Best way to report numbers

[Nevadaref]

It's on page three of this season's NFHS Preseason Guide.

The NFHS instruction is to say "twenty-four," not "two-four".

[JRutledge]

Do what the people you work for and respect do.

There is no right way or wrong way really either way. I do think when you use syllable words; the table might hear the wrong thing. I have seen people say "Thirteen" and have scorers might hear the wrong number as an example and think they heard Fourteen or Fifteen.

I say each number individually and never had a problem. I have never had a supervisor care at any level. I have never been docked at a camp for saying each number. Also the CCA Manual (Men's) does not specify what to say or how to do this. The main thing is to have a strong voice and speak clearly and give the number slowly. Many officials rush through the signals which I feel is almost the most important thing we do because the number we report has many ramifications.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Check your local listings kind of thing or is there something that works best for you?

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

It's on page three of this season's NFHS Preseason Guide. The NFHS instruction is to say "twenty-four," not "two-four".

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Do what the people you work for and respect do. There is no right way or wrong way really either way.

Here in my little corner of 100% IAABO Connecticut, where we use IAABO, not NFHS mechanics, we report, "Three. Two". We've been doing it that way for over thirty years. That doesn't make it right, or wrong, it's just the way we do it. "When in Rome ...".

JRutledge: I certainly agree 100% with your first statement, however I do have a slight problem with your second statement. According to Nevadaref's post, those states, and associations, that adhere to NFHS mechanics, and I realize that there are states, and associations, that don't, it appears that there is a "right way", according to the NFHS.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Here in my little corner of 100% IAABO Connecticut, where we use IAABO, not NFHS mechanics, we report, "Three. Two". We've been doing it that way for over thirty years. That doesn't make it right, or wrong, it's just the way we do it. "When in Rome ...".

Yep, same folks who are afraid of coaches, so they go opposite on FTs after they call a foul.

Over 30 years, eh? Curious. Do you still have the T administer FTs to the FT shooter? I mean, after all, it was done that way for over 30 years. What's the point in trying a method that might be better, right?

[stiffler3492]

Yeah, the preseason guide was where I read it.

I didn't have any problems yesterday, but that was a small sample size. Small gym, not a lot of people, and a great table crew.

I'm at the same place tonight, so I don't anticipate any problems. For a junior high school, they have a great table crew. Better than a lot of the high schools I've worked at (at least for freshman games).

[zm1283]

My first year or so I said "three-two". Since then I started saying "Thirty-two" and it has worked well.

The only time I mess up reporting is the one or two times a season when I report the number of the player who got fouled instead of the offender. That makes for an interesting exchange with the table crew.

[junruh07]

A couple of years ago when I was at my first clinic, the first guy I called a foul on was number eleven. I reported it as one-one. The clinician quickly told me to always report the number, not the digits. For most numbers it probably doesn't matter, but it sure makes double numbers a lot clearer in my opinion. The table crew might stop listening after hearing the first one, and not hear the second.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Do you still have the T administer FTs to the FT shooter?

BktBallRef: Man, do you have a great memory. That change was made when IAABO was still using the NFHS mechanics manual, so we changed when everybody else did. I can't even remember how we did it back then. Did the trail just administer the first shot, or was it all shots?

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

BktBallRef: Man, do you have a great memory. That change was made when IAABO was still using the NFHS mechanics manual, so we changed when everybody else did. I can't even remember how we did it back then. Did the trail just administer the first shot, or was it all shots?

All shots. Then we kept the shots to be taken visible. For a one-and-one, we would count with our trail finger wagging up and down. Then we had a quick up with the hand after the release so we could chop in time. Before the gap, of course.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Here in my little corner of 100% IAABO Connecticut, where we use IAABO, not NFHS mechanics, we report, "Three. Two". We've been doing it that way for over thirty years. That doesn't make it right, or wrong, it's just the way we do it. "When in Rome ...".

