Timing Question

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by NJOfficial

Longtime reader, first-time poster here. I'm a football official and basketball timekeeper - not a basketball rules expert - so my question will probably be pretty basic for you guys.

Opening tip-off. Ball is tapped by the visiting team's jumper, hits the floor, and bounces out of bounds untouched by any other player. Should the clock have started at any point or should it still read 8:00 when the ball goes out of bounds and is subsequently inbounded?

I'd appreciate a rule reference, since I tried to look this up in the rulebook and couldn't really find an easy answer. Thanks for your help!

Clock starts when the tossed ball is touched by a jumper. 5-9-2 (last year's reference, but I don't think it's changed)

[NJOfficial]

Thanks, Bob. Looks like I messed this up, since I didn't start the clock, but I wasn't sure since the officials didn't make any effort to correct the clock before the ball was inbounded.

[JugglingReferee]

When a U, about once a season I end up having to whistle a jump ball dead that is tilted to one side. When I do this, my arm is still straight up. But every timer starts the clock. I have to reset it to 8:00 and I always tell them, "please don't start the clock until you see a referee's arm chop in time". I've been in a number of close VB games this season, and I've probably had to correct timing errors about a dozen times this season; both stopping too late and starting too early.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

When a U, about once a season I end up having to whistle a jump ball dead that is tilted to one side. I have to reset it to 8:00.

Same thing for a jumper who taps the ball on the way up. Saw it in a state tournament game last season. Umpire did a nice job resetting the clock.

[Freddy]

Yes! Yet another candidate for a special forum dedicated exclusively to "table officials"!

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Yes! Yet another candidate for a special forum dedicated exclusively to "table officials"!

Well, they are part of the officiating crew!