Ending timeouts early
 

The situation: Team A requests a timeout, which is granted. After a short while, team A breaks its huddle and their players return to the floor.

Question: May I ask the timer to sound the warning horn to give the other team 15 seconds to get ready to play?

The rule: NCAAW Rule 5-13.14a says, "The team that requests a timeout may shorten that timeout when the captain/ head coach notifies the official of the team’s intent."

May I consider the breaking of the huddle and players returning to the floor a notification that that team intends to shorten the timeout?

(A timer squawked at me the other night when I asked for a horn saying that I was misapplying the rule. I didn't appreciate his squawking, but I do want to get things right.)

That's how I've always done it when working under NCAA rules. Actually did have a coach complain once b/c we didn't make the other team come out quick enough after his team broke the huddle.

If NFHS, we play ball if both teams have broken their huddles ... no need to wait. If one team breaks their huddle and the other team is not ready, they are entitled to whatever amount of time remains in the time out.

How long did it take them to find a new timer, and was the new guy any good?

Misty Water Colored Memories ...
 

This was a "recent" change. And remember, "recent" for me means about twenty years ago. I'm sure that my buddy, Mark T. DeNucci, Sr., will be moseying along shortly to confirm, or deny, my statement. Right now, he's probably finishing up his early evening nap.

Is it really worth looking up?

Can we take a poll?

Part of my instructions to the timer is that we won't go until there's a second horn and that we want one on every timeout. If both teams are on the floor, hit the first horn with the second horn right behind it.

Only if one of the options is "Shut up!!!".

I've never considered simply coming out on the floor a "notification". What if the coach is done giving instructions to the team, but the trainer is hustling to finish getting a player ready to check back in before the warning horn? Or, the huddle is broken, 4 players are walking back on the court, but the coach is still talking to 1 player? Do you consider the huddle broken? What if the coach is just so disgusted with his players that he tells them to, "...just go stand out there on the floor and think about how badly you've played!" Ok, unlikely, but my point is that while it's not an unreasonable assumption that breaking the huddle early means they want to end the TO early, it's still an assumption.

Now, if a player or coach looks at me and says, "We're done now", I would consider that a notification. :) And, given the fact there's an official right across from the huddle, it's not too hard to tell them.