JRutledge: I certainly agree 100% with your first statement, however I do have a slight problem with your second statement. According to Nevadaref's post, those states, and associations, that adhere to NFHS mechanics, and I realize that there are states, and associations, that don't, it appears that there is a "right way", according to the NFHS.

I was in VT for my first 6 seasons back. It is an IAABO state. "Thirty-two", not "three, two", was the law of the land.
Which is what we do here in FL. And is in the officiating manual.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

"Thirty-two", not "three, two", was the law of the land. Which is what we do here in FL. And is in the officiating manual.

IAABO manual? My IAABO manual just says to "state the color and number". Now, technically, you may be correct, three two is not a number, just two numerals, whereas thirty-two is an actual number. But is it the intent of IAABO to demand that we state an actual number, or do they leave it up to the individual boards?

I would love to get an interpretation of this "mechanic" from Peter Webb, the IAABO "international" interpreter. Last season he observed all the state finals, boys, and girls, eight games, here in Connecticut, where three two is the "law of the land". He had a lot of constructive criticism for our guys: calling outside of primary coverage areas, passing on free throw violations, hit and run reporting of fouls, not using the stop clock signal, and not visibly showing all counts that need to be visible, but he didn't mention our guys reporting the numbers incorrectly.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

IAABO manual? My IAABO manual just says to "state the color and number". Now, technically, you may be correct, three two is not a number, just two numerals, whereas thirty-two is an actual number. But is it the intent of IAABO to demand that we state an actual number, or do they leave it up to the individual boards?

I would love to get an interpretation of this "mechanic" from Peter Webb, the IAABO "international" interpreter. Last season he observed all the state finals, boys, and girls, eight games, here in Connecticut, where three two is the "law of the land". He had a lot of constructive criticism for our guys: calling outside of primary coverage areas, passing on free throw violations, hit and run reporting of fouls, not using the stop clock signal, and not visibly showing all counts that need to be visible, but he didn't mention our guys reporting the numbers incorrectly.

Our interpreter was on the NFHS rules committee for 4 years. I would say that would be a good way to go. I went to an IAABO camp in 2007. CT guys I worked with got dinged for pointing to the floor on a 2 that was near the arc. And Peter Webb didn't want any talking guys out of the lane, either. "Thirty-two" is a number. "Three. Two." is two numbers. But, do what you are told. Just don't assume it is that law of the land. Even in IAABOLand.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

I went to an IAABO camp in 2007. CT guys I worked with got dinged for pointing to the floor on a 2 that was near the arc.

Yeah. It's not an "approved" IAABO signal. It's a "Connecticut Only" signal. Been that way for many years. I guess that we're all mavericks here in the Constitution State.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The main thing is to have a strong voice and speak clearly and give the number slowly.

There it is. It's really more about clarity than format.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I read somewhere that we should report numbers by saying thirty-two instead of three-two (while showing the numbers), in order to eliminate confusion for the scorekeeper.

To me, that presents an equal amount of potential for confusion. Plus it sounds awkward saying "thurr" while displaying a 1, and "teen" while displaying a three.

Tonight I tried this in my junior high games..."White Thirty Two. Three-two". Only displayed the numbers when I said the "Three-Two".

Check your local listings kind of thing or is there something that works best for you?

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Thirty two.

A scorer doesn't look for 3-2 or 1-3 in the book. He looks for 32 or 13.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

It's on page three of this season's NFHS Preseason Guide.

The NFHS instruction is to say "twenty-four," not "two-four".

In the Introduction of the NFHS 2011-2012 Basketball Officials Manual, under heading 0.2 2011-13 Mechanics Points of Emphasas, it is stated in the third paragraph:

When verbalizing a two-digit number, say the full number, not the two parts.

I am so used to hearing the full number being said when reported, unless of course the scorer is giving a deer in the headlights look.

The other thing mentioned is that when reporting a two-digit number, not to spin your hand around to report the second number.