What would you have done?

[ronald]

Questions and a thought:

1) Did you or another official have some type of discussion with the timer about procedures for starting the clock? Seems from your post that this was an ongoing issue that the officials were not aware of or were aware of it and did not do anything proactive to rectify the clock management.

2) Sounds like a good issue for the vetererns on this board to give thoughtful guidance on how to handle a situation of this nature.

3) Is there anything specific in the rules that allows one to blow the whistle, go to the timer and tell em to start the clock when the ball is now inbounded?

4) If not a specific rule (do not remember one), how about the all encomposing one that allows the referee to make decisions not specifically addressed in the rules?

Thanks

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ronald

4) If not a specific rule (do not remember one), how about the all encomposing one that allows the referee to make decisions not specifically addressed in the rules?

Can't use that one here, becuase the situation is addressed in the rules.

[Juulie Downs]

For the next time you go there:

1) Recommend that they pay the clock operator and the book people. This way, they have some leverage in making sure it gets done right.

2) Take a friend who can sit at the table and "help"

3) Have a friend sit at the side of the table with a very discreet stopwatch. During the game you keep your count arm going all the time, but your head isn't counting. Then when you do need to adjust the clock, it looks like you've got definite knowledge, which you do, with the help of your friend.

4) Be sure you and your partner are both highly attuned to the clock, and are constantly nagging at the clock person. In the OP, partner should have scuttled past the table and even pushed the button, if necessary. Maybe your association could assign it as a 3-whistle game so you'd have enough eyes for all 10 players and the clock.

Hey Juulie, thanks for your thoughts on this!

1. But I highly doubt they are ever going to pay convicts. The powers that be were highly apologetic about the situation. It was more than them not starting the clock on time. You see it had a delay as well (at least that's what they said) Ex. TO with 6:02 on the clock, whistle ball in play, chop the clock a couple dribbles & the clock still shows 6:02. By the time you get ready hollar "start the clock" it magically shows 5:57.

2 & 3. It's tough enough to get a friend/family to come record my games, let alone back-up the clock person.

4. HTBT - it's a bad set-up. The benches are located in the normal position, but the table is about 10' behind the benches & in the stands
Trying to locate the subs way back there was quite the challenge!


Overall I hear what you're saying, thanks! I'm not there again this season, so it is all good

Originally Posted by ronald

Questions and a thought:

1) Did you or another official have some type of discussion with the timer about procedures for starting the clock? Seems from your post that this was an ongoing issue that the officials were not aware of or were aware of it and did not do anything proactive to rectify the clock management.

Yes, we had the usual pre-game convo about all the ins & outs of running the clock properly.

2) Sounds like a good issue for the vetererns on this board to give thoughtful guidance on how to handle a situation of this nature.

Although I'm grateful for the posters who have shared thusfar, I'm hoping some of the vets with decades worth of experience will chime in.

3) Is there anything specific in the rules that allows one to blow the whistle, go to the timer and tell em to start the clock when the ball is now inbounded?


Is there? Even if I knew it, I would sure hate to take a scoring opportunity away from the offense, down by 8

4) If not a specific rule (do not remember one), how about the all encomposing one that allows the referee to make decisions not specifically addressed in the rules?

Thanks

Thank you!