in-game signals between officials

[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).

[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.

[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.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

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.

Does such a tech support call involve a Ruger and a shovel?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Does such a tech support call involve a Ruger and a shovel?

Sometimes, but only up in the mountain towns where the fight song requires banjos.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Sometimes, but only up in the mountain towns where the fight song requires banjos.

Looking at your location, I'm guessing this is known from personal experience?

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

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.

I'm definitely moving there!

[26 Year Gap]

One signal I remember a partner giving was while reporting a time-out. He used the same signal given to him by the coach requesting a time-out to the table.