Book Error - Personal Foul Not Attributed to a Player

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Then you would have a problem that the book would not balance out.

When we give a team technical foul, it's not assigned to anyone, so that also makes the book not balance out. If you're a very conscientious scorer and need it to "balance", then make a notation, as BNR mentioned.

[Adam]

I'm in the "give-it-to-the-team" camp here. No need to compound the error by giving it to a random player.

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

When we give a team technical foul, it's not assigned to anyone, so that also makes the book not balance out. If you're a very conscientious scorer and need it to "balance", then make a notation, as BNR mentioned.

Actually, there are spaces in the book for notating team technicals. I have a friend who works the table for a local college, and he says he cannot finish a night of bookkeeping without it balancing, otherwise the conference sends back the copy for accuracy or an explanation.

I agree with everyone, the book person should have it right the first time, and immediately get the number than to wait. In this situation, a notation could be made. Don't be surprised if you're contacted by a conference or the state association (in Iowa, we're required to sign our names in the book and we can get contacted later about problems like this).

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Actually, there are spaces in the book for notating team technicals.

That's actually very interesting. I've never noticed such a space. Thank you for mentioning it. I'm gonna have to check it out more closely tonight at my game.

[bigdogrunnin]

This situation should be talked about during EVERY pre-game. The R on any game should also address this issue with the table crew before the game, for EVERY game.

Something along the lines of, "Hi. My name is John Doe, and our crew will be working with you tonight. Just a couple points . . . One, as you know, you are a member of the officiating crew and we are going to rely on you to keep everything correct on the clock and in the book (fouls, players, time, score, alt. poss. arrow, etc.). If you don't get the information we are reporting, please call us over immediately, do not wait. We want to get it right the first time. So, if you don't get the number, team, etc., please let us know before we walk away. Second . . . [put in anything else you may want to discuss.]"

JMO, but this situation should never happen in any game. (The unfortunate truth though, is that it does, so prepare for it.)

[HawkeyeCubP]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies.

The crew in question stayed with the team foul in the book, and didn't assign it to any one player (they couldn't remember).