Table Official Off His Game That Night

[wanja]

Bookkepping mistakes are a huge concern in one area that I work where high school students are handling the book and the clock in varsity games. I've been burnt more than once even after admonishing the two bookkeepers to work together, keep in synch and periodically checking with the table for fouls.

This post got me thinking again about this. In situations where I know there is a potential problem, I'm resolved going forward to:



1. during pre-game with partner(s), emphasize regularly checking and confirming fouls, score and arrow

2. during table pre-game, emphatically instruct the bookkeepers and timer to confirm totals after every foul and score

3. during pre-game coaches meeting, advise coaches to look out for and report any clock/book issues at the earliest appropriate opportunity

4. check foul totals during reporting of each foul and periodically confirm with partner(s)

5. at half time, confirm total and player score , arrow individual and team foul totals


Any other thoughts? I may put together a more formal list and share it with other officials. As I said, its a huge issue, and I join a long list of officials who have been burnt by the table.