It's About Time ...
 

We've never had any problems with one hand, vocalize each digit, signals here in our little corner of Connecticut. It's taught that way because it works for us. If it wasn't working, if someone were to suggest a better way, our training committee would take a look at it, and decide to change, or not to change.

We have made lots of mechanics changes over the past thirty years. Some have worked, other haven't. A few years ago we experimented with no long switches on fouls in the backcourt where there is no change of possession. I guess that the "rule" was too difficult for some of our officials to comprehend. Some would follow it with no problems, others would have problems, like not switching on a player control foul (not in the backcourt, possession changes), and having problems on rebounding fouls (possession, or no possession). This led to some awkward moments where one official started to make a switch and the other stayed. So after two years, we went back to switching on all fouls.

We've also added a few of our own "Connecticut only" signals over the years. We've added a supplemental “Intentional Foul: Excessive Contact” (Hard Foul) signal in our high school games. And we've added a “Shooter Has Foot Touching Three Point Line” signal. Connecticut is an IAABO state, and these are not accepted IAABO signals.

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Right now we're experimenting with different boundary responsibilities in a two person game.

We're not stuck in time. In our little corner of Connecticut, evolution supersedes revolution.

Interesting changes over the past few years in my little corner of the world. We had an evaluation system - both here and at the State tournaments - that was very heavily weighted toward using the proper NFHS mechanics. So some of the better play-calling officials (they call a better game!) were being left out of final rounds of District, Regional, and State tournaments because they were weaker on NFHS mechanics and used a few NCAA mechanics that have been mentioned here (2 hand reporting, no stop clock signal on oob, etc.). The coaches and AD's wanted to know what was going on, and asked for the evaluation system to change. They want the better officials, not necessarily the ones with the best NFHS mechanics. I know the two are not mutually exclusive, but advancing someone just because they put their hand up over someone who is a better official is just silly.

And to those who would argue that they should be able to remember which mechanics to use in which gym - that's not always as easy as it is to say. In a bang-bang play, habits kick in sometimes.

If an official can work a HS game on Friday and work a HS game and understand all those mechanics, then go that Saturday and work a college game in the afternoon, with another HS game that evening, then an official can work with both mechanic sets. It is not impossible or difficult as people want to make it. And I will say this again; this is primarily a Women's college official issue. Men's college does not have all these differences from HS mechanics, but maybe 2 hand reporting. And two hand reporting is not allowed in many places at the Men's college level.

Peace

I agree with everything you said....I just have a beef with those that choose to not do the mechanics...not those that do something out of habit. By all means, the best game official should be doing the game, but when all else is equal (or close), they should advance the one who is also doing the right mechanics too.

I totally understand what you are saying. However, I personally like to take a common sense approach to things. I am not two nine, I'm twenty nine (not really that young). I don't want to change the way I communicate out of tradition if it goes against what is common sense. This is smaller than a small detail, but I have seen it matter. Since we have other things to worry about, why not do what comes naturally and say the number?

I just had a seriously twisted moment and thought about how the different things we are talking about impact quality. ISO 9000 and corrective actions floated through my head. I need a vacation.