Scorebook/Scoreboard Error at End of Game

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

2.2.4 SITUATION C: Team B leads by a point with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. A1 releases the ball on a try, but the noise level makes it difficult for the covering official (umpire) to hear the horn. The umpire signals a successful goal. The referee definitely hears the horn before A1 releases the ball, but does not realize the umpire counted the goal. The officials leave the visual confines of the playing area and are not aware of the controversy until the scorer comes to the officials' dressing room. RULING: Even though the referee could have canceled the score if the officials had conferred before leaving, once the officials leave the visual confines of the playing area, the final score is official and no change can be made. In situations such as this, it is imperative that officials communicate with each other and that they do not leave until any problem regarding scoring or timing has been resolved.


I'd submit that the difference is that in this case ONE of the officials believed that the score was proper.

But in this case the book properly reflected the final score, based on the umpire counting the basket. So the result recorded in the book stands since the window of opportunity for correcting this error (this is a correctable error, is it not?) has closed with the officials leaving the floor.

The subject of the case really is that this error cannot be corrected once the officials have left the visual confines. It actually confirms that the final score, as recorded in the official scorebook, stands.