Geeze, mick - how big is your partner's backside? :eek:

I think the purpose of this mechanic is communication - at some point a coach or asst. is going to stick their head out of the huddle and ask where the ball is going to be put in play, and having an official stand at the spot of the throw-in communicates that information easier. Also, late in the game when the officials are getting together to discuss their end-of-game strategy, leaving the ball at the spot of the throw-in also communicates that info to the teams.

In NCAA-W, the mechanic for the last couple of years was to put the ball down on the floor at the spot of the throw-in, even if the official was standing next to it. I thought the same thing Jeff did - someone would trip over it, steal it, or kick it away, but that never happened to me, or to anyone else I know. The reason given for changing the mechanic back this year to the official holding the ball at the spot was because the rules committee didn't like the "unprofessional" way the officials were picking up the ball after the TO. Some officials would pound on it and bounce it up, others would put their foot under it and kick it up; these methods are not as "professional" looking as simply bending over and picking it up.

Ha! just sayin'.... Just sayin'....
...Especially when it's a full timeout and partner is on circle, away from the table, you'll feel like yer 'shut out', if you ever work two-whistle. :)

That's why in those cases I just take a step or two to the side. (Usually depending on which side the cheerleaders are on...is that mentioned in the mechanics manual?)

Go ahead. Enjoy the cheerleaders.
I wish they were somewhere else, ...in another room perhaps.

Ha, yourself! You're assuming I automatically want to be closer. I just want the option some nights.

What works at the NCAA level does not always work very well at the HS level. Cheerleaders at the HS level are not as smart. And I have seen officials put the ball on the floor and I have seen cheerleaders almost trip over the ball. I almost ran into a cheerleader that was flipping on the court during a 30 second timeout (because cheerleaders are stupid).

The bottom line is I might use the mechanic on a case by case basis. But I think the ball on the floor only takes one time for there to be a really problem.

Peace

Maybe mick's right - we just need to send them to another room?...

If there were no cheerleaders, I probably would be OK with this mechanic.

The last time I checked, NCAA-W Basketball does not have cheerleaders. :D

Peace

But if my partner is female and nicely constructed, this could be a bonus. I'm just sayin' ;)

I think this is her. And no - that is NOT Juulie!



http://www.petanque.org/postcards/pi...os_fessier.jpg

Well, duh, if you are doing varsity and only 3-man, then it's a moot point. However, if you do subvarsity 2-man, and your partner goes to the correct spot and you don't, I guaranty the varsity refs watching your game (probably from halftime on), will notice it. Refs in the stands will notice it. If the scheduler is in the stands or some other rules official, he/she will notice it. And they will all start from that obvious flaw and search for more - and soon decide if they want to work with you or not.

My thought on this is why kick advancement opportunity in the backside over an obvious mechanic. Let them downgrade you over not performing a "pinch in" move on a breakaway, but not THIS!

Plus, when your partner has the ball at the endline, go ahead and stand on the low block right by him then walk all the way up the court to signal first horn to the visiting team. That would look goofy to almost everyone.

But hey, it's your career! Stand up for your principles! :D

I both assign, train and evaluate. If I'm evaluating somebody for advancement, someone standing in the wrong place during a TO would have absolutely no bearing at all on my decision as to whether they're ready for a higher level. It's just about the most minor concern that you could get, and is also just about the easiest to correct.

I want to know if someone can actually <b>officiate</b>. I could care less about piddly-azz stuff like that. If they're out of position during <b>play</b>, then you do have a problem. During a TO, it just isn't a biggie. If they wanna go boogaloo with the cheerleaders, I could care less.

I agree. However, here you have a guy REFUSING to do it when he knows he should. It goes to state of mind and what ELSE he will refuse to do on the court - not call handchecking? Rough post play? It's a renegade mentality.

The mechanic says "the adminstering official may set the ball down".
It does not say *should set*, *must set*.

I'm with Rut. I won't do it.