"Designated Spot" ???

[BillyMac]

I worked my first games of the season today, four Catholic middle school junior varsity games. Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state and our interpreter wants us to use the new IAABO mechanic of verbalizing “designated spot” for all designated spot throwins.

For the past twenty-eight years I've only done this on endline in the throwin team's backcourt. Never on a sideline. Never on the throwin team's frontcourt endline.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not get use to this new mechanic. Is anybody else using this new IAABO mechanic? Does anybody else think that it's stupid?

IAABO also wants us to keep our hand away from our face when reporting fouls to the table. I had a tough time with this today, but eventually I think that I'll get the hang of it.

[Adam]

Not sure about the "designated spot" verbalization, but I know one thing I've been told by evaluators is to put my hands off to the side when reporting numbers.

[JBleach85]

The whole idea of keeping your hands away from your mouth is so that the score table can also visual see what you are verbally saying to them. Most of the time scorekeepers have been trained to look at the officials face to see the color and number. You association probably wants this done at all levels so it everyone, new and old, can get a feel for this.

I can see the point about "designated spot." I personally only use it in coming out of a time-out when a time is on the baseline because even if you don't have a made basketball before the timeout it is good to let the new offense know that they cannot run the baseline. On the sideline, I really don't see a point for it because there is no reason why a person should run on the sideline.

The main thing advice is just try it because this is what they want you to do. It is the way the mechanics are written and it has probably had been successful somewhere, so that is why they made a new mechanic for your association.

JB

[Back In The Saddle]

Whenever I have a designated spot on either end line, I point and say "Spot." I generally try to make "routine" mechanics like that habitual. It's one less thing to think about. But I admit I feel rather iditotic doing this for a side line throw-in.

[Rufus]

I've honestly never thought about the fact that I designate a spot for each throw in regardless of location on the court. Maybe I'm being lazy by not thinking where I should/shouldn't do so, but I'd rather just indicate it all the time (except when they can run the baseline) and not have to worry about when to do it.

I started officiating in CT and recall very clearly them telling us to report numbers using one hand only and have it off to the side (i.e., away from your face). This was in the early 90's. Now I've started up again in GA and we use two hands to report the number and have been told to put them in front of our face when reporting. Things, and locations, change.

In the best imitation of Marty Feldman I can manage - "Suit yourself, I'm easy".

[Kelvin green]

I am like BITS... however on a sideline its not that hard since we bounce the ball to tell the player stay right there or hold your spot there and bounce the ball...

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I worked my first games of the season today, four Catholic middle school junior varsity games. Connecticut is a 100% IAABO state and our interpreter wants us to use the new IAABO mechanic of verbalizing “designated spot” for all designated spot throwins.

For the past twenty-eight years I've only done this on endline in the throwin team's backcourt. Never on a sideline. Never on the throwin team's frontcourt endline.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not get use to this new mechanic. Is anybody else using this new IAABO mechanic? Does anybody else think that it's stupid?

IAABO also wants us to keep our hand away from our face when reporting fouls to the table. I had a tough time with this today, but eventually I think that I'll get the hang of it.

"middle school junior varsity?" WTH?

I always say "spot" when I administer a spot throw-in. I can't imagine why you would have such a hard time doing it in one place if you're accustomed to doing it in another.

I usually whistle when inbounding the ball on the end line when the ball is staying in the FC,to alert everyone the ball is live. If I were told to do that on every throw-in, I don't believe it would be a problem.

[constable]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

"middle school junior varsity?" WTH?

I always say "spot" when I administer a spot throw-in. I can't imagine why you would have such a hard time doing it in one place if you're accustomed to doing it in another.

I usually whistle when inbounding the ball on the end line when the ball is staying in the FC,to alert everyone the ball is live. If I were told to do that on every throw-in, I don't believe it would be a problem.

Never heard of anyone whistling the ball live that often. I only do it after a time out or other unusual delay- do you find that it helps?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

"Middle school junior varsity?"

For Catholic schools around here:
Varsity: Mostly seventh and eighth graders.
Junior Varsity A: Mostly fifth and sixth graders.
Junior Varsity B: Mostly players younger than fifth grade.
All are based on age and ability. Some schools may have more than one team in each category. Nobody gets cut. Only one official for "B" games, more of a "learn the rules" league.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by constable

Never heard of anyone whistling the ball live that often. I only do it after a time out or other unusual delay- do you find that it helps?

It's an NCAAW (and maybe NCAAM) mechanic that is useful in FED, if allowed by your state / local association.