Clock Question

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by JMUplayer

I'm in my 5th year doing a AA Varsity game. Watching the JV game and i notice the tenths of a second aren't on the clock under a minute. At the end of the 1Q i see 0:00 on the clock and then a full second later i hear the horn. I wasn't sure at this point i saw it correctly so then i watched the 2Q clock really close and sure enough there was a huge delay.
By halftime of the JV game my partners come in both with 20+ years of experience each and i say watch the clock at the end of the 3Q and sure enough it does it again.

Here is the question -- I debated that something was wrong but one of my more experienced partners says that's just the way it is. So our debate ranged on this fact. Before there were tenths of a second on clocks if the clock showed 2 seconds does that mean there is between 1 and 2 seconds left (which i argued) or 2-3 seconds left which he argued. It was a friendly debate with neither of us conceding. I remember vividly when i played and there was 1 second left that sometimes when you touched the ball the horn went off immediately. I then asked if we have a shooting foul with 0:00 on the clock but the horn hasn't gone off are we lining up to shoot?

Anyway just want to get some other veterans opinions.

Most than likely the clock will read 7:59 immediately after you start the clock. this tells you that the display is a floor function.

This means that the display only shows the full number of seconds remaining, while not displaying the amount left in the partial second that remains in additional to the full seconds.

0:00 without a horn really is anywhere from 0:00.1 to 0:00.9.

[Camron Rust]

Clock displays can round up or round down. Those that round up show 0:01 until the time left reaches 0:00. Those that round down (truncate) show 0:00 as soon as it is any fraction under 0:01.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by JMUplayer

Before there were tenths of a second on clocks if the clock showed 2 seconds does that mean there is between 1 and 2 seconds left (which i argued) or 2-3 seconds left which he argued.

You argued correctly.

I have a distinct memory of an exhibition game 20 years ago in a gym that had an older clock, before tenths of seconds were considered. There were :02 left with the home team down one point, and the home team had a frontcourt sideline throw-in. The throw-in was touched in bounds, the clock was started (the timekeeper verified this sequence), and 1.1 - 1.2 seconds later, the horn sounded without a shot getting off in time.

"THAT was two seconds?"

Clearly, it wasn't. So, if a clock has the capability to display tenths, get it set up. And if the horn is sounding a second (0.9 seconds, actually) after :00 reads, ask the timekeeper to fix it. If he doesn't know how, ask the A.D. Otherwise, it may come back to bite you or someone else down the road.