Last week, in the now famous "Vote of Confidence" game, I was passing the home bench and heard "Timeout." I blew the whistle and made the signal just as I realized that it was the ac who had actually spoken the words. What would you have done in this situation?

I'd have asked the HC if he wanted one. If not, IW and play on (unless the other coach requests one at this point). If so, grant it and move on.

Another approach
 

I thought I'd read it somewhere on this site, but it was offered that how many TOs a team has left isn't important. It's only important to know when they have used their last one.

That way, I can inform the team and HC at the same time (in their huddle, or as it breaks up) "COACH, NO TIMEOUTS LEFT."*

I like the idea of pre-gaming/reminding the scorer's table to notify the officials when a team uses it's last timeout. I can check the book, confirm the side, and inform the coach - and his team - immediately of that fact.

*and of course relay all of this to my partners

If the situation developed as the OP described, I would also warn the HC to get control of his bench. The AssCoach gave his team an unwarranted advantage by trying to trick the officials into stopping the clock/play before the other team has a chance to tie up the girl. This is unsporting behvior.

I'm not so sure. They could easily have been talking to the player on the court instructing her to call timeout. To me, that's morel likely what happened. There's no rule against them telling a player to call timeout, even for the bench. ACs call out plays all the time.

I'm don't know about warning the bench in a situation where I screwed up like this.

Morel support?

http://www.samcooks.com/graphics/vegetables/morel.jpg

This made me think about a sit from last Sunday. HC was a very petite, lovely woman with a very, very soft voice. Late in the game (closely contested) she was trying to request time out, but frankly neither I nor my partner could hear her above the crowd and finally her male assistant got my attention by yelling time out. Since I saw the HC standing next to him and she affirmed the request by nodding her head I granted the time out. Thought everything was fine, but the opposing HC runs over and says "HE can't request time out". Told him what I saw, but even after the game he was still insisting that we erred in granting the time out. Should this be handled differently? Frankly in almost any gym I don't see her being heard when the crowd gets into it. I thought it kind of petty for the opposing HC to complain and then not let it go.

T the opposing HC for leaving his bench area to attempt to influence an official's decision; or (just thought) charge him a TO for a failed attempt at correcting an error (2-10). Yes, it was petty, and if he doesn't let it go, he's getting a T from me.

What was he doing talking to you after the game?

In this league local school buildings are used on weekends. Typically the janitor in the school opens the gym and whatever hallway leads to the mens/womens rooms. Officials usually end up leaving a gym bag with their belongings somewhere near the table. Other than emergency doors, it's one way in and one way out. Also we're usually doing multiple games in the same gym so unless it's the last game and you can bolt out of there you are going to have some discussion. Usually I don't mind, it's the 80/20 rule. 80% of the coaches shake your hand, say thank you and set a good example for their teams. The others, well not so much, you learn to make yourself scarce somehow.

I like to think of it as; We can only grant a timeout requested by a player/HC. I do not think it is against the TO rules for someone else to request a TO, we just can't grant it. Once we confrim that the HC wants a TO, grant it.

The only way I can see penalizing an AC/bench player for requesting a TO, is if I determined it was unsporting and could apply 10-4. Which in most cases would be a stretch for me.

If granted a time-out based on thinking it was him and it was someone on the bench he is eating the time-out. What would make this interesting is if he didn't have any left. Anyone?

Already discussed in this thread. If I grant a timeout thinking it's the HC and it's not, and he doesn't want it, I'm eating crow and moving on with the game.

There is more than one way for a HC to request a T-O. You used non-verbals and judgement to determine that the HC had requested a T-O. I see no problem with it as long as you can explain it. And you explained it. Handled appropriately IMO.

I had a G Fr/JV DH a couple of weeks ago with the previously mentioned in another thread hottest coach in Cleveland. Very soft spoken lady. Her partner is a very imposing 6'5" guy with who could replace James Earl Jones on the "This Is CNN" voice over.

She wanted a timeout. No one could hear her. AssCoach/bodyguard yells time out. I look over, and she is making the T sign. Time out granted. I went over to her after the TO was over and advised her, since her voice doesn't carry that its ok to have her Assistant Coach yell it, but to be sure she does make that sign everytime, as she is the only one allowed to call timoeouts from the bench.