To Toss or not to Toss?

[walter]

In a couple of my college games (4 out of 5) this year, I have had the referee on the crew designate me (U2) as the official to toss the ball while they handled everything else the referee is supposed to handle. While I had no problem doing this, I was just wondering whether anybody else has either been designated to toss or designated another member of their crew toss?

[fullor30]

I've been thinking about it as I'm not confident in my tosses. I'm OK, but keep changing my technique. I almost did it last night as I was the R. Trying to put it up immediately with out a pause so jumpers don't time me and hit it on way up.

Not to change the subject, but when the R designates another official to throw the jump ball does the thrower or the R administer the new quarter?

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

Not to change the subject, but when the R designates another official to throw the jump ball does the thrower or the R administer the new quarter?

Yep.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Yep.

Yep to two questions? Wow, nice generic answer!

Ummmmm thanks M&M (I think)

[TravelinMan]

CH1Town -

Good question. I would say the R would continue with his responsibilities. The thrower took initial toss because (1) R designated him to and (2) R felt thrower tossed the ball better. However, I would also think that if the R designated thrower to continue throwin responsibilities for start of each quarter in order to appear consistent this would be allowed. Not aware of any rule that specifically allows/denies.

Originally Posted by walter

In a couple of my college games (4 out of 5) this year, I have had the referee on the crew designate me (U2) as the official to toss the ball while they handled everything else the referee is supposed to handle. While I had no problem doing this, I was just wondering whether anybody else has either been designated to toss or designated another member of their crew toss?

At first, I thought we were talking about ejections when I saw the topic. Then I saw it was about the opening jump...sigh...I was hoping it was about salad! :-p

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by walter

I was just wondering whether anybody else has either been designated to toss?

Yep, I was. Biggest game of my career to that point. (Actually, to this point, now that I think about it.) I was as nervous as I'd ever been at a game. The R took care of everything pre-game. We go to the table, shake hands with the coaches, then right before the intros and Anthem, he says, oh so casually, "And, Scrapper, you toss it up."

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by walter

While I had no problem doing this, I was just wondering whether anybody else has either been designated to toss or designated another member of their crew toss?

I was the referee last night. I designated U1 to toss. But, I told him if we had overtime that he obviously done something wrong and I would toss.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by tjones1

I was the referee last night. I designated U1 to toss. But, I told him if we had overtime that he obviously done something wrong and I would kill him.

Fixed it for ya'.

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Fixed it for ya'.

Thanks, Mark. Certainly gave me a good laugh. Happy Thanksgiving!

[LSams]

There might be another reason to do this.

For example: You're the R on a crew and you've got an inexperienced U2 (first college game, first varsity game, whatever) and you can tell they are noticeably nervous about the game. By asking them to handle the opening toss, you are providing them a way to get involved in the game before the first second tips off the clock -- that way they are engaged with the action, and won't be tentative if they've got to make a big call out of the gate.

Just a thought.

[btaylor64]

Originally Posted by LSams

There might be another reason to do this.

For example: You're the R on a crew and you've got an inexperienced U2 (first college game, first varsity game, whatever) and you can tell they are noticeably nervous about the game. By asking them to handle the opening toss, you are providing them a way to get involved in the game before the first second tips off the clock -- that way they are engaged with the action, and won't be tentative if they've got to make a big call out of the gate.

Just a thought.

That's a good thought but what happens when the rook yanks the toss and we have to call it back. We want the best tosser tossing. Not saying that this is the case all the time but I work with about 5 or 6 guys that are 6'6" plus and I think these guys are usually going to be your best tosser due to the fact that the ball is already so high up to begin with. That's not to say that I would toss even if the tall guy was a rook who looked nervous.

We have to remember that our toss along with our first several calls or no calls set the tone for the game and we def. Want to get the game started right with a fair and legal toss. Happy Thanksgiving.