<i>PA Coach wanted another from the two games I watched.
(I'm still sittin' behind the timekeeper)</i>

Timekeeper and Scorer have a little 3'-nuthtin, cute blonde arrow operator (6-7 yrs/-old) sitting between them.
No problems thus far.

Beginning the 4th quarter, the arrow is pointed to Red.
Red throws in the ball and immediately get ties up. (2 seconds? gone.)
White arrow on the held ball. White ball.
4 minutes later... "held ball".
Puzzled Ref goes to table and tells them the arrow is wrong because it was Red all at the quarter and there were no other held balls.
Table looks puzzled ???
Ball is given to White.
White wins in OT by three.

How do we prevent this?
<hr>
Yes, the ref was politely jumped after the game. Not for missing travels, not for questioning the arrow twice, but for a game that ran 36 minutes.

The book *should* also have a record of held balls -- including the time they occurred. If the scorer had mentioned "held ball at 7:58" then everyone would have remembered.

Didn't Red coach ask about the arrow?

You had a game close enough for overtime. I am jealous my first two games of the season have been 35 and 40 point blowouts.

Mark T.,
I was only watchin'.
Just the good refs are workin' now.
Do you miss the mercy rule yet?
mick

The perfect CYA.

It doesn't matter how much coaches scream, or how much the fans boo - if you have a record in the book of the time and disposition of the arrow (especially if you make a note such as "held" or "rim") counters all that.

I'm jealous that you're doing real games! We don't start HS games here until the second week of December. After just getting back from camp, I'm ready to go NOW!! I don't know if I can make it until college scrimmages start in Oct.

I'm guessing that you're doing girls' ball now?

Chuck

Yes, we are doing girls' H.S. ball in Michigan. Michigan HSAA plays its girls' season in the Fall. Hopefully, it will stay that way. There is a Federal Judge in Cincinnati that thinks that the MichiganHSAA is discriminating against girls by playing in the Fall but once again his ruling against the MichiganHSAA proves that having an education means you know how to thing logically.

A good rule of thumb to help yourself in this situation is to carry something on your body that you use to let yourself know the direction of the arrow. It can be your spare whistle being moved from pocket to pocket or even a rubber band being moved from wrist to wrist (though some may frown as to why you are wearing jewelry and the players can't).

A lot of people do this. But just a word of warning. A lot of assignors HATE it. I used to carry a whistle in my pocket. My high school assignor told me to get rid of it. Mickey Crowley told us last week that if he saw an official move a whistle from his pocket after a held ball that he would drop the official from the league. Keep the arrow in your head, if at all possible. It's not that hard at the HS level where you only have a couple held ball situations per game.

If it's not possible to keep it in your head, or if you're still very new and thinking about too many other things, then make sure your "indicator" is invisible. Don't use a whistle, and for damn sure NEVER use a rubber band around your wrist. If you need help with the arrow, use a flesh-colored or completely clear plastic ring on your finger. It's easy to find and very inconspicuous to move after each held ball.

Just my opinion, but I've heard too many people say that the whistle or rubber band is a no-no.

Chuck

I generally keep it in my head, but I have been known to put some chapstick on during games so my lips don't dry out.

If I happen to put it on after a held ball, and if it happens to go into another pocket....

My lecture to the arrow flipper
 

I just try to indimidate the arrow flipper into the understanding that it is ultimately HIS/HER fault if the arrow is pointing the wrong way. I just tell them that when I look at that arrow one of my arms is going to fly up pointing in the same direction as the arrow and that's the way the ball will go. Most of the mistakes are made when the flipper doesn't understand that. I just emphasize that "the arrow points to the ball's next direction and don't let any one tell you different, even your best friend who comes over to replace the scorekeeper and says 'hey you've been doing it wrong the whole first half'".....

Re: My lecture to the arrow flipper
 

Maybe it is too early, but I have no idea what you are getting at here? Intimidate the poor kid keeping the arrow?

You gotta be joking and forgot the smiley, right??

Re: My lecture to the arrow flipper
 

Tweets -- I dare you to give this lecture to a 6 year old, as mick described in his situation, and then make it stick. But perhaps it would be wise to give it to the 16 year old in charge of the 6 year old. I'm not sure I'd have the coolness to trust the arrow to a 6 year old.

Re: Re: My lecture to the arrow flipper
 

There were 40 yr.-old adults on each side of her. ;)

Re: Re: Re: My lecture to the arrow flipper
 

They need the lecture even worse than the intense and well-trained 6 year old!!