No one called TO

[MJT]

In our game the other night, I (an asst. coach) am yelling "tighten up" and the C who is right in front of us blows his whistle, turns to us and says "time out coach." He then says "I thought that was your voice, coach." Our HC says, "we'll take it."

My question is, what if we didn't want the TO? No one on our staff said anything about a TO. I am thinking you would just call it an inadvertent whistle and give us the ball OOB's but thought I read once on the board that the TO must stay? He obviously didn't make eye contact to make sure it was our HC, in fact, no coach said anything close to TO.

[Adam]

I'd go with an IW on this. Some officials, apparently, would misread the rule and assume they have to give the TO since it's been "granted." The rule, however, is to prevent a coach from requesting a TO and retracting it after getting the clock stopped (among other reasons, I suppose).

Were you standing?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'd go with an IW on this. Some officials, apparently, would misread the rule and assume they have to give the TO since it's been "granted." The rule, however, is to prevent a coach from requesting a TO and retracting it after getting the clock stopped (among other reasons, I suppose).

Were you standing?

Agreed, certainly if the coach wanted one, he wouldn't deny calling it.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by fullor30

Agreed, certainly if the coach wanted one, he wouldn't deny calling it.

The official even knew when he turned around and saw our faces that know one called it. Our HC just said, "I'll just take one," but no one called it and the official knew it. He even indicated that to me during the TO.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by MJT

The official even knew when he turned around and saw our faces that know one called it. Our HC just said, "I'll just take one," but no one called it and the official knew it. He even indicated that to me during the TO.

Well, it worked out Ok with Coach agreeing to accept it. Official probably would have gone with IW if Coach didn't take it.

I've been burned in the past and would rather have a screaming coach yelling timeout than to guess. I usually hear first than go with a visual. I know most of the coaches and they call me by first name to get my attention.

Of course a run by the opponent, a trap, a made basket with team trailing late in game, and my antenna is up for a time out. I've caught myself looking at bench 3-5 seconds before coach calls for TO.

[TimTaylor]

This is just another example of why the rule should be changed to eliminate the provision allowing coaches to request a time out while the ball is live.

The primary focus of the officials has to be on the action on the floor, and asking them to divert their attention to recognize & verify the authenticity of a coach's apparent TO request takes some of their focus away from that primary responsibility and can cause them to miss something crucial. This is especially true in the intense final minutes/seconds of a close game when these requests are more likely to occur.

Yes three official crews help, but the simple fact is that the vast majority of HS games are, and for the foreseeable future will be, officiated by 2 person crews. I have no problem with a HC requesting a TO during a dead ball, but strongly believe that during a live ball the request should have to come from one of the players on the floor.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'd go with an IW on this. Some officials, apparently, would misread the rule and assume they have to give the TO since it's been "granted." The rule, however, is to prevent a coach from requesting a TO and retracting it after getting the clock stopped (among other reasons, I suppose).

Were you standing?

No one was standing.

I don't see how the official could charge them with a TO when he screwed up. He didn't make eye contact to verify it was the HC, see a TO call, or know that "TO" was even said, which it was not.