Cell phones at the table

[Junker]

Try to address it before the game starts if at all possible. If it happens during the game ask them to turn it off and get it out of sight or have them replaced. Nice memory Adam, I don't recall that one. I do recall almost having a pastor removed from the table for acting like a fan during a varsity game. I had to have the AD explain that he couldn't complain at the table. Maybe that explains my bad karma at times.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Either that, or the kid was filling in for the dad who had been assigned the job, but was being lazy.

Didn't even think of that - it's a possibility.

Still, the kid shouldn't be on his cell. Where did common sense go?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Junker

Try to address it before the game starts if at all possible. If it happens during the game ask them to turn it off and get it out of sight or have them replaced. Nice memory Adam, I don't recall that one. I do recall almost having a pastor removed from the table for acting like a fan during a varsity game. I had to have the AD explain that he couldn't complain at the table. Maybe that explains my bad karma at times.

It was at Lincoln. Girls game was against Roosevelt and boys was against Hoover, kind of an odd double header.
You'd called a Lincoln girl for a foul when she was laying down in the paint and rolled over tripping the girl with the ball. When you approached the girls at the table about their cell phones, they snapped back, "Well, it's not a foul when the player's on the floor." Typical teenager non sequitur.

[Junker]

I'm sure them telling me what a foul was went over well. I remember it now. They were going for sure between games. Good thing someone else came to run it. This will be my first season without significant (by that I mean a large number) JV games (I have 3 to help out some AD's). I don't think I'll miss them.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by dblref

Why would you have it turned on at the table? If it rings in my game you are either going to turn it off, or we will be finding a replacement.

dblref:

Do you normally remove team statisticans (note that in my OP, I clearly said someone else was the official scorer) for having cell phones turned on? IMNSHO, that seems to be the mark of an OOO.

In that particular gym, you'd have to have rabbit ears to know whose cell phone was ringing since the gym is so small that the table is 8 feet off the ground on an upper level and right up against fan seating.

A good thing you don't do our city softball tournament, since I keep my cell on in the press box because I get scores called in from 3 other fields so I can keep the scores/brackets updated. and even though there are no other games going on at the same time as the final, I keep my phone on anyways.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by rgncjn

Had this problem at the varsity level last year with the scoreboard operator. She was actually talking on the phone when things started going downhill. I forget the specifics, but the clock failed to start once the ball went inbounds. When myself and another official went to speak with the woman, she did not even pay attention. My partner ended up grabbing the phone from her and told her to listen to what we were saying. My partner then gave the phone to the AD and told him not to let her have it until the game unless the situation was an emergency and, in that case, we would need a new operator.

The proper mechanic is to stand in the reporting area, blow the whistle, place your right hand near the side of your head with your thumb next to your ear and your pinky finger extended towards your mouth, and then say very loudly, "HELLO, scorekeeper, can you hear me now? I need to report a foul by Blue #21 for holding. Thank you."

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Do you normally remove team statisticans (note that in my OP, I clearly said someone else was the official scorer) for having cell phones turned on?

Stat-Man I know this isn't addressed to me, but I'm just trying to understand what you're saying. I don't see in your OP where you clearly say that someone else was the official scorer. You call the person a "student score-keeper" which could be the official scorer, or the visiting stat person, or whatever. I'm just wondering ...

[dblref]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

dblref:

Do you normally remove team statisticans (note that in my OP, I clearly said someone else was the official scorer) for having cell phones turned on? IMNSHO, that seems to be the mark of an OOO.

In that particular gym, you'd have to have rabbit ears to know whose cell phone was ringing since the gym is so small that the table is 8 feet off the ground on an upper level and right up against fan seating.

A good thing you don't do our city softball tournament, since I keep my cell on in the press box because I get scores called in from 3 other fields so I can keep the scores/brackets updated. and even though there are no other games going on at the same time as the final, I keep my phone on anyways.

I don't think of this as having rabbit ears or being an OOO. If you are sitting at the table, and it doesn't matter if you are the clock operator, score keeper, stat person, whatever, and your phone is ringing, it is distracting. A couple of years ago, I had a young man (visiting team book) removed from the table for using his cell phone. I had already told him that it was a distraction and he needed to turn it off. About 2 minutes after this conversation, we were shooting f/t's and it was fairly quiet. Just as the shooter was about to take the 2nd shot, the cell phone rang again, and everybody just stopped and looked at the table. I asked the AD to remove the guy and the AD agreed. There is no reason to have the phone turned on at the table. If your calls are that important, then you don't need to be on the table. Look at your last sentence...."even though there are no other games going on at the same times as the final, I keep my phone anyways." Why?

[refnrev]

I give up.... what's an OOO?

Originally Posted by refnrev

I give up.... what's an OOO?

I know huh... I was thinking "overly officious official".
Yes, no, maybe so??

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by refnrev

I give up.... what's an OOO?

Overly Officious Oaf.

Just one more TLA.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Overly Officious Oaf.

Just one more TLA.

Three Letter Acronym.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Three Letter Acronym.

It wasn't a question, but thanks. If it was a question, it would be phrased like this:

By the way, does anyone know what "BTW" means?

[Adam]

IMS, I don't recall.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

It wasn't a question, but thanks. If it was a question, it would be phrased like this:

By the way, does anyone know what "BTW" means?

I know... my response was in case anyone asked what TLA is for.... just as they asked for OOO.

I also thought you were making a comment about society's overuse of TLAs.