Whistle at End of Quarter Revisited
 

I know that there have already been multiple threads regarding ending the quarter with a whistle. We had a situation last night that brought the situation up, again.

From previous threads, most folks seemed to think that the official responsible for the last shot (C or T opposite table) would blow their whistle to end the quarter. Last night, we had a foul called called on a drive right at the end of the quarter (by the lead). In our situation, the foul was called before the horn by fractions of a second (the horn went off just after the whistle), therefore, the C did not sound his whistle.

But, this got us thinking about this situation, again. If the Center -- who has last shot responsibility, but the ball is clearly not in his primary -- blows his whistle indicating the end-of-quarter at about the exact same time as the calling official (who has a non-shooting foul), don't we have a potential sticky "double whistle" situation?

One senior official in our area indicated that the end-of-quarter whistle should always come from the offiicial who has the ball in his primary. But, I know that other officials have indicated that the end-of-quarter whistle should come from the official responsible for the last shot.

Thoughts?

The official responsible for the last secodn shot shout sound the "end of quarter" whistle. IF there's another whistle at about the same time, then the officials need to decide which happened first. If they can't decide, then the foul or shot happened first.

I would like to see the mechanic changed to what the "senior official" described, but it's not currently correct.

If the whistles blow at approximately the same time then you have to get together to see which actually occured first.
If the whistle to end the quarter occured first, there would be no shot attempt, if it is a non-shooting foul, (presumeably non bonus also). The ball was dead and unless you feel the need to call the foul, such as excessive contact or something of that nature you might want to back away from it since now it is contact during a dead ball and we have a whole new set of issues to deal with.

The whistle should always be blow to end time in a period. It should be blown by the official whose responsibility it is in the mechanics manual.
The precise reason is is that in section 7 of rule 6 live ball dead ball nowhere does it mention that the horn makes the ball dead.
and in Section 6 of rule 5 scoring and timeing regs, it mentions that the period ends when the signal sounds not that the ball is dead.

The Whistle needs to be sounded to establish a dead ball, with noted exceptions of the rules.

We don't blow a whistle at the end of the quarter unless there's a shot.

My thoughts in red.

I've had Rs pregame that if the ball gets deep into the corner table side, the primary should take that last shot.

I disagree, I think you have a whistle at the end of the quarter no matter what.

It's regional, just like whistles for all subs, or whistles prior to throwins.

Cue the official's manual on "whistles on all subs." :D

Why?

The ball is being dribbled, the horn sounds. Why?

A1 is passing to A2 when the horn sounds. Why?

The ball is loose on the floor and the horn sounds. Why?

A1 has the ball for a throw-in after b1's basjet when the horn sounds. Why?

We never blow a whistle in those situations, yet I've never had anyone turn to me and ask, "What was that horn for?"

So why blow it?

I blow my whistle when it's my responsibility. Never had anyone ask why I did. But the few times I've forgotten I have been asked why I didn't blow my whistle.

I don't see why anyone would be bothered that I blew my whistle.

I agree.

I sound my whistle only if it's my decision as to the legality of the shot and the shot comes at the buzzer.

What if players are scrambling for a loose ball in the paint? I'm blowing my whistle and stepping in.

Oh sure, now you care. ;)

Snaqs:

Exactly. I agree with Rut that absent a shot at the buzzer no whistle is needed at the end of the period. And the official with on ball responsiblity should have the whistle.

MTD, Sr.

Doing a Christmas tournament last week I had this come up. I'm working my way up to 3-man varsity and had the senior official let me know that there needs to be a whistle to end each quarter. I let her know that I had been instructed years ago not to do that because it can lead people (coaches, players, fans, etc.) to believe there was something happening (violation, foul, etc.) that didn't actually happen (i.e., could confuse a situation). The only time I blew the whistle up until then was if I was the official responsible for doing so and if there was a shot.

Now, I did get this guidance years ago and cannot attribute it to anyone specifically so I'm not married to it. Since the mechanic in our association seems to be a whistle to end each quarter that's what I'll pregame and do from now on.

Your voice works here too.

I blow the whistle every single time I have the last second shot, no matter if a shot is up or not. I have never been told not to do so. I will continue doing so until I get a good reason not to do that anymore.

Peace

Sure does, right after my whistle.

I'm very adept at using my voice. Like when there's an inadvertent horn and I yell "Keep playing!!!"

Different strokes I guess.

Same here. Our clinics teach us that each quarter/period must have a whistle at the conclusion.

When there's nothing happening (no shot, etc.) I pause slightly after the horn and then blow the whistle. This way, coaches and players are much less likely to think I was making a call.

Say it's the 8th team foul to end the quarter. After the FTs do you all whistle as well?

In GA we do....
 

Not sure if this is just a GA mechanic or a FED, but we put time back on the clock whenever we line up to shoot free throws. If you don't know for sure how much time was left, we generally go with .3 seconds. The point is, you have to have time on the clock when you lineup for free throws. At least that's how we do it in GA. Again, not sure if this is FED or only a GA mechanic.

FED rules don't allow you to put time on the clock unless you have definite knowledge of what should be there. I don't recall seeing the word guesstimate anywhere in the rulebook...

I never said it did....
 

I never said guesstimate was in the rulebook! However, in GA we don't shoot free throws without time on the clock.

hmm...

Airborne A1 releases a shot, then the horn sounds, then A1 is fouled before returning to the ground.

You'll put time on the clock?

No not on that play we wouldn't.

I wasn't implying that you said so, but you're state association is essentially saying it. I don't like this rule at all. Without knowing the specifics of your state's rule (only what you wrote), this creates situations in close games where you are potentially punishing the winning team for getting fouled!