Ramifications for requesting too many timeouts

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Just because the rules allow or don't prohibit something doesn't necessarily mean it is ethical or acceptable.

In a running clock league like this, I'd roll the clock once this particular timeout ends...even if it didn't normally start. The clock would run during the T FTs...eating up the clock anyway....that's assuming I don't just declare it a travesty and go home.

At the same time, I'd be quite particular about not letting subs in that were "not ready".

Neither of these forms of gamesmanship should not be part of youth sports.

And just because it's not standard doesn't mean it's unethical.

That said, I agree. The clock would start "on the ready." In the end, it would cost the kids playing time rather than save it (due to the free throws).

[Coach Bill]

FYI - The league agreed to stop the clock on free throws. This will make it more palatable, and was a compromise since they admit that they told me it was a stopped clock league.

Thanks for the info. I was never gonna start racking up the timeouts/technicals, but it's good to know they get charged to the team.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

FYI - The league agreed to stop the clock on free throws. This will make it more palatable, and was a compromise since they admit that they told me it was a stopped clock league.

Good news, and well done.

[Mark Padgett]

Since I've been on the Board of our local kids rec league for 17 years, I have a lot of experience with both the timing of games and the playing time for the kids. We restrict the number of players on each team to a maximum of 10 and any kid who shows up for both practices during the week must play at least half the game on Saturday. That means that if a team has 10 kids and they all show up for the practices, they will all play half the game on Saturday (or on a weeknight for HS level). Of course, this timing is somewhat approximate, although as close as the clock situation will allow. Our 3rd and 4th grade teams play 8 minute quarters with running clock, 5th and 6th play six minute stop time quarters, 7th and 8th play seven minute stop time quarters and HS plays 20 minute running halves. This is dictated by the amount of time we have to get all the games in. HS games are played on weeknights. We rent the gyms from the School District and they are pretty strict about us not running over the rental times because there are custodians in the schools who stay in the gyms during the games (school district policy to have a school district employee in the gym during games) and they are union employees so the district is very specific about their clock in and out times.

BTW - the referees are not responsible for monitoring the amount of playing time the kids get. Our policy puts the burden on a parent to complain to the Board and then a Board member checks it out. Since I am a referee and a Board member (as are a few others), I sometime get asked to "testify" as to my perception of the playing time of a player if there is a complaint but usually we are not concentrating on keeping track of this. We have enough else to do smacking unruly parents upside the head with frying pans. You should try it sometime. It works pretty well.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Since I am a referee and a Board member (as are a few others), I sometime get asked to "testify" as to my perception of the playing time......

Mark - just curious, has it ever really come to this? Testimony? If so what were the results? Did it get ugly? Team forfeit the game? Warning? Bar the coach? Draw and quarter? Inquiring minds want to know? (well, at least me anyhow)

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Mark - just curious, has it ever really come to this? Testimony? If so what were the results? Did it get ugly? Team forfeit the game? Warning? Bar the coach? Draw and quarter? Inquiring minds want to know? (well, at least me anyhow)

No, it just takes the form of a parent complaining to the Board, then someone from the Board calling the refs and some of the other parents, then reporting back to a meeting of the Board as to what happened (after speaking with the coach, of course). I don't think it's ever gone beyond just a subsequent call to the coach to remind him or her of the rule. In all those years, I can't remember it happening twice with the same coach. Almost without exception, the coaches are parents and the kids on their team usually (but not always, since they can attend different schools) know each other so it's a pretty friendly situation.