In a high school boys playoff game last night(NF rules Mark) 6.7 sec left, 1 point game, A1 leaps from his backcourt to save the ball from going OOB. As he gets the ball, he calls, yells for a time out. The ball is in his hands and very close to his chest. The referee refuses to grant the time out. The coach of team A is not happy. (of course) The referee explains to the coach of team A that A1 did not have control of the ball. The coach explains to the referee that A1 had control since the ball was in his hands and close to his chest and that he was still up in the air. Was the referee correct to refuse the time out considering the location of the ball and the time left on the clock and a 1 point game ? Is this referee being a little to technical on what is having possession of the ball? Now what do you consider is having control of the ball?

If he's holding the ball,he's got player control.Grant the TO.If he's juggling the ball,no player control and no TO. It's always the official's judgement as to whether there is actually player control or not(dependant on the official knowing the rule,of course).The location of the ball and the time on the clock don't mean squat.The only factor that is relevant is whether the player has inbounds status or not.

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Mar 4th, 2003 at 10:47 AM]

That is completely a judgment call that we'd have to see. Perhaps the ref thought he was juggling the ball...perhaps he thought he hit the ground before he called time. As far as location of the ball and time left on the clock, that is irrelevant.

Z

A couple of clarifications as far as what is rule and what is judgement.

By rule, player control is holding or dribbling a live ball in bounds.

By rule, a player in the air is in bounds if the last place he/she touched the court was in bounds.

So, as has been said already, if the player was holding the ball, the timeout should be granted. The only judgement here is whether the player was holding the ball when he/she requested the timeout.

Looks to me like the game official had concluded that A1 did not have control. Without seeing the play, this is the only real information I can find. If this is the case, s/he made the right decision.

That said, JR is right, that time on the clock and location (save for in bounds) don't mean squat. If he has control, by all means give the kid the TO.

Blackhawk