Unfortunately, I Do Know What You're Posting About ...
 

You're showing your age. I bet that most of the members of this Forum have no idea what you're posting about.

1. I do not ever see this changing.

2. Might change, but who cares if it does.

Peace

Deaf timekeepers might care. I was taught at a clinic that whistle + hand so anyone deaf or blind could tell what's going on.

Or a timekeeper in a very very noisy gym. Anecdotal evidence: Before I became a certified official I was the timer at the local HS. I distinctly remember one game where we had a packed house and a close ballgame and toward the end a crucial call was made and the only way I knew to stop the clock was because I saw the calling official's hand go up, there was no other way to know, it was so loud.

That's the real reason for it.

Eh, not convincing.

Ball out of bounds, I point, it's as obvious as me putting my hand up.

Archaic mechanic that needs to be put out of its misery. Leave the hand for travels, carrying, other violations.

Putting an arm straight up is very distinct and different from extending one horizontally.

For example, an official starting a backcourt or closely-guarded count when the action is near an OOB line could easily be mistaken for a direction point.

The clearer that the signal is for the timer the better.

By your earlier thoughts, why not skip the raised arm in these cases as well and go straight to the signal for the violation?

As a former clock operator...

When you get down to the end of the game and it is crazy in there, and I'm sitting floor level looking through 10 players, it is quite possible that I could neither hear your whistle or see your point. Especially if its in the nearside corner in front of a bench. But I will see a hand that comes up open above everyone's head.

Typical out of bounds at any point of the game, especially when its obvious the ball is out of play, what's the point? But I wouldn't say its totally unnecessary 100% of the time.

Well said. :)

Better hope I'm not working your game, then. :D

Aren't there college arenas just as loud? Why isn't this a "problem" with them?

Because college officials use Precision Timing Devices, officials stop the clock with a mic that is hooked up to the whistle and start the clock with the starter that is on their belt.

All colleges? Really? And they used them 10 years ago, too?

C'mon, now. The discontinuation of the stop-clock signal was way before the first Precision Time device made its debut.

The NCAA Tournament doesn't use PTS. Do those officials raise their hand?

Sobriety returns to college campuses as the Steve Welmer drinking game takes a sabbatical.