Table Instructions
 

How much instruction to you give to the official scorekeeper and/or timekeeper prior to a game? How much does the level of the contest play into it?

Level to me doesn't matter-the game in front of me as a scorer is the most important.the crew I work with for home games is one of the more accomplished in our area so usually they don't go over anything with us.

When I did a sophomore game before a varsity game, I knew I was in good hands. The Saturday morning freshman games though....oof.

I think it depends more on the experience level of the table crew.

I had a 9th grade girls game at the start of the month where the timer was a veteran and the scorer has been there for years. So, there wasn't much of a need to give them detailed instructions.

In my next to last game (JV Boys), the timer admitted he was brand new, so my partner worked with him a little bit on when to start/stop the clock. There were a few times where this timer didn't blow the horn for subs. After the first time we missed one, I made more of an effort to look for waiting subs whenever possible to make sure they got in. But once the game progressed, he improved.

Virtually all the H.S. games I work have kids doing everything so I have a set speech for every game. The speech is extended for girls' games or any AA games because they use the shot clock. I'm guaranteed to have at least one game every season where the shot-clock operator has never done it before. Good times.

Here it is considered unacceptable to have a kid on either clock but acceptable to have a kid on the book.One school in the league uses all kids on JV and they did not have a clue.Going to be brought up at the league administrator's meeting.Luckily the offending school had the football coach run the board for varsity so there weren't any issues at all but I have never been that frustrated at a table ever.

I am fine with kids doing everything at some levels. As long as they are experienced (or willing to listen to instruction) and don't text during the game, I do not see a problem. I had a 7th grader working the clock tonight, and he was texting. The clock started late so many times I considered removing him.

Part of the speech to the table includes my 3 "rules":

1. Try not to cheer. I know you have friends out there but cheering takes your mind off what you're doing.
2. No food or drink at the table. If something spills it's not going to be pretty.
3. The only electronic device I want to see at the table is...and I point to the game clock (and the shot clock, if needed).

Since I lay it out at the beginning the kids don't protest...much.

Unless someone indicates they're new:

"This is the same thing you hear every night. Look up when we come to report, otherwise we get lonely. Slow us down if we're going too fast. Let us know as soon as you think you might have a problem so we don't have to figure it out with 1 second left in the 4th. Thanks."

Hopefully, this covers the important points while acknowledging they're smart and have been doing this for a good long while. I usually can get a laugh with the lonely line.

"Let me know if any problems come up."

We never have high school kids working the table around here, not even in JH games. You may get some inexperienced adults in some JH games, but at least they're adults. On JV/V nights, I very rarely have problems with the table crew at all. The schools around here do a good job of finding good people.

Prob live just down the street
 

:DSame guys every game? Nice home court advantage.

sorry letemplay-I meant that the table crew at our school is one of the more accomplished in our area and officials tell us one of the best.

*I am the official scorer for JV Girls,Varsity Girls,and Varsity Boys (A student does JV boys and if not available I step in and handle it)

*Our Vice Principal of Academics handles the game clock,scoreboard,and pre-game announcements.

*Our Vice Principal of Athletics (who serves as the AD,boys volleyball,and golf coach) runs the shot clock.

We have worked together as a crew since the 2005-2006 season :D

I give two basic instructions to a timer no matter the crew:

(1) We want a second horn in every situation, even if the teams are back on the floor and ready prior to the expiration of the timeout -- the timer should just give a manual second horn in that situation because we *will* wait for it.

(2) A reminder that the first horn for a sub for DQ, injury, or blood (provided we start the clock) is at 5 seconds and that the second horn is only to be given in that situation if I ask for it manually.

Perhaps it's a bit idiosyncratic, but (1) is a common request around here and (2) is a way I can try to avoid a needless technical foul but still have the horn if the coach is being a jerk and needs one.

The Eagle Has Flown The Coop ...
 

Better than the Eagle?

I have thought about making a quick simple little form to hand to the scorers before the game, especially to the new guys to help things run a little more smoothly and help to remedy some of the problems you run into. It was going to be my summer project during the off season, but since you brought it up...
Feel free to add to or comment if you would like. I want to keep it very short and have plain language so that it is easy to understand and takes less than 5 minutes to read.

Book:
Official book must remain at the table during the entire game and may not be taken by either team at any time.
After the 10 minute mark before the start of the game and after the officials check the book. No changes may be made unless the officials are notified.
At the end of each period, verify that both books and scoreboard match in regards to time outs left, score, fouls, and possession arrow.

Clock:
Clock Starts when an official "chops" with their hand (or when the ball touches a player on the court.)

Alternating possession arrow:
Change the arrow only after the throw in for a held ball is completed.

Substitutions:
Subs may enter on any dead ball and the clock is stopped. Wait to sound the horn until after we finish reporting a foul. If there are free throws, subs can't enter until just before the last free throw.
Subs may NOT enter after the 15 second warning during time outs and between quarters. Keep them at the table.
If a player needs to be replaced for blood, injury, 5 fouls ejection etc., they will have 20 seconds. Time it like a timeout with a horn at 15 seconds left and then at 0.

Timeouts:
Inform us when either team has used its last time out OR they use an extra timeout.

Notify us when there are 6 fouls. If you don't do it when we report the sixth, just let us know next time we pass the table. Sound the horn and let us know when a team has 7 fouls (bonus), 10 fouls (double bonus), 5th player foul, second technical foul, second direct or 3rd indirect foul to head coach.

If you have a problem or question, wait until there is a dead ball or when the offending team has control of the ball. Do not wait any longer than that.

If the table is new, I prefer to be told at 6 fouls (instead of 7) so we're sure (or at least more likely) to get the shooter.

Its been a habit of mine to warn on 6 and 9 for years.I will say that in my games if I have a coach who I know is notorious for not checking subs in I will remind them to make sure the subs check in before the first horn on a timeout.

Bob, I am having a hard time putting that into words simply. The problem is, I don't want them sounding the horn at 6 fouls. If they could just do it informally, that would be great.

How would you word it?

Wish your habits came standard with all scorekeepers. Unfortunately they don't.;)

Tell me after we get to 6 fouls. If you don't do it when I report, then just tell me the next time I run by the table

My checklist-

A.Get rosters for the next game at halftime of the previous game.If handling JV Girls get rosters and starters prior to the start of timed warm-up.

B.Remind both coaches to have their kids check in prior to first horn on timeouts!

C.Roster exchange with visiting scorekeeper.

D.Introduce myself to my colleagues on the floor.

E.Use the restroom!

My warning is usually worded this way-Bonus/Double Bonus on the next (name of reporting official for #6/#9)