Handy Guide for the Timer?
 

It is the ideal that all athletic directors adequately prepare those running the clock. Especially in the junior high ranks, that is admittedly an ideal. Occasionally the one doing the clock and scoreboard is a student who got napped for the task after school.

I know this is the responsibility of the administration, but it would be great, as an official, to be able to ensure the knowledge of proper timer practices before the game starts on the lower levels.

It would be handy to have a little card with the most basic things the timer needs to do right. When needed, this might be easier than giving a rushed-through tutorial before the game starts.

Seems to me that something like this might already be available through some of your associations.

Anybody got anything like that you'd be willing to share?

Timer's guide answered!
 

Freddy,
Here is a document from the NFHS detailing the function of a timer!
http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmana...rerstimers.pdf

I find that they only need to know three things:

1) If the clock is running, stop it when you hear a whistle.

2) If the clock is stopped, start it when a player, from either team, who is inbounds, touches the ball.

3) If you make a mistake, make it that the clock runs too much. It's easier for us to "put it back" than it is to "put it forward."

I would revise #2. Start when I put my hand down, watch me not the ball.

I always tell timers, "If you forget to start the clock, we'll yell at you. If you forget to stop the clock, we won't say a word." :rolleyes:

Thanx!
 

Thanx, guys! Your responses have more than adequately covered what I needed. Thanx again!

The first thing I would tell them is that nap time is over.