bad to worse

[Splute]

Originally Posted by reddevil19

Which rule for HS covers that? (EDIT: Never mind, I see the rule cited) Is the intent of the rule to make sure that if a player calls timeout it must be taken, regardless of whether the coach wanted it? I hope so. What about a situation like this:

About 5-6 years ago my Frosh team had the ball in the front-court (2nd half, so right in front of me). Action is ocurring, I'm standing in my box, closer to table than baseline, mouth shut and arms folded when the lead official blows his whistle and says "Timeout-red." While waiting in stunned silence to find out which of my players unnecessarily called a timeout, imagine my surprise to have the table be told that I called the timeout. When I explained that I had done no such thing, I was told that "someone around my bench" called for it. I pointed out that since I had no assistant coach and only 3 players on the bench and that none of them said it, I didn't want a timeout and would like to just restart the game. The official told me that since "I heard the timeout call from around your bench, you have to take it."

I decided there was no point in arguing. Aside from the obvious things that are wrong with how that was handled, I can't imagine that the rule is intended to force a timeout on a team in a situation like that.

Thanks for the knowledge!

I am hardly an expert on rules, but I believe the intent relates to the fact that if an Official GRANTS a TO, then it must be enforced. Rather than if one is requested. Where it becomes gray is in situations as you mentioned. The official believes someone called a TO, he granted it, therefore by rule it should be enforced. However, I believe that if the situation, after review, indicates that no TO was actually requested, then there is nothing to GRANT and therefore should be treated as an IW. But again that is judgement and common sense.....