A time out with a twist.
 

6th Grade boys.

Smaller A1 has a pass batted back towards him, he and a larger B1 wrangle for the ball in the air, and A1 lands a bit awkwardly and off balance near the sideline. He looks right at me with a a grimace and puts his hands together indicating time-out, which I grant.

Then he walks towards his bench, hobbling like an old geezer! I didn't recognize him to be hurt, but hurt he was.

I confer with partner and we agree this time-out won't be charged to Team A, but rather be an official's time out to get a new player in for A1. Partner said he would for this rec game, but wouldn't for a high school game. My feeling is I would do the same in a high school game.

Interested in others feedback.

I would give the time out back too...much in similar fashion if an opposing coach called a timeout for an injured player on the other team.

I would not. If a player is hurt that an opposing coach calls a timeout then the officials haven't done their job and that's a whole different matter.

In the stitch above the timeout WILL stand.

Time After Time ...
 

How many times have we heard a player say, "Time out. I need to tie my shoe", during a clock stopped, dead ball. Do we always charge the time out because the words, "time out", were stated?

That seems to me to be a different play -- one in which the TO is NOT granted in the first place.

Given that it was granted in the OP, with out being called for an injury (at the time), I think it needs to stand.

Are you really comparing apples to oranges?

We? Maybe it is just you, do not see players ask for a timeout because of this. And if they request one they better learn to tie a shoe better.

Peace

6th grade game, I wouldn't charge the TO to team A.

JV/Varsity it would be a HTBT situation (assuming you KNOW that A1 is injured). Consider the example of how we allow the continuing action when a player goes down if there's no risk of further injury to that player. If, in this case, there's no real possibility of continuing action, I'd treat is as your standard injury timeout. If there's a chance for continuing action without further risk to the player (doubtful, since apparently he has the ball) I'd charge the TO to Team A.

Note to self: Tell kids to hobble to the bench after every time they call a time out.

In the case where I'd charge an injury timeout, I'm not going to allow the coach to act as if it's a regular timeout. If that kid hobbles to the bench, we're resuming play right away just would happen with any other timeout for injury.

I had something like this last year, but even more weird.

A-1 inbounds to A-2, near Team A's bench. Right then, Coach A says to me, "Stop the clock. There's an shoe untied."

The coach got nothing from me but an odd look. Play continued.

Did he call you "McFly" during this conversation?

Time Marches On ...
 

First of all, in a real game, I'm not charging a timeout in this situation. I'm just telling him to tie his shoe.

Secondly, by the book, why is the timeout not granted in this case. Clock stopped. Dead ball. What rule prevents an official from granting a timeout here.

From the OP, I think the timeout should stand.

I've never seen a player who is truly hurt request a timeout - they typically are more worried about what's wrong with them and know the officials will shut it down.

I wouldn't make a habit of doing it, but I've got no problem with retracting the TO in an isolated case. If I do, the player has to be replaced, however.

When a kid says "time out I need to tie my shoe" s/he's not really requesting a Time Out as defined in the rules.

Sometimes you (the generic "you") need a little common sense to officiate.

Common Sense ...
 

To reiterate, in a real game, I'm not going to charge a timeout to a player who simply wants to tie his shoe.

However, "as defined in the rules", how is a player in this situation not "defined" as requesting a timeout.

From NFHS Rule 5: "Time-out occurs and the clock, if running, shall be stopped when an official: Grants a player’s request for a time-out, such request being granted only when: The ball is dead, unless replacement of a disqualified, or injured player(s),or a player directed to leave the game is pending, and a substitute(s) is available and required."

Also: "Exception: No time-out is charged if: the player’s request results from displaced eyeglasses, or lens."

The NFHS has a rule that officials don't charge a timeout when a player requests a timeout to deal with eyeglasses. The NFHS doesn't make an exception for such a request in the case of an untied shoe, or an injury.

Common sense tells me to not charge a timeout for eyeglasses, untied shoes, or injuries, but the rules, by the book, don't seem to back that up. And, by the way, these are all realistic game situations. In thirty years I've had dozens of players, from middle school, up to high school varsity, request a timeout for eyeglasses, untied shoes, or injuries, actually using the word, "Timeout", and in none of those cases did I charge that player's team with a timeout.

When a player says "Time Out, I need to tie my shoes" what s/he means is "wait a second, I need to tie my shoes."

Please Let Me Tie My Shoes ...
 

Agreed. Same thing for displaced eyeglasses, or contact lenses, and, as this thread discusses, maybe the same thing for an injury.

However, the rulebook only addresses eyeglasses, and contact lenses. The rulebook also states that an officials must apply the intent and purpose of the rules, and that, with a little bit of 2-3 thrown in for good measure, will give common sense, "real game", officials all the direction that they need.

The rule says (or means) "A TO, if granted, is not charged to the team if it was for glasses."

It says NOTHING about not granting a "TO" if it's just for a shoe (or that matter for glasses) during the type of plays.

IOW, the player's statement is not a request under 5-8-3, but rather for a delay in 5-8-2c.

Not 100% Convinced, But Pretty Close ...
 

5-8-2-C: Time-out occurs and the clock, if running, shall be stopped when an official: Stops play:
c. Because of unusual delay in getting a dead ball live.
d. For any other situations or any emergency.

Thanks. Nice citation, especialy if you include Article D along with Article C.