Designated Tosser
 

I couldn't find in the rule book where the referee is authorized to have the umpire toss the ball. In the rule book it specifically states that it is the referee's responsibility. I can only find in the Case Book that the referee may designate this responsibility to the umpire. Why is this not in the rule book?

No idea why it is not specifically stated.

My question, does this really matter? There are three of us out there, someone throw the ball in the air and let the kids play.

Case Book is an attachment to the rules book.

I ask because I took the test the other night and there was a question on there that had to do with something (don't have the test in front of me so I can't remember what it was) being the sole responsibility of the referee vs. the officials in general.

The question troubled me because I couldn't find it outlined in the rule book, but I also couldn't find this exception (the toss) outlined either. I feared that if they omitted one exception, they might have omitted the other.

Also, I think part of the function of having the referee toss as well as administer the ball OOB at the beginning of quarters 2, 3 and 4 may have something to do with the symbolism of showing who in the crew is in charge in case anyone has questions or concerns. Just my speculation, though.

Who's in charge? I have two PARTNERS. Once that ball is tossed, we're ALL in charge.

In general, I agree with you, but (in the very rare occasion) that there is a disagreement on certain aspects, the referee has the final say.

Horrendous test question.... why do they not ask questions that have substance. I will never understand this...

All of that being said, I now understand the basis of your question. Sometimes I think we (officials in general) get caught up in the minutia (sp?) and fail to focus on the plays/rules that have direct impact on the game.

And the captains and coaches will know who the referee is when he/she introduces him/herself to them as such during the pregame powwow.

I introduce all of us as referees; no distinctions to the players or coaches.

I agree. We're forced to focus on minutiae when our ability to advance to Varsity is partially based on a test score.

:(

Coaches aren't stupid, though. They can tell who is in charge by who is talking to them, who is tossing the ball, who is taking the ball OOB at the beginning of quarters.

That's why I get ridden by coaches more when I'm the ref than when I'm the ump, even when I said nothing to the coach about our assigned duties.

All the more reason to mix it up by having the R give the pregame and the U1 toss the ball. :)

They'll more likely pick it up from who's giving the talk; and around here we give a card with our names on it to the coaches. We're listed as Referee, Umpire, and Umpire; from top to bottom.

Good point.

Oh really? I know it's early in the season, but work on that before you develop a reputation that you dont want to have. No coach rides me or any of my partners. Take care of business!

Again, we're talking semantics.

Trust me, I don't have the reputation for getting "ridden" as you are interpreting the word to be used.

Excellent! I feel so bad for those officials... but when I look at their on-court presence, if I were a coach I'd ride them too.

Pre game introduction away game last night. "Coach, I'm soandso and this is soandso...I don't see very well and he don't hear very well so use a visual and a verbal for all your time outs"

That's beautiful.

They can tell who is in charge by how they present themselves on the court, not by who throws up the opening jump or who conducts the captain's meeting.

I've been at this more than 20 years and I have never once used "I am the referee" for anything on the court. Maybe someone else here has a different experience.

They did not introduce themselves as either/or in my game last night..and if you were to ask me which one did the toss 10 seconds into the game, it would be a 50-50 guess.

I'd hope it was the hard of hearing one. Or maybe it was Mick...I dunno.

We simply take turns. One of our regular partners (I swear) must keep a spreadsheet or something cause he knows immediately whose turn it is whether working 2-person or 3-person (our regular 3, which causes a separate "list"). We make fun of this.

Personally, I'd be the R every game. No deal to me. I like starting as the trail.

I am 6'4" and I was the referee on a game this summer at a camp I was attending and the clinician made a good point that unless both players are taller than me that I shouldn't toss the ball. It does make a lot of sense if you think about it.

Help me out here. How?

By this logic, I can never toss again for middle school and below. :confused:

I agree. If they're both shorter, just hold the ball up between them and drop it :D

That thought has crossed my mind before.

Being 5'9" and working only varsity basketball, though, I don't think a jumper is ever shorter than me anymore. Boys or girls.

The point is that because I am so tall it looks like I am towering over the players when I work a women's college or high school girl's game.

back on topic
 

NCAA
Rule 2 Section 6 Art 1
Be responsible for designating which official shall toss for the jump ball (s)

Ah. I see the problem. I was reading that as "I shouldn't toss it," and the point was that "I shouldn't toss it."

I'm not sure how this correlates to whether you or someone shorter should toss.

I have heard of it as an issue for people in the Womens game, they sometimes tell taller officials not to extend their arms fully when calling fouls so as not to appear intimidating to the players. While noone has ever come right out and said it - I have seen larger officials be directed toward the mens side and away from the women.

More often I have heard it with smaller officials on how to get a better presence on the floor, by getting the hand up in the air standing straighter, deeper voice etc.

I have never been told not to raise my are all the way up on fouls but I have been told to be careful how close I get to the coaches when taking to them so I doesn't look like I am talking down to the them...especially if it is a female coach.

Stop Picking On ChuckElias. He's Not Here To Defend Himself ...
 

That would mean that ChuckElias would never toss, never, never again.

I've been told that every one of Chuck's evaluations starts with "First of all, stand up when you referee" and usually ends with, "Oh, you are standing up." ;)