Originally Posted by Zoochy (Post 804647)

The following was from a Referee magazine many years ago.

"When the scoring team touches the ball after it goes through the basket, officials should end the practice immediately. For those old enough to remember the NCAA men’s final in 1985, the reason is clear. During the game, Georgetown players had been tapping the ball gently toward the Villanova thrower-in after a score. A friendly gesture? Think again. That speeded up play a bit, which was to Georgetown’s liking. However, the real consequence of allowing that practice happened at the end of the game. With five seconds left, the Hoyas scored to cut their deficit to two points. They had no timeouts left, and a Georgetown player slapped the ball away from Villanova. The official blew the whistle to stop the clock. (That was before the rules required the game clock to be stopped after scores in the last minute.) The officials warned Georgetown to leave the ball alone, but that forced Villanova to make a hotly contested throw-in with five seconds left rather than just let the clock run out. It managed the throw-in. But in an interview much later, one of the officials admitted they had been very lucky. By permitting Georgetown to “help” Villanova get the ball after a made basket, it set the stage for the slap of the ball at the end of the game and prompted the reflex whistle when it occurred. The official vowed never again to let even a friendly touch occur in any game he officiates. That is the right plan for all of us. Get the warning done early to prevent any temptations at a critical time and the need for a technical foul."
Call the DOG early!:D

Originally Posted by fiasco (Post 804744)

A simple tip of the ball is not something that is usually going to delay the game. Like I said, I think most kids do it without realizing they're even doing it. Therefore I'm either going to ignore it, or just tell the player to leave the ball alone.

But a player who consciously walks the ball over to me or to my partner, or who intentionally bats the ball away from the opponent or sets the ball down on the ground is, by definition, causing a delay in the game.

By rule, it should be handled not with an informal warning, but with an official DOG warning. I'm simply wondering why some don't want to follow the procedure that's laid out in the rules for an act that delays the game.

Originally Posted by Toren (Post 804747)

This is my point though. Read Zoochy's post again. What you think is just a player tipping the ball, that has no effect, could be an advantageous maneuver that is not supported by rule. If you're going to come down on people for not imposing the rule, perhaps you should look at your own reaction first.

Originally Posted by fiasco (Post 804744)

A simple tip of the ball is not something that is usually going to delay the game. Like I said, I think most kids do it without realizing they're even doing it. Therefore I'm either going to ignore it, or just tell the player to leave the ball alone.

But a player who consciously walks the ball over to me or to my partner, or who intentionally bats the ball away from the opponent or sets the ball down on the ground is, by definition, causing a delay in the game.

By rule, it should be handled not with an informal warning, but with an official DOG warning. I'm simply wondering why some don't want to follow the procedure that's laid out in the rules for an act that delays the game.

Originally Posted by fiasco (Post 804757)

The story made no sense to me.

Tapping the ball to a Villanova player (what had been going on the whole game) is wholly different than slapping the ball away from a Villanova player (what happened at the end of the game).

I have no idea what the official in the story thinks one has to do with the other.

In my game, I'm not really going to think anything of the first, unless it happens more than once, and I'm going DOG on the second the first time it happens.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins (Post 804765)

I think we're saying the same thing -- talk to the player / team (informal warning).

Originally Posted by Zoochy (Post 804647)

"A Georgetown player slapped the ball away from Villanova".