in-game signals between officials

[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.