my suggested rule change
 

Girls basketballs should be pink. ;)

Bet that will make the Jr high boys teams happy.

I'd be happy if there was a distinguishing characteristic. Too many stories of boys games being played with girls balls and vice versa.

When I'm the R, it's the first thing I check. I can palm a girls ball -- I can't palm a boys ball.

Here's Mine
 

If they really want us to ask for captains in the pregame meeting and note that in the book, apparently establishing this as a means of identification in case communication is necessary during the game (as if we won't communicate with anyone else, but that's another topic), and ask them before the jump ball if their team is ready then do what they do in soccer and have them wear an identifiable armband up above the elbow. Otherwise, get rid of this "captain" thing and allieviate us of this "eight captains at the pregame meeting" (I wouldn't mind if they all came) and the "that guy" thing of having to distinguish between the somewhat ceremonial captains versus the "speaking captains".
(OK, there is a nice objective fulfilled by a coach vesting responsibility as captain(s) in the current system, but that would survive and be even more illustrative with the armband thing).
If it's to be implemented, give it some relevance, significance, and practical use.
Having started with a dollar, I'm now down to $.98. :rolleyes:

Don't most girl's balls have a size listed on the ball?

Peace

I can't either ball which suprised Sally Bell when we were discussing the difference between the two one time years ago.

MTD, Sr.

They all do. Doesn't mean people look.

Not With A Ten Foot Pole ...
 

It's all teed up for you Mark Padgett. Smack it into the bleachers.

Well I would understand if you are a boys/men's official and never noticed this, but if you work girls/women's basketball then you should know or look I would think. Heck they could change the ball and I would not care for sure, but it just seems like there is a way to verify already.

Peace

You might have an issue once every three or four seasons. It's very easy to forget to look for the 28.5, so a feature more obvious than the 8 font fine print would be helpful even though it's not necessary.

Waaaaaay too easy. :rolleyes:

Something tells me the OP won't be forgetting to check for the 28.5 anytime soon.

I can honestly say that I have never had this happen to me. I guess it is possible, never been a problem. But then again I am not working any girls basketball so that might be the reason. And we do not often play boys and girls games on the same night. So it seems to be easier to avoid where I am.

Peace

Had this happen once, many years ago in a jr. high girls game. Near the end of the first half, I think, handed to a girl for a free throw.

"This is a boy's ball."

Me: "Surely not."

She was right.

If this is the worst mistake you ever make, you should be thrilled.

I can't say I've ever heard of a girls ball being used in a boys game (not that it hasn't happened), so I'm not surprised it hasn't happened to you.

I had an assigner in Des Moines who said he had it in a women's college game. FT shooter noticed it early in the 2nd half.