Nice!

PS - Thanks Billy, I'll be singing that jingle all day now.......

I see no reason to have them certified to work a volunteer position. I believe the area you're talking about, where crews are certified through the local officials' association, pays the table crews a modest fee.

I have yet to have a problem with table crew that isn't solved by a simple pregame reminding them when to buzz on subs (ie, not when the coach yells "sub") and the proper timing for buzzers.

Snaq, that's what I am meaning is that everyone that works the table is paid, not volunteer. From what I've experienced working the 3A/4A Regionals, a paid crew takes their duties/responsibilities more seriously than just a random person that volunteers.

Yes I volunteer myself, but I do it as a support of my alma mater & for the love of the game & to help better the game (if this last part makes any sense).

The regular person that does the Varsity games only gets paid $35 a night to do only 2 games ($17.50 a game) non-certified. During 3A/4A Regionals, I was getting paid a rate of $10 a game, also non-certified. There are scheduled 9 home games with both Varsities playing for 2010-2011. Using this formula, the regular person will be getting $315 minus any playoff games. If was to use the $10 a game formula, would be getting $180.

Now the question is, in those areas where the table is also certified, how much is the per game rate? Or if becomes certified, how much per game should a person working table get?

For certification purposes, the only ones I see who should be certified are the scorer (official book), timer/scoreboard, & shot clock (for those states that use it). As I've seen it, the visitors' scorebook is there just as a reference tool.

Have you seen anyone on here post that the table crews in their state is certified? No.

One poster posts that his state has an association for scorers and timers. That's it.

Most crews are volunteers. Schools can't afford it. They don't pay anyone. It doesn't exist. Nobody is certified. Don't you get it? :(

From what I've seen at the high school varsity level and below, I have no way of knowing which crews get a small payment and which ones don't. Virtually every crew I've seen at the high school level is doing a good job.

There's no problem that needs fixing here.

FWIW the vast majority of the table crews around here from varsity/JV games all the way down to junior high games are paid.

How long could it possibly take to become "certified" to be a clock operator. A person of reasonable intelligence who has never even been to a game could be taught to do a credible job of this in a matter of minutes.

Next question: Do you think we have enough apples in the world?

There can never be enough apples, oranges, bananas, or nuts in the world :D

Here, too. It's not a lot. Maybe $15 or $20 a game. But official scorer and timer get paid.

Maybe the most important instruction to a new scorebook keeper: Make sure you and I have eye contact. Look me in the eye! Then record the foul.

I sat at the table once and ran the clock / scoreboard during a camp. I had trouble doing this, even with a running clock. Gave me appreciation for the job -- if you're doing the time, score, fouls, etc. it's not *that* easy.

I started running the clock/book for "real" (i.e., non-camp) games when I was a wee lad. It's not that difficult, but it definitely takes a little time to get it down cold.

But my first scrimmage this year one college kid was doing book, clock, scoreboard and the shot clock. Granted he wasn't keeping individual fouls or scores, and it was a running clock, but I was still impressed at his ability to do all three jobs. Did a pretty good job of it too.

I've seen that happen where the floor official actually looked at the scorer & said "pay attention or you will be replaced" when was reporting a foul.

That can depend on the scoreboard controls being used & the person's knowledge of the game.

The switch is either "on" or "off". It can't take more than 15 seconds to learn how to switch between the two positions.

"Start the clock when someone inbounds touches the ball. Stop it when the whistle blows. Any questions? Let's review -- when will you start the clock on the jump ball?"

Repeat if needed.

Total time less than 1 minute.

There aren't that many (any?) exceptions or unusual circumstances to learn.

Short And Sweet ...
 

Except on a successful free throw.

It doesn't get much simpler than that.