in-game signals between officials

[chseagle]

Thanks Bisonpitcher for the idea.

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

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

[BillyMac]

Official taps his, or her, chest to indicate, "I've got the last second shot".

[BillyMac]

Nonadministering official to partner: Open hand up in the air means, "Don't put the ball into play yet. I'm not sure that we have ten players on the court".

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Nonadministering official to partner: Open hand up in the air means, "Don't put the ball into play yet. I'm not sure that we have ten players on the court".

BillyMac, I'm meaning non-standard signals that are not listed in the appendix of the rules book, for clarification.

[Mark Padgett]

One I use is to move my pointer finger extended slowly across my throat. This indicates to my partner not to put the ball in play because I'm about to toss a coach.

[BktBallRef]

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"?

During play, we'll look at the clock, not you. All we need you to do is pay attention and operate the clock.

[ref3808]

My partner today gave a little hand movement, subtle back and forth, so that we were in synch on ability to run the endline after a timeout granted after a made hoop.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

During play, we'll look at the clock, not you. All we need you to do is pay attention and operate the clock.

So during the game you completely ignore the scorers' table? How's that going for you?

So you disregard 2-1-2?

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by chseagle

So during the game you completely ignore the scorers' table? How's that going for you

Yeah because that is exactly what he said...

Originally Posted by chseagle

So you disregard 2-1-2?

I guess you ignore 2-1-12. I don't see anything in the timer's duties which says he is to notify the officials when there is 1 minute left.

It wouldn't surprise me if you said that sometimes you disable the scoreboard horn just so that you can run on the court and notify the referee that the period has ended.

[chseagle]

Cobra, what I am meaning is that (at least around here) it's the signal from the timer that gets the floor officials attention if there is an error/discrepancy.

I have never tampered with the Auto Horn button, unless I noticed it is off (which has never happened).

What happens if the visual scoreboard malfunctions & in order to keep time a stopwatch has to be used?

It's the scorers' table that usually alerts the coaches & floor officials of a player's 5th foul & periodically 7/10 team fouls.

Depending on the gym design, it's the scorers' table that alerts the floor officials of shot clock violations (for those that have shot clock).

During varsity games, the PA Announcer usually announces 1 minute remaining in the period/game.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Cobra, what I am meaning is that (at least around here) it's the signal from the timer that gets the floor officials attention if there is an error/discrepancy.

A discrepancy in the score/timeouts/fouls and such? In the list of scorer's duties it says he is to notify the referee of a discrepancy.

Originally Posted by chseagle

What happens if the visual scoreboard malfunctions & in order to keep time a stopwatch has to be used?

Nothing, the timer does it. In the timer's duties it says he shall have a clock to time the game.

Originally Posted by chseagle

It's the scorers' table that usually alerts the coaches & floor officials of a player's 5th foul & periodically 7/10 team fouls.

Once again scorer's duties and scorer's duties.

What is your point with all of this stuff which the rule book says the timer and scorer shall do? It has nothing to do with the timer notifying the officials that there is 1 minute left.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by chseagle

So during the game you completely ignore the scorers' table? How's that going for you?

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.

So you disregard 2-1-2?

The scorer and the timer assist me in the following ways. I expect both to pay attention to officials. I expect the scorer to communicate foul situations to me and nofity me when there's a discrepancy. I expect the timer to start/stop the clock appropriately, keep the correct score on the scoreboard, and sound the horn at the appropriate times.

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

what I am meaning is that (at least around here) it's the signal from the timer that gets the floor officials attention if there is an error/discrepancy.

We weren't discussing errors or disrepancies, were we? You asked what signal the timer should use to notify the officials when there's one minute left.

What happens if the visual scoreboard malfunctions & in order to keep time a stopwatch has to be used?

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

It's the scorers' table that usually alerts the coaches & floor officials of a player's 5th foul & periodically 7/10 team fouls.

No, it's the scorer that notifies us concerning foul situations and the timer hits the horn after a DQ. No signal from you is needed.

Depending on the gym design, it's the scorers' table that alerts the floor officials of shot clock violations (for those that have shot clock).

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

During varsity games, the PA Announcer usually announces 1 minute remaining in the period/game.

Not mandated by the rules, nor does every game have a PA announcer, nor does it have anything to do with your responsibilities.

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.

[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).