I'm in the same boat. I'm not completely sure what the mechanic is "by book" either. I just know what the guys in my conference and other conferences around here do.

I am out of town, so I will have to get home to review what the book says. But what we did around here (and I will be working in a new conference this year) was to have the lead bounce the ball on the sideline and the Trail did the counting and the chopping.

Peace

Ok, it is time for me to go back in time about this mechanic. If anybody watched Big 10 basketball in the 1980's and 1990's, one could always tell the officials who had attended Phil Bova's Basketball Officiating Camp. Phil taught this mechanic at his camp even before the NBA adopted it. It just just now the the rest of college basketball is catching up to Phil Bova and what he taught in his camp.

MTD, Sr.

From the '07-'08 CCA Manual (Section 1.6, page 25): "On last-second situations in each half, the TRAIL official will also give the signal to start the clock. That will help the official timer as to when to start the game clock."

So I think I was correct in saying that the new mechanic is not for all throw-ins; merely for end-of-half situations.

First of all, it's just now that MEN'S college basketball is doing this. The Women's officials have been doing it for several years.

Second, I looked the CCA Manual, and I can't find any reference to throw-in procedures for this situation. I also looked in the '05-'06 book (I don't have last year's) and there was no mention of it there, either. So I'm not exactly sure what we're supposed to do.

But, as I said earlier, in my games, the Lead bounces and then looks away. The Trail administers everything else.

Thanks for the clarification. Of course, that is certainly NOT the way that it is being done on the court in the TV games which I've seen.

Reference
 

Page 22 of the CCA men's basketball officiating manual, section 1.3 Inbounding the ball states. "On all throw-ins, the official administering the throw-in will remain focused on the player making the throw-in until the ball has been released to a player on the playing court." There is a mechanigram inserted and it goes on to say. "The lead official will bounce the ball to the player and remain focused on the throw-in until the ball has been released onto the playing court. The trail official will still have the count and chop the start of the clock when the ball is touched by a player on the court. The center official will focus on the off ball coverage and extend coverage until the ball is in play."

So of the two guys who are ballside neither one is supposed to be observing the battles for positioning along the nearest FT lane line whether that be near the block or at the elbow.

What a silly mechanic! The creator of this one ought to have a proctol exam in the hopes of locating his head.

Excellent catch!!! Thank you. And again, I agree with Nevadaref that it is indeed a dumb mechanic. Don't tell anyone, but I ignore it completely in my games.

Honestly, in the college league that I work we have decided to ignore it at the assignor's/coordinator of officials "unofficial" request.

I just got home from being out of town. The reference given in the mechanics book is a bit confusing. I do not know how the lead and the trail are supposed to be focused on the thrower or the Trail is supposed to count and chop without the trail looking at the thrower.

The way we do it or it has been understood how we do it is the Lead bounces the ball and the Trail counts and chops while focusing on thrower. The Lead official concentrates on the post play or things in their area. At least that is how it was taught this summer.

Peace