What is the purpose of the Black Boxes NCAA Officials wear during games?

[Freddy]

Whereas I'd bet we'll all be magically stopping the clock with our whistles, even on the high school level, sooner rather than later, I can see a just as great a benefit being able to have the clock started by an official at precisely the proper time.
Seems there are just as many unfortunate instances of the timer not starting the clock properly as vice versa.
Do you think that will be coming down the pike someday? Will we have to add "little black boxes" to our Christmas list, right below "air needle" and "keeps-the-shirt-from-coming-out-of-your-pants rubber belt with knobbies all over"?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Whereas I'd bet we'll all be magically stopping the clock with our whistles, even on the high school level, sooner rather than later, I can see a just as great a benefit being able to have the clock started by an official at precisely the proper time.
Seems there are just as many unfortunate instances of the timer not starting the clock properly as vice versa.
Do you think that will be coming down the pike someday? Will we have to add "little black boxes" to our Christmas list, right below "air needle" and "keeps-the-shirt-from-coming-out-of-your-pants rubber belt with knobbies all over"?

Well the problem is that these devices are very expensive. And with the financial trouble out country is in or the many school districts across the country, I do not think we will ever see this as a mainstay across the country in the coming years. Colleges make millions, they can afford thousands of dollars for a device that will decide who will make more millions.

Peace

[refguy]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Well the problem is that these devices are very expensive. And with the financial trouble out country is in or the many school districts across the country, I do not think we will ever see this as a mainstay across the country in the coming years. Colleges make millions, they can afford thousands of dollars for a device that will decide who will make more millions.

Peace

The system costs about a grand and the batteries cost about $200 a season. The guy makes all his money on the batteries every year. (His batteries are specialized for the system.)

[BktBallRef]

Unless Mike has drastically reduced the price, it's closer to $2500. The batteries are a huge issue. Each set lasts about two games before needing replacement. The batteries are available from other vendors at lower prices but you agree to buy them from PTS. I know of two schools that got tired of the expense and sent it back.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Unless Mike has drastically reduced the price, it's closer to $2500. The batteries are a huge issue. Each set lasts about two games before needing replacement. The batteries are available from other vendors at lower prices but you agree to buy them from PTS. I know of two schools that got tired of the expense and sent it back.

I took a look at their website and immediately suspected that the batteries would be proprietary. There's nothing like residual income. . .

[eyezen]

That website is definitely updated at some value < c

[observer]

As an observer, I am somewhat not real happy with the devices.
Or possibly "rules" should be made up to utilize the boxes.
I see too many (almost all) D1 officials reach for the magic button
on the belt devices to start the clock...Even the official that administers
the throw-in...Thus, one of his/her hands is used to hand the ball to
the thrower, the other hand is on the devise...No hands left to start
or chop the clock. Not every official on the floor needs to start
the clock on every position.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by observer

Thus, one of his/her hands is used to hand the ball to
the thrower, the other hand is on the devise...No hands left to start
or chop the clock.

Why would the official signal for someone else to start the clock when he could push a button and start it himself?

[observer]

That's my point, all three officials at the same time
reach for the magic button to start the clock. Wonder
how they all know when to start on the touch in bounds
when the ball is not thrown into their primary area?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by observer

That's my point, all three officials at the same time
reach for the magic button to start the clock. Wonder
how they all know when to start on the touch in bounds
when the ball is not thrown into their primary area?

Part of the system has the clock being activated by someone at the table. So it has been suggested that you use similar mechanics as usual to allow the table as well as all 3 officials starting the clock when necessary.

Peace

[Back In The Saddle]

Like Jess mentioned, it's the standard government-required "little black box." It is used to monitor NCAA referees, ensuring that they don't log too many miles in a single day, that they're taking required rest breaks, and that they're not traveling too fast. NTSB inspectors are currently evaluating the data from Steve Welmer's little black box after he suffered a serious mechanical failure during a game recently.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by observer

That's my point, all three officials at the same time
reach for the magic button to start the clock. Wonder
how they all know when to start on the touch in bounds
when the ball is not thrown into their primary area?

Well, let's think about this for a minute.

In standard 2 person high school mechanics, the administering official chops the clock. No matter where the ball goes, no matter whose primary it ends up in. So a throw-in from the baseline (hehehe, just twisting the tails of the "endline" folks) to the division line will have both the lead, who administered the throw-in, and the trail, whose area it landed in, watching on-ball. At least briefly.

In NCAAW, a throw-in on the end line has the L administering and counting 5 seconds, while the T is supposed to keep at least a partial eye on the throw-in because he has the chop. If the throw-in goes into the L's area or the C's area, the T is having to look over there to watch for the first touch.

That's nearly as appalling as all three officials starting the clock when using PTS.

But then, the reality is it just isn't that big a deal for any official to sneak a peak at the throw-in. If we didn't, how would we know whose area the throw-in is going to? As a non-administering official, how would I know to pick up a throw-in that came into my area if I'm not keeping at least a partial eye on the throw-in?

In other words, it's a non-issue.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by observer

As an observer, I am somewhat not real happy with the devices.
Or possibly "rules" should be made up to utilize the boxes.
I see too many (almost all) D1 officials reach for the magic button
on the belt devices to start the clock...Even the official that administers
the throw-in...Thus, one of his/her hands is used to hand the ball to
the thrower, the other hand is on the devise...No hands left to start
or chop the clock. Not every official on the floor needs to start
the clock on every position.

That's not the mechanic, nor is it an issue.

Let's say the thrower is tol my left. I place my right hand on the button and administer the ball with the left hand and immediately bigen the count. When the ball is released, I stop counting and raise the left hand to chop the clock. When the ball is legally touched, I press the button and chop. It's that simple.

The pother officials pressing the button is just a backup as is the timer doing the same thing at the table. Neither of the other two is a primary starter. It's just to insure that the clock starts. If you're on the floor and you don't know the ball has been legally touched, you need to pay better attention to what's going on.

[dbking]

Originally Posted by observer

As an observer, I am somewhat not real happy with the devices.
Or possibly "rules" should be made up to utilize the boxes.
I see too many (almost all) D1 officials reach for the magic button
on the belt devices to start the clock...Even the official that administers
the throw-in...Thus, one of his/her hands is used to hand the ball to
the thrower, the other hand is on the devise...No hands left to start
or chop the clock. Not every official on the floor needs to start
the clock on every position.

That is why the mechanic on throw in is different in NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. You only use one hand to count with and chop. It takes a few throw ins to get used to and then you really like.