New Product
 

:confused: I’m not sure if any of you already use this product or have heard of it in the past and if you have I’m sorry. I recently received an e-mail for my assignment secretary which was a forward from the creator of this product.

http://www.possessionswitch.com

This product is a small piece that fits right on your whistle and allows you to keep track of alternating possession.

What do you think? Worth it or nah?

Nah. Not needed.

Use your memory to retain the status of the arrow. With time, you can even recall where the ball was when the TOs were reqeusted. Imagine the look on the coach's face when you recite the exact situations he took his timeouts. ;)

It doesn't sound very helpful if it screws up the sound of your whistle. Maybe a good alternative(for the officials who feel that it is imperative that they absolutely <b>must</b> do the scorer's job) would be to buy a 2X4 and a piece of chain. Cut the 2X4 into the shape of an arrow and then attach the chain to it; maybe even paint the 2X4 a nice fluorescent color that can be seen anywhere in the gym. Wear this during the game and just switch the way the 2X4 is pointing after an AP throw-in. The 2X4 may also come in handy for reasoning with some of the coaches that you might encounter also.

Maybe they'll come up with some kind of gadget next that will allow you to keep track of the fouls, TO's, score, etc. also. Maybe something that is attached around your waist and you can clip your very own scoresheet to and keep it up-to-date during the game. Attach a pen to it with a cord and you're all set to go. I'm sure that the <i>keep-track-with-something-in-your-pants-pocket</i> group would give an innovation like that a try also.

Or maybe(this is revolutionary thinking so bear with me) you can try to keep track of AP's, etc. in your head.I've heard a rumor that there actually <b>are</b> officials around that are able to do that.

How about using a downs counter to keep track of team fouls? :)

Yup, you could also sharpen up the base and use it as a javelin when you want to get a coach back in his box.

Good idea, Juggler.

Or you could have a velcro association patch which you could move from side to side...

That's a good one!!!!!

Believe me, you only need to count the "downs" up to one around here.

(that's an inside joke in this area) :D

Or something like an umpire's ball/strike/out clicker. :)

The problem I think you'd have with a gadget like this, Brandan, is the same one you'd have with moving a whistle, coin, chapstick, whatever from pocket to pocket. You've got to remember to do it, every time.

I briefly tried the pocket pool thing and I found that it took as much effort to remember whether I had switched the thing after the last throw in as it did to just remember the arrow.

An approach I learned from our dear, departed ChuckElias (RIP), and prefer, is to make the arrow part of your count. One-red-arrow, two-red-arrow, etc.

YMMV

What happened to Chuck Elias???

He was abducted by aliens.

Who?<i></i>

Nothing, Brandon. Don't let these clowns kid you.

http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=29315

I still post all the time in the annual baseball thread. Glad to see you back on the forum!

Just my opinion, but this may be the dumbest product ever thunked up. But, I'm sure someone will buy it. Personally, I will not. This thing just looks stupid, and how stupid are you going to look, checking out your whistle on every jump ball. If you can't remember the possession arrow, try carrying a whistle or a dime in your pants pocket. But, if you really want to be a more than just a warm body in a striped shirt, learn to remember the arrow.

CLH

B,
You buy this and some of your cajun friends are going to be asking "Who Dat?" and "What Dat?" when they see you using it! ;)