80% Rule

[Larks]

Worked two 4th grade tourney games today with a 30+ yr Exp "Old Guy". Very good ref and good experience for me to work with him. He gave me some great insights on certain sitch's and clarified a couple mechanics for me. He did throw one "mechanic" at me though that was a new one on me.

A's ball coming out of a time out. Lead (not me) is ready to admin the throw in....we call for em...C'Mon A...you know the drill. A finally breaks huddle and 2 of A's players approach Lead but neither move up to throw the ball in. They argue about who is "supposed" to throw it in....you know the argument.....Lead finally sets the ball on the floor after asking them repeatedly to take the %$%$@ ball and throw it in! (Profanity was not spoken but definately thought!). 1.....2.....A2 FINALLY grabs ball....3.....4.....I hear A's coach yelling "time out" and I blow my whistle to grant it at roughly the same time as Lead blows his and calls 5 second throw in violation. A coach yells to lead "I called time out"....Lead says, no 5 secs occured first. Ok, I'm cool with this....He's the R and has 36 years more experience on me so I roll with it.

At half time R says to me, you know the 80% rule? I said no...he says that if he is on 4 of a 5 sec count and is about to or is in the process of swinging his arm for the count of 5, there can be no time out. Its the "80% rule".

This is not intented to rip on this guy because I really enjoyed working with him....but if it was me, I award the time out.

Comments?

Larks