Time out if......

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by rwest

Coach asked for a timeout when the ball made it passed the division line. The request was made while the ball was still in the back court. I was the new lead and running up the court when he made the request. It was a little awkward since I had to watch the ball coming up the court instead of watching the players in my primary.

Pay attention to your primary. It's not your job to monitor for the conditional time-out.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Brad

Why?


I've used this very simple process for the last 15 years and every successful official that I know does the same:

Coach: "Give me a time-out if it goes in."

Me: "You got it."

*** Ball goes in ***

Me: **tweet** "Time-out"


I know that this is going to bring out some Rulebook Robbies that love to get caught up in the minutiae of the rules, but this is such a great example of when common sense prevails.

I do the same. Hasn't bit me in 23 years. I'll still look in the direction of the coach, though, to see if he's changed his mind.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Pay attention to your primary. It's not your job to monitor for the conditional time-out.

Awareness of timeout scenarios separates officials, like it or not. It's not like you have to stare at the ball handler, either. You *know* where the ball is with your periphgeral vision -- besides, if the ball is still in the backcourt, the odds of nefarious things happening in the front court are pretty small.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

...

Awareness of timeout scenarios separates officials, like it or not. It's not like you have to stare at the ball handler, either. You *know* where the ball is with your periphgeral vision -- besides, if the ball is still in the backcourt, the odds of nefarious things happening in the front court are pretty small.

Maybe where you work, but around here a lot of nefarious things jump off away from the ball.

As the new Lead (especially in 2-man) I'm keeping my eyes on the pack, not watching to see when the ball crosses halfcourt so I can grant a time-out that was requested 10 seconds earlier. How about the coach directing his request to the new Trail who will crossing the division line with the ball handler?

Otherwise the coach is taking the risk of getting a time-out granted while the ball is still in the backcourt, similar to JRut's scenario.

[Back In The Saddle]

I occasionally get the "time out if he makes it" request during free throws, and that's not a problem. But what came up in Jeff's game is a little over the top. I'm not the freakin' maitre d', I don't take reservations for time outs.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Maybe where you work, but around here a lot of nefarious things jump off away from the ball.

As the new Lead (especially in 2-man) I'm keeping my eyes on the pack, not watching to see when the ball crosses halfcourt so I can grant a time-out that was requested 10 seconds earlier. How about the coach directing his request to the new Trail who will crossing the division line with the ball handler?

Otherwise the coach is taking the risk of getting a time-out granted while the ball is still in the backcourt, similar to JRut's scenario.

Much ado about nothing. You can still watch the pack and keep an eye on the coach. Tell me that you don't look for a time out request when a team has just given up 8 straight points (or some such). Situational awareness.

Too many things on this forum degrade into "if you're watching something else you can't be watching what you're supposed to be watching." And my response is that my field of vision is pretty wide and I can take quick glances when they need to be taken. YMMV. Shrug.

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This happened twice in my game and I have never heard a coach say this. Have you ever had a coach ask for a timeout that was not during a FT saying "Time out if the ball goes in."

First time it happen I was not involved at all. My partner was in front of one of the coaches and he said to him..."I want a timeout if we get into trouble."

Then the second time I was involved. The coach asks for timeout twice (that I can tell) and the third time he says "timeout.....if the ball goes in the hole." The problem is that the player had the ball at the division line and by the time I recognized he was asking for a timeout I had already blew the whistle. The coach claimed that I should have rescinded the timeout, but I didn't. I did not see the reason to considering I was not expecting to hear further instructions. Then the coach had the nerve to suggest I should know basketball and understand such a request (I found that funny BTW).

I am wondering have you ever had a coach make a time out request with "conditions" for you to decide if the timeout should and when it should be given?

Peace

JRut,
One of my partners had the EXACT SAME SITUATION the other night. If the first part of the phrase that you hear is TIME OUT AND he/she can legally request it, you grant it. Once you grant it, you grant it. You were quite correct, in my opinion. I would suggest to the coach, "Next time, indicate the CONDITION FIRST, that alleviates the problem."

"If they score here, I would like a time out.", etc.

I ALWAYS remind the coach to "Remind me by requesting the time out when you want it just to make SURE you still want -- I will be looking at you for confirmation." Seems to work for me. It also allows the coach to back out of a timeout, if he/she desires.