Nah, just practice. I've usually completed saying the entire number as I'm starting to display the first digit.

Agreed. The wording in the NFHS Officials Manual says the T (at lease in 3-person) should signal the number of FT's ... 3.2.3 D. 2.

Interesting to hear that most say the number (Thirty Two) rather than the digits (Three-Two). My board is based in NYC and our instructor was strict about telling us to say "three two" rather than "thirty two".

I have this so interesting that the NFHS manual says how to do this. That on score keepers it is harder to figure out what number you are saying. And it just sounds silly. At least they are not making us use Roman Numerals and sign language.

Old Habits Die Hard ...
 

Same here in my little corner of 100% IAABO Connecticut, and it's probably the same throughout the entire state.

Oh but we are using sign language. :D

Thanks, gives me something to consider! Pre-season game in 2 hours but not sure that's going to make the list of things to try today!

The main reason we're told to say the number, not the digits, is because some scorers may only hear one of the two digits.

So if you mean to report a foul on "32", but say "3-2", the scorer may only hear "3" and mess up the scorebook.

Just Sayin' ...
 

Agree. It's certainly possible that the scorer may only hear the first number, "three", and mess up the scorebook.

But isn't also equally as possible that when "thirty-two" is reported that the scorer may only hear the first number, "thirty", and mess up the scorebook?

no

I disagree. I don't see how one could be more easily misinterpreted than the other if you have a scorer who isn't paying attention.

Now, "twelve" isn't about to be misheard for anything.

13 v 30
14 v 40
15 v 50

Yeah. I guess it's just something we're told to do in Ohio, so I've just gone with it.

What? Disqualified? But He's Only Got Four Fouls ...
 

Why can some of us fathom a less-than-stellar scorer hearing only one of two digits, i.e. three and two, but we can't see the same scorer hearing only one of two numbers, i.e. thirty and two?

BillyMac reports "Three. Two." (as he is trained to do in his little corner of Connecticut), and the less-than-stellar scorer only hears one digit and mistakenly records the foul for the player wearing the uniform with number three.

BryanV21 reports "Thirty-two." (as he is trained to do in his little corner of the Buckeye State), and the same scorer hears only one number and mistakenly records the foul for the player wearing the uniform with number thirty.

Why is one scenario more likely, or less likely, to occur than the other scenario?

Good idea. As with a lot of other things that we discuss here on the Forum, it's usually the best to follow the advice of Pope Clement XIV, "Cum Romano Romanus eris" (When we are at Rome, we should do as the Romans do).

Bottom line: When dealing with scorers, whether it's the most conscientious scorer in the world, or the less-than-stellar scorer that many us have to deal with, be sure to get to the reporting area (no long distance reporting), stop (don't report on the run), make eye contact with the scorer (not the timer, that's why the scorer wears a black and white striped jersey), take your time, make your signals slowly, clearly (not in front of your face, but slightly to the side), state the number of the player charged with the foul in a loud, clear, assertive, voice, not rushing, but taking your time, and then, wait a second for information from the scorer (one and one, double bonus, disqualified player, or, possibly, a question) before leaving the reporting area. Do all that, and you should be all set, whether you report, as Pope Clement XIV (Ten. One. Five. Or. Fourteen) advises, the number, or the digits, as "at Rome".