High School mechanic
 

Who stops the clock with an Closed fist before you signal for a player control foul?? Or (like me) go directly to the block/charge call in an effor to better sell the call.

My association had a long discussion about this mechanic in an effort to avoid the "blarge".

Neither. Stop the clock with a fist. Make sure your partner isn't going to sell something opposite of what you have. Then give the PC or block signal.

Always stop the clock with a fist for a foul.

I do or at least I try to do this every time. You need to do it to give yourself a second or two to realize someone else has a whistle too.

Peace

I didn't mean open hand, I meant to say fist first then your block/charge signal. In our meeting, predominately, guys go directly to the block/charge mechanic without indicating a foul.

This will be a hard habit for me to break.

But if it saves you even a single blarge, it'll be worth the effort.

Habitually, I went right to the block/charge. But I now use the fist. I think you'll be able to work it into your game easily.

Proper mechanics are important, so yes use the CLOSED FIST to stop clock, then give Player control/block mechanic!

Any problem with BLARGES in your association??? This seems like it's asking for trouble!

The association president had a blarge last year, and he said the whole game went down hill from there. So I don't think there is a problem, but just a discussion topic.

While having this this discussion, I realized my mechanic has been wrong for some time.

I always use an open- or closed-hand to stop the clock. I believe it's an important signal to communicate with the timer. I know it has been discussed previously on this board that it isn't necessary on certain calls (ie jump-balls) but I do it because that's what I've been taught at camps. I pay those guys a lot of money to teach me good techniques so I am going to follow it. They also assign me games too ;)

-Josh

I see at least two problems. . .

They made a big deal this year at our rules meeting about "whistle blows, hand goes up". (Fist for foul, open hand for violation.) That's what stops the clock, then signal appropriately. This also helps avoid the blarge as it gives you that moment to make eye contact with your partner to (hopefully) avoid those types of calls.

U.P. here the whistle stops the clock.
Good thing, too! Because some officials don't get those hands up high enough for the timer (or Partner) to see.

Not trying to be argumentative, but WHY are they important? Saying it is cause someone says it is doesn't do much for me, really.

Most officials in our area simply point on out-of-bounds calls. Doesn't the whistle stop the clock?