Rookie Kicks a Time Out Call

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by DesMoines

I don't want to bail on a lane violation, but do you pay attention to this much at all? How much anticipating, if any, do you do?

If it's the end of a game and it's a time-out situation, the officials should be aware and ready for a TO request. That should be pre-gamed. Usually the off-ball official(s) can sneak a quick look at the bench. The coaches should also be smart enough to be giving a visual as well as verbal TO request.

[Rich]

Good coaches will come up and tell you they want a timeout on a made FT, too. And in the spirit of good game management, I'm happy to grant such a timeout based on just that (at the requested time, too).

[wanja]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Good coaches will come up and tell you they want a timeout on a made FT, too. And in the spirit of good game management, I'm happy to grant such a timeout based on just that (at the requested time, too).

If a coach asks for a time out ahead of time, I'm responding I'll look for you to confirm then coach. What if he changes his mind, e.g. because he realizes he doesn't have any left or he sees an advantage to not calling a time out after the free throw? Good game management says don't grant a time-out ahead of time.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by wanja

If a coach asks for a time out ahead of time, I'm responding I'll look for you to confirm then coach. What if he changes his mind, e.g. because he realizes he doesn't have any left or he sees an advantage to not calling a time out after the free throw? Good game management says don't grant a time-out ahead of time.

If the coach walks up to me before the second of two free throws and says "I want one on the make" he isn't going to change his mind between then and the make 5 seconds later.

[Loudwhistle]

The coaches should also be smart enough to be giving a visual as well as verbal TO request.

Around here, after meeting with the team captains, we go and shake hands with the coaches. During this greeting I have been asking the coaches to visually and verbally indicate when then want a timeout. I would like to report that this request has been very effective, but only about half the coaches give a visual signal when they want a timeout. I got my arse chewed out a while back from a coach for not giving him a time out. Told him I didn't hear or see him requesting it. So, the next night, same coach, I'm lead and hear what sounds like time out. (His team has the ball) I look over at his bench and see him looking like Moses parting the Red Sea. I blow the whistle and yell time white, Coach looks at me as I'm moving to report the time out, he says I didn't call time out, I was saying widen out. Me, oh sorry, ball back to white and we keep moving. (Most of the coaches around here visually request time out with a fist in the air, or the "T")

[bainsey]

Good advice, but what I wonder is why players simply don't mirror their coach when calling time out? If they know their coach wants a T.O., help the coach out a little.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Good advice, but what I wonder is why players simply don't mirror their coach when calling time out? If they know their coach wants a T.O., help the coach out a little.

This hasn't happened, hardly at all anyway, since they gave the coach's the ability to request a TO. Players just don't mirror it.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

This hasn't happened, hardly at all anyway, since they gave the coach's the ability to request a TO. Players just don't mirror it.

I've actually been mentioning this is my pregame the last couple of years, to both coaches and captains. It is not catching on.

[BillyMac]

Most, but not all, basketball officials played some type of organized basketball. That said, most officials should be able to anticipate when a coach might request a timeout. Opposing team goes on a 12-2 run. Or, team is down a few points with less than two minutes to go. Be sure to look at the coach after the other team scores a basket. Rules and mechanics don't demand that we do this, but good officials will always do this.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I've actually been mentioning this is my pregame the last couple of years, to both coaches and captains. It is not catching on.

Maybe they're not listening. Try adding a joke first.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Try adding a joke first.

... for Mark Padgett.