in-game signals between officials

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

You asked, "Concerning last minute of the period/game, is there some signal the timer can use to communicate to the floor officials "last minute"?"

I don't need you or any other timer to signal to me that there's less than 1 minute on the clock.

I do not need you interjecting yourself into the game beyond those responsibilities.

I believe I'll probably notice if the scoreboard stops working. We'll handle that if needed.

No, the shot clock buzzer sounds when that happens. We don't use a shot clock here.

You need to focus on the things the rule book requires you to do and stop worrying about these other things. Otherwise, you become a nightmare for the officials working the game.

Concerning the shot clock, I'm meaning the gym is so noisy that the buzzer cannot be heard.

I know it's not required for the PA Announcer to announce last minute in period/game.

As I have stated numerous times before, majority of the games I do are JV/C-Squad where the scorer is a student that seems to be there as a fan. So I have to go above & beyond what's required to ensure the game runs smoothly.

[BktBallRef]

No, you simply base more importance on your position than necessary and interject yourself in the game where it's not needed. That's very apparent from your posts over the past year.

You would be better served following the instructions given to you and work to be the best you can be as a timer. If you want a more active role in the game, then became an official. Until such time as you choose to do that, run the clock appropriately, keep an accurate score, and use the horn when you're supposed to.

[lpneck]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Concerning last minute of the period/game, is there some signal the timer can use to communicate to the floor officials "last minute"?

One of the things that I have found useful in my area is that a number of timers go above and beyond the call of duty by having an electronic device to communicate the final minute of each period installed upon the wall of the gymnasium. (Some schools have even installed one upon each wall.)

The timer is then able to communicate to my partners and I that we are in the final minute of the period by changing the number before the colon (or "leading digit" as it is sometimes referred to in my area) from a one to a zero.

It may be a complicated process in order to get that digit changed- I'm not sure, as I am only a floor official and not a timer. But the ones who do this successfully are among the most professional and outstanding timers that I have the privilege of working with, and I find it a great help in managing the game.

I can't speak for other areas of the country how this information is communicated, but it works well here, and might be something you should research and discuss with your school's administration and/or your state association.

Hope that helps.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by lpneck

one of the things that i have found useful in my area is that a number of timers go above and beyond the call of duty by having an electronic device to communicate the final minute of each period installed upon the wall of the gymnasium. (some schools have even installed one upon each wall.)

the timer is then able to communicate to my partners and i that we are in the final minute of the period by changing the number before the colon (or "leading digit" as it is sometimes referred to in my area) from a one to a zero.

It may be a complicated process in order to get that digit changed- i'm not sure, as i am only a floor official and not a timer. But the ones who do this successfully are among the most professional and outstanding timers that i have the privilege of working with, and i find it a great help in managing the game.

I can't speak for other areas of the country how this information is communicated, but it works well here, and might be something you should research and discuss with your school's administration and/or your state association.

Hope that helps.

+1

[APG]

Can't really think of any in game signals needed between the table and officials.

If the scorer needs to get my attention, then there's a horn for that. If the timer somehow needs to get my attention, he's going to be using that horn as well. I don't know how the table would try and get an official's attention to alert them of a minute left. When I'm going up and down the court, I'm not going to be looking at the table. The scorer is also going to be alerting officials of penalty situations during dead ball situations where the calling official is most likely near the table, so again, no signals needed.

If for some reason the scoreboard malfunctions and the timer has to alert the officials as to the end of the period, I'd just ask game management to find a whistle/horn and stop watch, and tell the timer to use it when time has expired (I've actually had to go that route. Clock stopped working with two minutes left in the game).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I want to know, or I want my partner to know, that we're at six and that we'll be shooting on the next foul..

Originally Posted by Cobra

So you want you or your partner to know that you are at six fouls before the sixth foul. Most people would just call that five fouls.

No. We need to know when the sixth is charged. After that, if needed, we're ready to shoot, and have a shooter.

[BillyMac]

In our little corner of Connecticut, a common "unofficial" signal is to put out one's fist and rotate it, meaning, "This game is getting a little chippy. Let's tighten it up".

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by hoopsaddict

When I worked games after the sixth foul I like to signal that we're in the bonus. Some of my P's like to use a thumb and pinky and shake with the hand toward the basket and others like to use the index finger and the pinky.

