PC 50 Whistle
 

PC 50 Whistle

Interesting.

But, no thanks.

Don't see the need.

Just another person trying to make a buck by claiming that there is a problem where one doesn't exist and hoping to sell people the cure for it.

:(

Interesting...If someone gave me one, I'd definitely use it but I'm not going to go out and buy one.

I wouldn't. Not only does it look different to have colored dots on your whistle, instead of the plain black that your partners are using, but are you really going to switch the little clicker each time that an AP throw-in ends? I'm busy officiating at that time.

And why are you keeping track of the possession arrow on your whistle anyway? What if your clicker differs from the official AP arrow kept at the table at some point in the game? Are you going to have the crew hold up the game while you sort out whether you or the official scorer is correct? I'm not. The AP arrow is the duty of the scorer. Let that person do his job.

Simply look to see that the scorer has properly changed the arrow on the table at your earliest opportunity following the AP throw-in. That will take care of it.

Maybe they should add a few spinning wheels on it so we can keep time, score, and fouls too!

I feel you're making this a bigger issue than it should be...I'm betting it would literally take two seconds to switch the clicker. I don't know what officiating you're doing during those two seconds of dead ball time, but I'm guessing we're all talented enough to dead ball officiate and press a clicker all before the ball becomes live again.

So what if there's a little bit of color on a whistle? Do you really care that much? Quite frankly this wouldn't even be on the list of issues I'd care about a partner matching in. Now if your assignor says you can't use this, then of course don't, and I'm not going to go out of my way to get one.

And officials keep track of the possession arrow in varieties of ways....some better than others. Some keep it in their head, some use a rubber band, some use a spare whistle. I'm keeping track of the possession arrow regardless because if/when there's an issue, it's going to my partner(s) and me who will be held accountable. If my partner or I have a discrepancy between the table, you damn right I'm going to hold up the game to make sure. Doesn't take more than 15-30 seconds max to get it taken care of.

You're right that if we make sure to see the table change the arrow appropriately we can avoid most issues but that doesn't mean an arrow can't be switched accidentally while you aren't looking and don't notice it until way later in the game...especially in lower level games.

Brother, Can You Spare Me A Whistle ???
 

We've been doing this in my little corner of Connecticut since the possession arrow was invented. It's mandatory in our local board. I hate having to do it, but, when in Rome ...

or, at the lower level games they don't even keep the arrow at all...... :(

Allowed ???
 

What does this mean: "Only possession control aide allowed in all venues."?

Who's going to stop me from using some other type of aide? The "Arrow Police"?

Been There, Done That ...
 

100% of all my Catholic middle school games. Now this is where our "spare whistle switching from pocket to pocket" routine comes in handy.

Billy, how do you decide which pocket is which team?

I'm not Billy, but most people who use this method put the whistle in the pocket that points to the same end of the court as the arrow when the official is facing the table.

Seems to me if the barking dogs in your area frown at the use of a rubber band, spare whistle, or any other visible memory aid, they're going to find the use of this whistle to be equally distasteful.

The buttons on the whistle are white and red. What if one of the teams is wearing blue? :p

BTW - I use a chapstick in my pocket to keep track of possession. In kids rec games, it's imperative I do this because the parent volunteers at the table usually don't understand the possession protocol. The chapstick seems to be just the right size and weight. I used to use a Hickory Farms beefstick, but I'd get weird looks from some women coaches when I'd move it from side to side. :D

According to Nevada, you shouldn't worry about keeping the arrow and let the scorer do his/her job.

Ditto, And I identify the team possesion by facing the benches and which ever side coincides with the pocket with the chapstick get the ball.

Exactly. Unfortunately, sometimes I forget to change pockets after the inbound to start Q3.

I would not us the whistle for the same reason I do not switch things in my pocket. It is very easy to forget or not change when you are supposed to and that will cause further problems. It is better to be focused on the game and you will remember who had the ball last and who got the last AP (or jump ball). That to me is more effective than this little device (or the other device).

Peace

Rut - I agree with you. I also know you don't do many (or any, I think) kids rec games. If you did, you'd realize the importance of keeping track of possession yourself. 99% of these games have volunteer parents keeping the clock and the book and many of them have never done it before (or only done it a very few times) so you have to explain how to do it to them. It can be really hard to explain possession to some parent who has virtually no concept of what that means. If the officials don't keep it, it just won't be kept. I know you said you can just keep it "in your mind" but I guess I'm not that accomplished. I wish I was. Congrats to you (I'm not being sarcastic but appreciative here).

The thing clearly should have been named the AP 50. :rolleyes:

And for the most part, that's how I work most of my games, but I'm not going to get on an official who does something to keep track of the arrow.

Mark, I work enough games where there are people at the table that are not used to keeping track of a lot of things and somehow I manage. Everything from summer games to camp games it is common not to have a regular AP arrow at the table. Also what you call "rec games" are not the same animal where I live and what we experience. Most games of our games are school sanctioned until the summer which involves AAU or travel ball. Rec games are usually Men's leagues or adult intramural leagues of some kind.

Usually I talk the table people into using something like a pencil or a bottle so that we have something other than the scoreboard. I also never rely on the table even in games where the people are experienced at the table to know the AP status.

I think many of us use that as an excuse to not do things to keep track or be aware of when these times happen. I learned to "time stamp" things in games where I can remember key moments in the game and I do this for the AP. I am not saying it is perfect, but I have seen enough officials not switch and then they do not want to accept they missed a change. I guess if you want to use this that is fine with me, but I still look at it as a crutch.

Peace

I never said I would get on an official for doing this. If they just have to use this OK with me. I think it looks silly overall and as someone who is a clinician at camps and for my state in basketball; this would be something I would recommend someone not use. And it would come up I was asked about the official as it is one of many things we might discuss when officials are recommended for leagues or games in the future. I know I would not want to use this going to the many camps I attend as a camper.

Peace

What I really need is a whistle that keeps track of which team I called a violation or foul on last time. That way I could be sure to call every other time against a team:D

I was looking for a "like" button. Too much facebook I guess. :D

When In My Little Corner Of Connecticut ...
 

Bingo. Arrow, and whistle in pocket, points to the baskets, not to the benches. We also change pockets at the beginning of halftime when the referee has the table change the arrow.

Let's see. Is the red button down or up for the visitors' arrow? Dang.

The overall design of the whistle and the way the acoustic part of the whistle are cut make me think that there is a potential patent infringement here on a Fox 40 whistle.

Is that a whistle in your pocket?
 

Like above, I trust that the table at the high school level can do their job.

Wreck and kiddie tournaments I do use the pocket method, but I was taught to do it by jersey color: Light in the right (rhymes).