Change in officials due to emergencies
 

What is the normal procedure when an official has to leave in the middle of a game due to an emergency (family/health)?

During the C-Squad/V game, the other night (2-whistle crew), 1 of the officials had to leave de to his son going to the emergency room. Thankfully we had some MS/JH games that happened earlier, so we had additional officials available. One of those came in to finish the game as the official left at halftime.

During last night's GV game, shot clock operator was replaced at halftime due to medical issues.

Normally, if someone isn't available to replace an official in a case like this, the other official(s) will just finish the game without him; alone if that's the case.

I have no idea what they would normally do to replace someone at the table; my guess is grab the first willing volunteer out of the crowd.

There is no prescribed procedure. You find the first and/or closest available official. Most times it's an official who's in the gym for a subsequent game or has stuck around from a previous game.

Last year a retired official in attendance for his daughter's varsity game stepped in and worked the first half of the JV game with the approval of both coaches.

That's normally what is done, as when I injured my knee last January that's what happened.

It's for reasons like this that I have the thinking that it's better that multiple people be trained in table operations.

And the fact that the game was completed as scheduled tells me it's not really necessary.

Ambulance Chasers ...
 

It is suggested to us to always keep a packed bag in our car. You would be surprised how quickly an official can show up in an emergency when we have three hundred officials, in only forty towns packed closely together, when it takes less than an hour for the longest ride from one part of our county to another. Sometimes it only take a few minutes. Our assigner is great. He's available 24/7 on his cell phone. He always answers on the first or second ring, and has all Arbiter information available to him at all times.

You don't think having a backup timer, backup scorer, and then an apprentice trained in both would make you feel more secure?

I'd also like backup ball boys, personally...

Last yr one of our Association Officals did just that and when a State Playoff Official was a no show before the game due to traffic, he suited up and refereed his first playoff game. Pretty cool. :cool:

We usually just go outside, grab a local homeless person, and offer him $2. After a 30 second training session, we're good to go.

You hurt your knee during a game? :eek:

I had my gear with me and was able to work as a white hat in a provincial football final.

When it comes to having your gear in your truck, rtg: just do it!

I mentioned it in a thread after the injury happened.

Was going after a loose ball during halftime & left knee gave out on me, which caused the left knee to pop in & out of place.

Doing too much. Let the kids chase loose balls.

It was during a 3-pt. Pop Shoot.

All I know right now is narrowing joint space (PCL or Arthritis)

I was in the locker room last night with the crew when the game manager came in and asked us if one of the 3 of us would be willing to get dressed quickly and finish the sophomore (JV) game as one of the 2 on the game pulled a leg muscle. I worked the entire 4th quarter.

Edit: I already posted this. I'm going senile, I swear.

My Grandmother Used To Call This A White Lie ...
 

I fixed it so that it sounds a lot more exciting. Who's gonna check up on the truthfulness of the the facts? It's a victimless lie.

I got to work my first high school basketball game in this manner, I had just worked a MS game not far away and was watching my HS play in a varsity game and an official pulled me out of the stands and said I was to work the second half.

I was confused and at first didn't even want to entertain the though of working a varsity contest between a school I was attending and our in district rival. Unbeknown to me the frosh were playing in the back gym at the same time and he was from that game, he said he was having a migraine and couldn't tell the difference between the maroon away jerseys of the away team and the orange home jerseys.

I knew both coaches, every player on both teams and most of the parents as I had officiated their summer camps many times. During the half time while we were trying to figure out if I was even allowed to officiate my own school we (the varsity and other frosh officials) asked the home AD if he objected to my officiating the game and he was ok, I then said only if both coaches agreed would I work the game.

The away coach was fine, as I knew he would be because I officiated his scrimmages when ever he wanted, the home coach was a little hesitant until he was told there was not other replacement available, it was either me or the other official was working alone in the second half. He eventually agreed, I think it was because he and the other official had a perpetual dislike for each other and he knew I wouldn't do anything stupid and would probably keep everything under control.

I don't remember who won, but I do remember my partner T'ed up the home team for slapping the backboard and there was a point at which we had to reset the clock to :03 which was a hassle because the clock only set in full minutes and we had to run it down from 1:00 and basically give the home team an extra full timeout when they were out.

cliffs: I worked my first HS game as a fill in.
If there is an emergency grab anyone who can work the game and finish it.

Jasper

Injuries to the table crew are common. It is a dangerous job. Good to always have a 2nd and even third highly trained clock operator waiting on standby.

Currently for timer/scoreboard there's 5 people that are trained & for shot clock 5-6 people trained. However on any given game night, only 3 of each are used.

One of those trained on shot clock does not feel comfortable doing Varsity games.

My Grandmother Used To Call This A White Lie ...

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Originally Posted by chseagle
"Was going after a loose ball during the third period of the state championship game & left knee gave out on me, which caused the left knee to pop in & out of place."

Originally Posted by BillyMac
I fixed it so that it sounds a lot more exciting. Who's gonna check up on the truthfulness of the the facts? It's a victimless lie.

...I would know...;)

I know how he feels...this Sat. night it happened to me. Only the 2nd time I can remember it ever happening...but, it happened.

I was very busy Saturday and neglected to drink much water. When I went over to check and sign the books...I couldn't even see my name as I wrote it in the books. I had a couple of partners that I don't usually work with and they don't really have much Varsity experience. I told them they were going to have to "carry me". Their eyes got wide and I wondered then if I should have said anything. This game had two big rivals with one of the teams rated 1st in State.

We got through the 1st Quarter...but, it was somewhat uncomfortable. I told the table crew that I was having trouble seeing. The clock operator gave me a bottle of water and said it might help. I drank it quickly before the 2nd quarter started. By the end of the 2nd quarter I was fine. My partners really stepped it up for the crew...and we ended up having a good game.

Moral of story: keep yourself hydrated on the day of your games...duh!:rolleyes:

P.S. chseagle...do you have water ready for stoopid officials, like myself?
This table guy really saved the day.;)

We can easily get water for the officials from the concessions.

BTW from the grapevine I hear there's a meeting on the 31st.

This is just great. Personally I think it should be written into the rule book that every school have 5 people minimum trained for table duty. They should also by rule have the entire table crew, and alternates, meet with the floor officials before the game for a pregame conference to go over things. Athletic trainers should be required to ensure the table crew has their fingers and thumbs properly stretched for operating the clock and scoreboard buttons, to prevent injuries of course.

The question is however how many are trained in multiple table operations?