Allowing a Coach to Call a Timeout

[slow whistle]

Originally Posted by trsandy

I was coaching a game on Monday, where our player was in the process of tying up the other team's player in a jump ball, when the opposing team's coach yelled time-out!!! He was granted the time-out and the jump-ball change of possession was avoided. I told the ref that he did not need to grant the time-out, especially when there was a question as to whether which team was controlling the ball.

Can you professionals illuminate the ruling a little more?

As you describe it I wouldn't agree that there was a question as to whether or not a team was in posession. This was not a loose ball your opponent had posession of it. Therefore I'm guessing the official ruled that the coach called timeout before your player tied it up. You are correct that he didn't "have to" grant it, but if his team clearly has control then there isn't really a reason why he wouldn't. Don't confuse this with a situation where there is a loose ball and two players are going after it vying for control, in that case I would tend to withhold granting the TO request until it was clear to me that one of the players has control.