Black boxes?
 

Could someone please tell me what the little black boxes the college officials have on their belts are for? Im guessing they have something to do with keeping the time the ball was put into play.

If anyone could feel me in, I would appreciate it.

Precision Timing System

Officials are able to start the clock by pressing a button on that black box. They're also fitted with microphones on their collar that picks up on a whistle blowing and stops the clock automatically. It's used in most of the major conferences during the regular season and used in all NBA games.

There've been many discussions in the past because they reduce timing errors to near zero, if not zero. It was then mentioned that the system costs $2,000 per gym to implement. Then, you'd need officials that can operate the PTS while officiating. (Believe me, some can't!)

You must have missed the issues with the clock stopping in the middle of the play. I want to say it was during the NCAA tournament. Did they ever get those issues worked out?

Hmmm, I don't recall those issues. I'm certain that the NBE doesn't have any issues. Why would the NCAA have issues? Were officials breathing heavy, while they referee, and maybe causing the ever so slightest whistle-sound?

I don't think BillyMac or Mark Padgett were there, so probably not.

I don't think they use PTS during tournament play (or, at least, they didn't used to use it)

They haven't in the past. I believe the reasoning was that not every venue was set up for it. Doesn't make sense to me. As much money that is put into the tournament I don't think it would take that much for the NCAA to equip every venue with a PTS.

Ah that's right, I remember that now.

As I understand the PTS system, a lot of those venues don't want it because - once installed - they pretty much have to use it for everything.

They use it to signal the aliens.

There isn't a switch to "Use / Not Use" the PTS?

... that live in your mind, such as it is. :cool:

The use of the system is sometimes conference driven. In the past 3 years the Mid American conference made all their school put it in. There is still a person at the table starting and stopping the clock along with the officials. They can also tell if your "pack" is working or not. One other side not the "packs" operate on a battery that is only sold by PTS...pretty smart of them.

It's the remote activation system for the coaches' shock collar.

The reason they don't use it (or haven't in the past) is because the NCAA didn't pay for it. Each conference pays a fee to basically rent the equipment every year (or however long the contract is). All the venues can use the system, but ya gotta pay to use it.

I asked a local college official what they're really used for and he said it's to send score updates to Tim Donaghy! :eek:

Nah, it's a console that plugs in to the scoreboard console. You can connect/disconnect it anytime.


Not sure where you heard that but it makes no sense. We have almost 100 HS in NC that have purchased. They don't "rent" it each season. But they do have to buy the batteries from PTS. Because of that expense, a lot of schools have stopped using it.

The cost to purchase is between $2000 and $3000. The NBA uses a more advance system that records which official stops/starts the clock each time.