Starting the clock
 

Can anyone tell me,while working with a 3 man crew. Is it correct mechanics for the trail to raise his hand and aid the lead in starting the clock while inbounding the ball at the baseline,or for that matter,any place on the court. It seems to me that this would possibly confuse the official timer when to start the clock and who to watch.

Not in HS, but I've seen it done in NCAA-W & NBA.

Official timers look at us to start the clock?? :confused:

As I understand it, they don't aid in starting the clock...they do start the clock (at least in NCAA). Lead is responsible only for the 5 second count to make sure the ball is inbounded. Trail is the sole person responsible for chopping in time. Could be worth a quick pre-game conversation with the timer to maek sure they know this...

That is not my understanding.

In Georgia, the trail always chops in the clock and the lead just counts the 5 seconds. This is that same in NCAA-W. I believe in other states the lead will still chop the time in the front court.

In NFHS, the administering official is always the only official to chop the clock.

As stated, NCAA-W have a different mechanic where the trail will chop when the lead is administering a throw-in.

From the 2007-08 CCA Men's Basketball Officiating Manual

Pg. 22

1.3 Inbounding the Ball

"The lead official will bounce the ball to the player and remained focused on the throw-in until the ball has been released onto the playing court. The trail official will still have the count and chop the start of clock when the ball is touched by a player on the court. The center official will focus on the off-ball coverage and extend coverage until ball is in play."

Not true for NCAA-W. Both the L and the T chop in the time.

correct

What happens if they both don't chop at the same time?

Give the timer some of your meds.

NCAA W Trails chops the clock on all throw ins made by lead. Lead should not be chopping the clock as well.

NCAA M Lead will administer throw in from sideline below the FT line extended. Trail will chop that clock.

The timer never notices because he's doing whatever the heck he wants to....

Unfortunate but true in most HS games in this area.

CCA 3.2.2A.3 (Lead on a throw-in): Use the counting hand to chop in time when the ball is touched by any player on the court.

NFHS--- does not have a provision....(as mentioned) however.. I believe there are times when trail needs to help...

If there is a long toss from endline out to midcourt how is lead going to chop clock in? This becomes more important near the expiration of time.

I have gotten with my partners and talked about this and will even tell the scoretable who to watch...