Situation during Training
 

I recently passed the written exam and have been doing on-court training at a after-school program near me where they do scrimmages for 4th-7th graders (in other words, no pressure for us) and a board member from the local IAABO board critiques our mechanics. This is in preparation for the floor exam in the middle of December. I had this situation come up last night:

I'm the lead and call a shooting foul on B1, the ball goes in, score the goal. I go to the table to report ("score the goal...Blue 3-2...hit...1 shot", and my partner (who unfortunately is one of the less game-ready refs in training at this point) switches with me to administer the free throws. He gives the ball to the shooter before I am completely in place and counting ten seconds. I was a bit taken by surprise that he gave it to the shooter so quickly, but was pretty sure I heard him say "one shot". The shooter takes his shot, it bricks, and nobody on the line moves. My partner grabs the ball and goes to administer the second shot. At this point, I'm frozen, not exactly knowing what to do (this was only the second time I'd been on-court officiating).

In retrospect, am I correct in assuming that once I see him pick up the ball to administer the second free throw (incorrectly) I should have whistled and gone over to him to explain the situation and then the arrow should have been used to determine possession?

Your conclusion is correct.

As a matter of practice, the lead should NEVER put the ball into play for FTs without first confirming the number of shots with the trail (and center in 3-man). You couldn't have stopped him from doing so, but include that in your pregames and you'll be less likely to have these sorts of errors.

Agree with Camron and to develop it a little further (i.e., the way in which you confirm the number of free thros), one of the things you're pre-gaming is to have the lead visually indicate the number of shots with the partner(s) mirroring. That way everyone's on the same page before the ball's bounced to the shooter.

Also it's a good time to remind everyone to take their time. The ball's dead and clock is (hopefully) not running. Don't dawdle, but take the time to get it right.

IMO, it's better to have the calling official (usually the T) indicate the number of shots and have the others mirror.

And, in the OP -- you can try to get your partner's attention even after s/he's administered and if there's an issue, blow the whistle before the try is released.

I'm going to incorporate this into pregame conferences this year. I always show the number of free throws after I report the foul, and most guys I work with do as well. I still get the occasional partner that reports then stares off in the distance as I attempt to mirror what I believe is the correct number of free throws. It hasn't bitten me in the arse yet, hence the reason to pregame it.

Just wait. Eventually, s/he'll wonder what's going on and look at you. Indicate the WRONG number on purpose along with a look that says "this is why we confirm, dumbass."

I do this all the time. I tell my partners in our pregame that I’ll stand there and stare at them until I get a signal acknowledging they’ve seen me. I tell them if I don’t receive a response I’m assuming they're involved in something else.

I like this. I am going to add it to my pregame.

The general consensus around here is to say the number, not the digits. i.e. thirty-two not three-two.

Completely regional/area specific. If the OP's training has him stating the digits, I'd have him stick with that.

Although it is specifically mentioned in the mechanics manual to say the number and not digits. So if you say the digits you are doing it wrong. :D

Some regions make poor choices.

I agree, but this is such a small issue.

Good point Bob. Hadn't thought about the order/mirror as all I can recall is us arriving at the same place (i.e., there's not a gap between one indicating and the other two mirroring). At the very least it's important to pre-game so everyone's doing it, then refine with who starts.

I think the point that brings the official to state the digits is from the IAABO book when giving the report to state the color and number while simultaneously display the digits. I think it's a mental thing really, hold up 1 and 2 fingers for the number 12 and you're going to say the number of fingers you just displayed.

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".