I've seen it all

Freddy · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 07:07am

Agree heartily that officials must be situationally aware of those likely occasions of timeout requests. that's a right afforded under the constitution.
This did, however, bring back memories of the good old days when our coaches taught us those crucial situations in which we, as players on the floor, should actually--get this--request a timeout ourselves. And we did from time to time.
I know, I know. That's about as rare today as a kid getting up out of his chair and walking across the room to change the television channel dial and adjust the tinfoil on the rabbit ears.
I guess Chris Webber didn't help the cause any, either.

RobbyinTN · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:05pm

I can't believe one of the officials didn't glance over in anticipation of a TO being requested. We can't read coach's mind but if we are officiating ball we should have some knowledge of ball strategy - which with 12 seconds to go and down by a basket you can bet the coach is going to call a TO so be expecting it

No way in the world would I give a T in the scenario

JRutledge · #3 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:19pm

Officials do not have to be aware of anything with a coach during active play. It is the team's responsibility only to worry about getting the official's attention. If they cannot do that, shame on them. I am not looking at any coach for a timeout request and never will. I only care about what is taking place on the court. If I hear and see a request I will grant it. Too much is going on that I will miss if I pay that close attention to a coach. Coaches need to train their players to repeat or respond to their requests. It is funny that when a player gets in some kind of trouble they request timeouts, so why are coaches not teaching their players to respond to them yelling something. Half the time I cannot hear a coach if the crowd is really big. Sorry, this is all on the teams, the officials can only respond to what they know. And if they are focused on the court, they are not going to always know who is asking for a timeout.

Peace

RobbyinTN · #4 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:27pm

Well I disagree. While my focus is on the floor it takes one quick glance to the bench. I don't do it except near the end of a close game. It does not take my attention off the game

APG · #5 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:37pm

I'll have to disagree with you there JRut. Yes it's the team's job to get our attention, but we have to have good game awareness to know when a timeout is going to be granted. An off official, especially opposite table should be able to glance away for a beat to catch the coach's request.

jeschmit · #6 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:45pm

Like it was said earlier, it takes about a tenth of a second to glance over to the coach and see what he/she might be requesting. Also, smart officials should know when a timeout might be requested... whether it be a scoring run by the other team, after a made basket late in a close game, or a trap in the corner, etc. A good official should know the situation that the game is in, and be ready to respond to a coach's request for a TO.

I will continue to glance over at a coach while there is a live ball. It makes for a smoother game when the coach decides to request a TO.

Loudwhistle2 · #7 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

Well I disagree. While my focus is on the floor it takes one quick glance to the bench. I don't do it except near the end of a close game. It does not take my attention off the game

+1 and I'm listening extra sharply at this point to hear for the squall of "time out"

amusedofficial · #8 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:45pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Sorry, this is all on the teams, the officials can only respond to what they know. And if they are focused on the court, they are not going to always know who is asking for a timeout.

Precisely. It is not our job to help coach the team, our responsibility is on the floor.

If it's a timeout situation, every one of the coach's players should have known it. There have been games that devolved into controversy when an assistant requested the TO and it was granted.

Let me ask this, though. What do you do when a coach says "I want a timeout if it's a make" prior to a free-throw? Do you wait to hear it, listen for it, or treat it as having been requested.

Freddy · #9 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

What do you do when a coach says "I want a timeout if it's a make" prior to a free-throw?

"You bet, coach. When I glance over and see you request it, I'll give it."

truerookie · #10 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 02:55pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Let me ask this, though. What do you do when a coach says "I want a timeout if it's a make" prior to a free-throw? Do you wait to hear it, listen for it, or treat it as having been requested.

I communicate with the coach and say " Coach I will look at you to confirm the timeout" 9 out of 10 they shake they head in agreement.

JRutledge · #11 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 03:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbyinTN

Well I disagree. While my focus is on the floor it takes one quick glance to the bench. I don't do it except near the end of a close game. It does not take my attention off the game

OK, you glance at the court and when you miss some extra cirricular activity on the court, then come talk to me when then talk to me why you missed that play. A timeout is one of the last things I am going to worry about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

I'll have to disagree with you there JRut. Yes it's the team's job to get our attention, but we have to have good game awareness to know when a timeout is going to be granted. An off official, especially opposite table should be able to glance away for a beat to catch the coach's request.

I can have good awareness and still not know a coach is calling for a timeout. Again, the play on the court is the most important thing to me and always will be. When this rule was changed this was made very clear to all of us (in my area) what our responsibilities were and it was not to take our attention off the court. And if the coaches are not smart enough to get their players to react, then that is their problem.

Peace

JRutledge · #12 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 03:23pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Precisely. It is not our job to help coach the team, our responsibility is on the floor.

If it's a timeout situation, every one of the coach's players should have known it. There have been games that devolved into controversy when an assistant requested the TO and it was granted.

Let me ask this, though. What do you do when a coach says "I want a timeout if it's a make" prior to a free-throw? Do you wait to hear it, listen for it, or treat it as having been requested.

I do not like the "prior to action request" that coaches make. I have asked them to still make the request so it will be seen on tape. But I have kind of backed off of that. The problem is sometimes their requests are "after this FT" but they are usually reasonable.

Peace

26 Year Gap · #13 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 04:43pm

This was a JV game. The game officials were not likely seasoned veterans. So, they learned a lesson in game management, and hopefully will become better officials. Likely it was a crew of two and in a loud gym and a close game, it is very easy to get caught up in the action.

Knowing the situation is important and as soon as the basket was made, a quick glance by the new lead if he was opposite table or new trail if he was opposite even before the ball hit the floor would have prevented the coach's actions from escalating.

That said, players should be taught by coaches to recognize when one is being requested. My last game had two player requested time outs. The best game of the year had a player trapped near the division line call for one with 6.1 seconds left in a tie game. Saw that coach Friday and told him it was a heads up play by his player.

I am not taking my eyes off a tight match-up to look at a coach for a time out request. I am looking there after a made basket when there is a run by the opponents or in an end of game situation as described in the OP. In 3 man, it is MUCH easier to do, however.

Andy · #14 (**permalink**) Mon Feb 07, 2011, 02:15pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

This was a JV game. The game officials were not likely seasoned veterans. So, they learned a lesson in game management, and hopefully will become better officials. Likely it was a crew of two and in a loud gym and a close game, it is very easy to get caught up in the action.

This is about all that needs to be said.....

BillyMac · #15 (**permalink**) Sun Feb 06, 2011, 05:24pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

That's about as rare today as a kid getting up out of his chair and walking across the room to change the television channel dial and adjust the tinfoil on the rabbit ears.

Freddy: I hope you realize that a large percentage of the Forum membership has absolutely no idea of what you're talking about.

Note: My daughter is living on student loans while she puts herself through medical school. She can't afford cable television. She asked me if there was any way that she could use "bunny ears".