I've had a few partners that do that, and it certainly helps. I've also had the "tap the wrist" non-signal frequently when the clock is winding down.

On non-board/rec league games, sometimes there's a rule that forbids a team to press once a team is up 10 points. This is not part of the officiating norm, so you have to remind yourself to catch it, before a kid makes a steal off an illegal press.

To stay on top of this rule, a partner and I developed a "thumbs up/thumbs down" communication for this situation only. If a team goes up ten points, you make eye contact, and do a quick thumbs up to alert your partner, and he mirrors. That will remind you that the no-press rule is effect. When it's no longer in effect, you do the same with a quick thumbs down.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by lpneck

One of the things that I have found useful in my area is that a number of timers go above and beyond the call of duty by having an electronic device to communicate the final minute of each period installed upon the wall of the gymnasium. (Some schools have even installed one upon each wall.)

The timer is then able to communicate to my partners and I that we are in the final minute of the period by changing the number before the colon (or "leading digit" as it is sometimes referred to in my area) from a one to a zero.

It may be a complicated process in order to get that digit changed- I'm not sure, as I am only a floor official and not a timer. But the ones who do this successfully are among the most professional and outstanding timers that I have the privilege of working with, and I find it a great help in managing the game.

I can't speak for other areas of the country how this information is communicated, but it works well here, and might be something you should research and discuss with your school's administration and/or your state association.

Hope that helps.

I've heard rumor that there is a similar divice that does the same thing for the shot clock. I do know that, in my area (all three places I've worked, actually), there's an additional piece of that equipment that somehow magically displays the number of fouls each team has earned. Some of them have a special marker for the bonus that gets triggered at six fouls.

I don't pretend to know how this magic works, but it works here.

[Back In The Saddle]

'Round these parts it's common for partners to use index+pinkie or thumb+pinkie to indicate an upcoming bonus situation, an extended fist to indicate an upcoming media timeout, the "sliding index finger" to indicate that the upcoming throw-in is not a spot throw-in (usually exchanged at the beginning of a time out), index finger extended upward to indicate we're under 1:00 remaining in the period (quite often this is withheld until we're at about 30 seconds), tapping the chest to indicate either "I've got clock" or, more rarely, "I'm the new lead" (used to sort out confusion over a missed rotation). The only other one that comes to mind is the "two fist twist" used to communicate the need to tighten up the play calling.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by chseagle

What hand signals (other than the standard clock start/clock stop) should officials use to communicate with one another?

Late in the game when the losing team is needing to foul, I will communicate with the other official(s) with a tap on the forearm.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've heard rumor that there is a similar divice that does the same thing for the shot clock. I do know that, in my area (all three places I've worked, actually), there's an additional piece of that equipment that somehow magically displays the number of fouls each team has earned. Some of them have a special marker for the bonus that gets triggered at six fouls.

I don't pretend to know how this magic works, but it works here.

+1

Peace

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've heard rumor that there is a similar divice that does the same thing for the shot clock. I do know that, in my area (all three places I've worked, actually), there's an additional piece of that equipment that somehow magically displays the number of fouls each team has earned. Some of them have a special marker for the bonus that gets triggered at six fouls.

I don't pretend to know how this magic works, but it works here.

The only time I have ever run into a correctable error issue was in a gym that had one clock, restraining lines, no division line, pipes running across the court about 15 feet up and no display of team fouls or bonus light on the scoreboard. The only thing missing was the fan shaped backboards and the George Mikan key.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've heard rumor that there is a similar divice that does the same thing for the shot clock. I do know that, in my area (all three places I've worked, actually), there's an additional piece of that equipment that somehow magically displays the number of fouls each team has earned. Some of them have a special marker for the bonus that gets triggered at six fouls.

I don't pretend to know how this magic works, but it works here.

I have experienced such magic, but often found it to be unreliable. I'm sure the problem is not with the hardware or the software. The knowledgeable folks I've consulted have all responded with strange words like "PEBKAC" and phrases like "ID Ten-T interface".

Perhaps I need to move to where you are?

[Adam]

While we do get the occasional "ID Ten T" error, they're such a rare event I don't notice them before they get fixed by on-site tech-support.