you make him ask for it again?

I always tell them to request the timeout at the proper time or when they want it called. I do that so that if they change their mind it is not on me. I have yet to have a coach not understand or get mad because I did not give them a "pre-determined" timeout.

Peace

What he said.

I agree with the others. I'll say OK coach, but I'll look at you after the first to make sure. Then I do that and if they still want it, grant the TO.

With that being said, is it correct procedure to grant a pre-determined TO in the following situations?

a> after a team scores, the throw-in teams coach says give me a time out when we cross half court.

b> after a dead ball the defensive teams coach says if they score give me a time out?

Or should we have them request again?
Personally, knowing in advance on those type of situations makes managing the game easier. It’s nothing like granting a time out when coach really called the play “five out” or you didn’t hear coach requesting at all because of the crowd noise.

As the others have said, you simply follow the rules. You grant a TO only <b>when</b> it's <b>legally</b> requested. It's covered in NFHS rule 5-8-3.

No and no.

Rule 5-8-3.

Yep, I guess the key words are granted only when...

The rule does not specify that a coach may not request a timeout for a future occurence. It only says specifies when an official may grant a timeout.

Yup, it sureasheck does tell you when to grant a legal request for a TO. That's exactly why you can't grant pre-requests. It ain't specified in the rule as being one of the <b>only</b> occasions during which TO requests may be granted.

JR, the rule book gives NO guidelines on the requesting of a timeout. None. Only the granting of a timeout.

Have them request again and, more importantly, tell them that they're going to have to request it when they actually want it.

The only thing that should be "easier" is that you now know the coach wants the TO, but you shouldn't cop out by granting it early.

Take another look at 5-8-3. They request, we grant, assuming the timing of both is proper. There is no provision for a "delay" between asking and receiving.

Again, the timing is specifically linked to the "granting" and not the "request" as outlined in the rule.

I understand your point, but I also do not know for sure that because there is no provision mentioned, it is not allowed.

I'm just not convinced that it's not something that is allowed. I agree that it's poor procedure and, as JRut pointed out, can lead to confusion and therefore shouldn't be used, but I'm not really willing to concede - for the sake of argument - that it's illegal per se.

A basic rule of thumb is when a rule does not specifically allow something it is a stretch to assume you can do it. In a situation like this it really is a stretch. BTW, a coach can only request a timeout. Officials actually grant them and I am not granting one with "if...." and "when this happens...." as apart of my duties.

Peace