"Countdown" allowed or not?

[rsl]

I have a similar problem in a rec gym I work at. It has a single clock at one end, and some of the players started routinely counting down the WRONG time when the other team had the ball at the end of a period. They did this on purpose to get the opponent to rush the shot by counting ahead, or to get the clock to expire before a shot by counting behind.

Since I ref here every week, I banned all counting down by coaches or players as unsporting. They all complied and I never had to T anyone. I still occasionally have a coach forget and count to help his own team, but unless the count is incorrect, I let it go.

The fans still count (I can't T them), but the fans always count correctly to help their own team. I haven't had any unsporting fans with intentionally wrong counts yet.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by rsl

I still occasionally have a coach forget and count to help his own team, but unless the count is incorrect, I let it go.

You mean sometimes a coach is counting down to help his own team and he's counting incorrectly? Isn't that the same test you're given for DUI (not that I would know)?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rsl

I have a similar problem in a rec gym I work at. It has a single clock at one end, and some of the players started routinely counting down the WRONG time when the other team had the ball at the end of a period. They did this on purpose to get the opponent to rush the shot by counting ahead, or to get the clock to expire before a shot by counting behind.

Since I ref here every week, I banned all counting down by coaches or players as unsporting. They all complied and I never had to T anyone. I still occasionally have a coach forget and count to help his own team, but unless the count is incorrect, I let it go.

The fans still count (I can't T them), but the fans always count correctly to help their own team. I haven't had any unsporting fans with intentionally wrong counts yet.

Why not just ban counting by the opposing team, or just tell them if you think they're trying to deceive the other team you'll call the T? You've got rules backing for that (not that it's overly important in rec ball, but still.)

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Had this the other night. Right before the end of the first quarter, the home team had the ball and they were up a few points. It's was obvious they were holding for the last shot of the quarter. This gym has only one scoreboard on the wall and it was "behind" them. When the clock got down to five seconds, the home book keeper at the table started yelling the seconds left really loud, apparently to help his team.

At the half, I told him he couldn't do that as he was part of the officiating crew and had to remain neutral. He apologized and that was that.

We had almost the same game situation near the end of the second quarter and I looked over at the guy. He looked back at me and smiled, then gave the "zip your lip" gesture while nodding his head. The clock went off and we both chuckled.

Would any of your guys done anything different? I didn't want to "punish" the team by blowing the whistle and stopping the clock when he did it, I thought just letting it go and then admonishing him was the best way to handle it.

Concerning the countdown of time under 10-sec. for game time, in the "Instructions to & Duties of the Timer" it states:

NEAR THE END OF PLAYING TIME:
1. If a watch is being used as the official timepiece, place it so that the timer may see it & the ball. The watch must be stopped the instant the signal ending the game is sounded.
2. When a timing device other than a watch is the official timepiece, the timer must assist in determining the position of the ball when time expires.
3. Some timers, in order to avoid misunderstanding concerning the position of the ball when time expires, have one person watch the official timepiece & count aloud 10 - 9 - 8 - 7, etc., while another person watches the ball & notes its position at the exact moment time expires.
4. If a quarter or extra period ends &:
a. The timer has been unable to make an official hear the signal, the timer must immediately notify the official.
b. The timing signal fails or is not heard by an official, the timer must be prepared to advise the referee as to whether the ball was in flight when time expired, or whether a foul occurred before or after the period had ended.
c. The timing signal is not heard by the officials, testimony of the timer may determine whether a score shall count or a foul shall be charged, unless the referee has information which would alter the situation.

[Camron Rust]

As long as the timer does it at the end of every period, I have no problem with it and in fact think they should do it (in the case where a clock is not reasonably visible to the players).