Pointing Mechanic
 

Saw a mechanic over the weekend at a hs playoff game by a guy that I believe works college ( had his cca jacket on for warmups), he often pointed the other direction after a made bucket. So I have noticed the are a few NCAA guys that do this as well since then. Is this leftover from signaling a two pointer or a college mechanic?

Guy was wearing his CCA jacket at a High School game? Wow.

Not an official mechanic in NFHS or NCAA-W.

I do this on the rare occassion there is contact that I think is a flop or not call worthy and the player on the ground looks at me. It's just a reminder to him to get his butt up as his team is one man down on defense.

Pretty much says it all.

I've done this on a RARE occasion, and it's more for my partners than anything else. If I rotated late, or if I think they didn't recognize my rotation (seeing that they are a very low T), I'll point after a made basket and say their name to make sure they know I'm on their side of the floor.

I know on tape it looks like I'm just pointing, but that's why I do it. No other reason to do it though...

Ditto. I remember when I lived in GA ('96-00) the higher-ups in our association got on ALL the college guys about wearing their CCAs to H.S. games. The message was "don't big-time your non-college partners."

I dont see how a college patch is big timing. If he acted like a jack a$$ then that's different but I personally wouldn't care. I'm just not that sensitive to these issues.

It's all about perception. It gives the appearance the guy with the CCA patch is automatically better than those without.

I get the appearance of perception and what it means to many. I have a hard time getting my hands around a concept that is not real is what it boils down to (plus perception is very arbitrary and subjective). It's just me personally but I always let the person's actions speak for themselves and I can see how some would take offense I personally don't.

And on a side note I would automatically assume a college official is (and should) be a better official that a HS one (practically speaking not always true but this should be the case). Much like how an NBA player would be better than a college player.

It is a holdover from the initial implementation of the shot clock. It is simply an indication to the shot clock operator to reset and prepare to start a new shot clock period for the ensuing possession.

Officials used to do this on steals too.

I see this done in college and the NBA on a regular basis. Are you sure it is a holdover? If so, why do many officials do it? I can't see so many high level officials doing a mechanic that is unnecessary.

Because 1. They've been officiating a long time. Or 2. They learned under guys who have been doing it a long time.

The Sharks And The Jets ...
 

I keep thinking about somebody bringing a gun to a knife fight.

Probably reports numbers with two hands too.

Or because (insert big name here) does it and I want people to think I am just as good as (insert big name) and now it's a habit.