How not to miss a timeout request

[Rich]

We had a game earlier this season where a coach got on us for not recognizing the timeout quicker.

What's left out of this story is that the coach never left his seat on the bench -- his assistant got whacked in the second quarter and apparently he didn't realize he could stand to request a timeout. And the timeout was wanted in a very non-standard time where we'd be actively looking to the bench to see a request.

And yet, this was our fault.

I almost cried as I consoled myself in my post-game beer.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Rich

We had a game earlier this season where a coach got on us for not recognizing the timeout quicker.

What's left out of this story is that the coach never left his seat on the bench -- his assistant got whacked in the second quarter and apparently he didn't realize he could stand to request a timeout. And the timeout was wanted in a very non-standard time where we'd be actively looking to the bench to see a request.

And yet, this was our fault.

I almost cried as I consoled myself in my post-game beer.

All the more reason for education.

Had similar earlier this year. Coach wanted a timeout and didn't get it. I told her, "when the gym is loud, I can't hear you. But maybe I will see you - so give the TO signal and be out in the open with it."

[#olderthanilook]

I agree that your first priority is to officiate the ball in your new PCA. The only other thing you might consider doing is putting your "coaching hat" on and, understanding the situation (team is down two, under 10 secs, just got a steal, and they need a big bucket to tie) anticipate a time out coming from the coach to stop the clock to draw up a play.

[Terrapins Fan]

The only point that I make to a coach when this happens is, did any of your players hear you asking for the TO?

No, or they too would have been asking for the TO.

[referee99]

Nice #olderthanilook.

Had a partner who, in a big game, told the coaches in pre-game meeting, "when things get loud we will not be able to hear you calling time-out. Get big, get visible or have a player request it." Not making a big deal about it, just saying this is the way it is.

[#olderthanilook]

Originally Posted by referee99

Nice #olderthanilook.

ty, 99

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich

We had a game earlier this season where a coach got on us for not recognizing the timeout quicker.

What's left out of this story is that the coach never left his seat on the bench -- his assistant got whacked in the second quarter and apparently he didn't realize he could stand to request a timeout. And the timeout was wanted in a very non-standard time where we'd be actively looking to the bench to see a request.

And yet, this was our fault.

I almost cried as I consoled myself in my post-game beer.

We had a similar situation last year where a coach was given a T early in the game for a uniform infraction (don't get me started). Then as the game went on I ended up calling a T on a player for language. So late in the game where he was not going to win at that point, he requests a timeout while sitting down and I could not at all hear him as I was literally right in front of the bench. He was more visual than vocal and my partner properly saw the request and granted the timeout. Then the coach immediately tried to suggest I ignored him on purpose. Then when I was asking him what he was saying as I was standing right in front of the bench, he tried to accuse me of "going after him."

To make a long story short, there were "Special Reports" written by me because of something the Principal said to me while the game was going on. And all of these was my fault for the uniform technicals where I had almost nothing to do with the actual penalty they incurred as I did not follow the policy personally we were asked to use to come to a conclusion a uniform was actually illegal. Long story short, I do not work that conference at all anymore (Thank God) and I will never take a game in the near future outside of the suburbs again at the high school level as a normal practice.

I just love how coaches make something they do not understand into some thing you did as an official wrong.

Peace

[Pantherdreams]

Don't normally get to gloat over FIBA rules but none of this is an issue as timeouts are only during dead balls and the table deals with timeout requests.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Don't normally get to gloat over FIBA rules but none of this is an issue as timeouts are only during dead balls and the table deals with timeout requests.

Agreed!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Don't normally get to gloat over FIBA rules but none of this is an issue as timeouts are only during dead balls and the table deals with timeout requests.

Wasn't it the FIBA Rule that created the controversy between Russia and the USA in 1972? Not sure I would be gloating about that considering all the confusion that called. And I am not an American that thinks we got hosed either. I just saw a documentary that went through the rule and how the rule was apparently screwed up by the table. I will take the occasional coach getting upset about this than what happened with all the confusion I saw in the Olympics.

Peace

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Wasn't it the FIBA Rule that created the controversy between Russia and the USA in 1972? Not sure I would be gloating about that considering all the confusion that called. And I am not an American that thinks we got hosed either. I just saw a documentary that went through the rule and how the rule was apparently screwed up by the table. I will take the occasional coach getting upset about this than what happened with all the confusion I saw in the Olympics.

Peace

I don't think a rule screw up would permit that type of screw up.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

I don't think a rule screw up would permit that type of screw up.

My point is that any rule has its problems. And that rule obviously created a problem in the application. I used to love the fact coaches could request a timeout, but their reaction is the reason we should take that away during live ball situations.

Peace

[Pantherdreams]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

My point is that any rule has its problems. And that rule obviously created a problem in the application. I used to love the fact coaches could request a timeout, but their reaction is the reason we should take that away during live ball situations.

Peace

Luckily the rule in question in the 72 incident is no longer the rule and the timeout can only be granted before the first or after the last. So there would not be a reason to interrupt the game and cause the confusion. Also there would now be no running clock in the last 2 minutes so the need to inbound a live bal in a late game would not cause problems.