Individual Mechanics Question

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Eckley

I'm a first year official and I've received great advice from numerous officials about individual mechanics. My question deals with visible counts. An official told me last week that whenever an official counts, he should count with his arm that is farthest away from the action. He said this applies for the five- second throw-in count as well as the ten-second count. This necessitates, in some cases, chopping time with the left hand. Is this appropriate? For some reason, I thought that starting and stopping the clock was only done with the right hand. I wish that NFHS would publish some manual just on officials mechanics, etc. Thanks in advance for your help.

Eckley,
You will find that there are differing "schools of thought" on some of the mechanics that are not spelled out in the mechanics manual. There are folks who feel that the five-second throw-in count and ten-second back court count should always be done with the hand nearest the benches so that the coaches can see. You will have others who subscribe to the theory that you should always count with the hand away from the player.

The challenge is that on a throw-in that takes place in the back court, the five second count along with the 10 second count would be done with the same hand.

I think that nearly all officials would tell you that you should use one hand for the first count and the other for the next count (regardless whether that is a 10 second count or changing from a 10 second count to a 5 second closely-guarded count or when changing from one closely guarded count to another).

I try to subscribe to the Theory of Rome on such mechanics -- as in when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Do what the assignor(s) are looking for you to do. If they don't have a preference, do what is comfortable for you. In the case of count-based mechanics, the most important things are that they are VISIBLE and that they are started/stopped at the PROPER TIME.

By the way, I have never heard that you start/stop the clock only with your right hand. I have always been taught to stop the clock with the hand that will allow you to point team direction without turning your back to signal the ball being out of bounds.

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

I have always been taught to stop the clock with the hand that will allow you to point team direction without turning your back to signal the ball being out of bounds.

Without turning your back to what? Once heard that violations and direction signals should always be presented facing the benches. True? I'd heard of never crossing your arm across your body, but ... As someone else noted just above, a lot of guys have their own, um, "interesting" interps to things.

[Raymond]

I try to use the arm away from the thrower-in on throws-in.

However, I do not put any consideration as to which arm is closer to tableside when doing my 10-second count.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Amesman

Without turning your back to what?

Without turning your back on the players. You still have dead ball officiating responsibilities.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Without turning your back on the players. You still have dead ball officiating responsibilities.

Indeed. In that college game where a player got nailed for a player control foul and then stepped on his opponent's head, the official turned his back on the play while signaling the foul. He turned around just in time to see the assault.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Indeed. In that college game where a player got nailed for a player control foul and then stepped on his opponent's head, the official turned his back on the play while signaling the foul. He turned around just in time to see the assault.

This is why I find it less necessary to "sell calls" in this manner. The CO on that play turned his body to punch the other way. Yes, it helped in the selling of the ball, but it also removed his attention away from the play for a split second. His better judgment prevailed, which is good.

[zm1283]

I always do my five second inbounds count with my hand closest to the thrower and chop the clock with my outside hand. This usually means I do the 10 second count with my outside hand, assuming we're inbounding on the baseline. This makes me switch hands when switching counts.

I start a closely guarded count with one hand and always switch when the player picks up the dribble or starts the dribble.

I've gotten to be ambidextrous on everything except fouls. I can count with either hand, chop the clock with either hand, and stop the clock with an open hand with either hand, but for some reason I can only use my right arm for fouls. I'm going to make it a point the rest of the season to start using my left arm for fouls also.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Indeed. In that college game where a player got nailed for a player control foul and then stepped on his opponent's head, the official turned his back on the play while signaling the foul. He turned around just in time to see the assault.

It's debatable whether he observed the stomping or simply the reaction to it and the aftermath. Of course, at that level it doesn't matter because they can go look at the video replay.

At the HS level we do not have that luxury.