When to wind the clock?

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

As the teams are going to their benches, when do you instruct the timer to begin the timeout?

What? You mean the timers are supposed to monitor how long the timeouts are and hit the buzzer? Shocker! (sarc)

As other have stated, I wait until all the players get to their bench area before telling the timer to start the clock.

PS - I love the clock/scoreboards that have the TO countdown on them and the automatic horns at 15 secs! NICE!

[chseagle]

Grunewar, the timer still has to tell the scoreboard controls about the timeout for the TO Timer to start.

The scoreboard systems I know that have the TO Timer & Auto horn w/15 secs. left are the Daktronics units. What other units are there?

I would still rather use my watch's stopwatch or the stopwatch function on my iPod though over the system on the scoreboard.

Originally Posted by grunewar

What? You mean the timers are supposed to monitor how long the timeouts are and hit the buzzer? Shocker! (sarc)

As other have stated, I wait until all the players get to their bunits.ench area before telling the timer to start the clock.

PS - I love the clock/scoreboards that have the TO countdown on them and the automatic horns at 15 secs! NICE!

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Grunewar, the timer still has to tell the scoreboard controls about the timeout for the TO Timer to start.

Duh

Originally Posted by chseagle

The scoreboard systems I know that have the TO Timer & Auto horn w/15 secs. left are the Daktronics units. What other units are there?

Don't care.

Originally Posted by chseagle

I would still rather use my watch's stopwatch or the stopwatch function on my iPod though over the system on the scoreboard.

I don't care if you use a stopwatch or your watch, but when I'm the R, I instruct all iPods, iPhones, PDA's and cell phones to be gone.

[chseagle]

The iPod Touch has a stopwatch function on it, so if that was what was being used for a stopwatch you couldn't disallow it.

Two years ago when the scoreboard malfunctioned during Regionals, we were using iPhones & iPod Touch as timing devices, so sometimes just have to go with flow & with what's available, although I was using the stopwatch on my watch for TOs.

This is the first season I've had my iPod Touch so I'm still deciding on whether to use it or my watch for TO Timer.

Originally Posted by grunewar

Duh

Don't care.

I don't care if you use a stopwatch or your watch, but when I'm the R, I instruct all iPods, iPhones, PDA's and cell phones to be gone.

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by chseagle

The iPod Touch has a stopwatch function on it, so if that was what was being used for a stopwatch you couldn't disallow it.

Two years ago when the scoreboard malfunctioned during Regionals, we were using iPhones & iPod Touch as timing devices, so sometimes just have to go with flow & with what's available, although I was using the stopwatch on my watch for TOs.

This is the first season I've had my iPod Touch so I'm still deciding on whether to use it or my watch for TO Timer.

I've got one too, and it's a great distraction from class, on the train, etc. That's exactly why officials might ban devices like that at the scorer's table. In fact I might start doing that myself, especially since I work a lot of underlevel games at which students are running the clock/doing the book.

[chseagle]

My using the iPod Touch for the timeout timer will depend on various factors (will be testing the first 2-3 games of the season). The case I have it in when out'n'about is one of those active lifestyle cases that goes on the wrist. Of course, I'll still have my watch to use as well.

I only play the music on it in the car or at home, when out I use it for an additional watch, for the calculator when figuring out finances/sales tax, or as a countdown timer if waiting on something time-specific.

I turn my phone completely off when at the table. I did make a mention to the AD & principal when meeting with them about this season, that there's been a problem with the students using their phones &/or having their friends with them at the table were working as scorer.

So the question is then, which is more distracting: a phone/mp3 player or a friend?

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I've got one too, and it's a great distraction from class, on the train, etc. That's exactly why officials might ban devices like that at the scorer's table. In fact I might start doing that myself, especially since I work a lot of underlevel games at which students are running the clock/doing the book.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by chseagle

My using the iPod Touch for the timeout timer will depend on various factors (will be testing the first 2-3 games of the season). The case I have it in when out'n'about is one of those active lifestyle cases that goes on the wrist. Of course, I'll still have my watch to use as well.

I only play the music on it in the car or at home, when out I use it for an additional watch, for the calculator when figuring out finances/sales tax, or as a countdown timer if waiting on something time-specific.

