"Countdown" allowed or not?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Concerning countdowns, the past couple of games I've done as shot clock operator in the main gym, it was at the officials' request that the countdown be done under 10-sec. on shot clock. This is done in case the shot clock buzzer goes off for shot clock violations so the timer can buzz as the shot clock buzzer isn't heard that clearly when the crowd is boisterous.

However, the only ones I hear doing the regular clock countdown are fans, coach(es), or teammates.

But you are talking about the shot clock operator counting it down for the timer, not so everyone on the court can hear.

Two totally different animals.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

But you are talking about the shot clock operator counting it down for the timer, not so everyone on the court can hear.

Two totally different animals.

Although the shot clock operator may be seated next to the team's bench who might get the violation & the coach can hear the countdown, or the coach can hear the countdown with their team on defense to hold the other team from shooting to make sure they get the shot clock violation.

So in some ways the coach might have an advantage.

Periodically, I've heard the coach start doing the countdown to their team with the shot clock less than 10-sec.

BTW in both gyms, there's a scoreboard on each endline to the left of the backboard (when looking at that backboard). The shot clock displays are located to the right of each backboard.

[doubleringer]

What level of basketball was it? If it's a lower level game in a not-so-great facility with a clock the players couldn't see, I'd have no problem with the clock operator calling out the time at the end of periods for BOTH teams. I'd also reccomend if doing this, to let both head coaches know what is going on before the game.

[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.)