I turn my phone completely off when at the table. I did make a mention to the AD & principal when meeting with them about this season, that there's been a problem with the students using their phones &/or having their friends with them at the table were working as scorer.

So the question is then, which is more distracting: a phone/mp3 player or a friend?

Simply fascinating. How do you carry your TASER to ensure proper coach, player, official and AD compliance? Cross draw? Strong side? Weak side? Concealed?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by chseagle

So the question is then, which is more distracting: a phone/mp3 player or a friend?

Both; I'd be inclined to ban them, too, although I hadn't thought of it so much. And to quote the President in response to your statement that we can't ban them; "Yes we can."

If you get an official who does so, you can always appeal to him by saying you're using it as a timing device for timeouts, but be prepared to use your watch.

It's not just the phone that can be distracting, and I don't know the scorer from Adam, so how am I supposed to know whether he plays games or surfs the internet in his spare time? I don't, so I'd be less likely to be flexible on this.

Even in a lower level game, there's bound to be someone in the gym with a wrist watch. If not, I've worked my share of games where the timer didn't have a stop watch and would prefer that to a distracted timer.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I've got one too, and it's a great distraction from class, on the train, etc. That's exactly why officials might ban devices like that at the scorer's table. In fact I might start doing that myself, especially since I work a lot of underlevel games at which students are running the clock/doing the book.

If you do that, you might want to think about investing $5 in a cheap stopwatch; especially if you do a signicant number of these games. I have a feeling I'll be breaking back in with some middle school games, so I think I'll be doing just that this winter.
If you don't, be prepared for the only timing device to be someone's smart phone. Not that it's likely, but it's possible. I'd probably allow it in that case, with the caveat that if the timer uses it for anything else during the game, he'll be replaced and we'll go without a timing device.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by grunewar

What? You mean the timers are supposed to monitor how long the timeouts are and hit the buzzer? Shocker! (sarc)

As other have stated, I wait until all the players get to their bench area before telling the timer to start the clock.

PS - I love the clock/scoreboards that have the TO countdown on them and the automatic horns at 15 secs! NICE!

I don't like the automatic systems. During the pregame, I instruct the timer to *always* give a second horn and to not wait for the end of the timeout period if both teams are ready. Don't the automatic systems also take the place of the game clock, too? Hate that.

[chseagle]

On some systems that have the TO timer, the system freezes until after the TO Timer shows zero.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I don't like the automatic systems. During the pregame, I instruct the timer to *always* give a second horn and to not wait for the end of the timeout period if both teams are ready. Don't the automatic systems also take the place of the game clock, too? Hate that.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by chseagle

On some systems that have the TO timer, the system freezes until after the TO Timer shows zero.

And credit to Eagle for reminding me of something I forgot -- on some of these systems, there's no way to cut short a timeout once it's been started. Miserable system. If the timer starts telling me about such a system, I tell him/her to please use some other timing device and to use a manual horn. I always bring up the timeout where both teams are ready early as an example, so I don't look like a petty dictator (which I am, but it's nice if people don't see me that way).

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by grunewar

PS - I love the clock/scoreboards that have the TO countdown on them and the automatic horns at 15 secs! NICE!

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Don't the automatic systems also take the place of the game clock, too? Hate that.

I had a scoreboard like this last night. It was kind of nice, but I agree with Rich. I'd like to be able to see the time left on the clock. I know, I can see it when the timeout is over, but that's usually what I do during a timeout, is take inventory of time, score, and team fouls.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I'd like to be able to see the time left on the clock.

I'd like the other info to stay up too. (Hey, where's that guy who took the poll on how to design a clock when you need him?)

I don't mind going near the huddle and telling the teams, etc. But, any system that helps me get those friggin teams out of their timeouts and keeps the game moving I'm all for!

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I'd like the other info to stay up too. (Hey, where's that guy who took the poll on how to design a clock when you need him?)

I don't mind going near the huddle and telling the teams, etc. But, any system that helps me get those friggin teams out of their timeouts and keeps the game moving I'm all for!

When they design the next scoreboard, and I'm sure the Eagle will tell us since I just know he's subscribed to Scoreboard Monthly, they ought to add just one little window for the timeout timer. They wouldn't need more than two digits.