Warm up after game delayed
 

Had a situation where a player was injured and bleeding on the court (near mid-court). Game was stopped and players sent to their benches (told to stay on the court) while the trainer assisted the injured player off the court. Game management then had to get the janitorial crew to clean up the blood on the court so the players were told that they could take a seat if they wanted. It took about 5-10 minutes before the janitorial crew got there and then about 5 minutes to clean up. As the cleanup was almost finished, one of the coaches asked if his players could use the baskets to warm-up since the delay had been significant.

Since this was a JV game that was now running late with a Varsity scheduled next, and because it was clear that the delay was almost over, we told the coach "no" because we were about to get restarted. After the game, my partner and I both admitted that we didn't know of anything in the rule/case book that addressed this.

Is there anything in the rules (NFHS) that would prohibit allowing an additional "warm up" after a delay? If not prohibited, I'm curious if any other officials would consider this and under what circumstances?

Not covered. If there's no conference rule, you get to use 2-3.

If it happens near the end of the second quarter (and "near" is subjective), take the half time break during the delay. come back, warm up, finish the second quarter, take a minute break, start the third quarter.

I agree with Bob and given your situation you could also ask GM. If the people running the gym are okay with it – and I’m sure they’d ask the V coaches – then you should be okay.

You may be able to have the coaches decide between warming up and playing a full game. IOW, shorten the game to accomodate the warmup period to stay on schedule for the all important varsity game.

Stay loose.
 

Might be better to say, "This might take several minutes so stay loose. We will resume play as soon as the floor is cleaned up."

Really?
 

Players will routinely sit out 5 to 10 minutes of real time during a game. They don’t get to warm up again before coming in and no one would expect such.

I’m not sure at what interval I would consider granting a warm up request for a game delay but it is definitely something longer than 10 minutes.

Exactly, if not more. We don't stop the game for warmups when a 12th man who has sat all game comes in with 1 minute left to play.

I agree. I wasn't meaning I would let them have time and the floor to stay loose. But they could stretch by their bench area during the delay.

Good points. Thanks for the feedback.

Had a similar situation last season during a women's juco game. Player went to the floor after a loose ball and landed hard on her right shoulder. Trainer came out to look at her, players sent to bench areas but instructed to remain on the floor.

Decision was made to call paramedics as a precaution, so players now allowed to sit. After about a 25 minute delay while the injured player is removed on a board, the R (me) informs coaches the floor will be swept (the paramedics tracked mud into the gym) and after a 5-minute warm-up period the game would resume at the POI (a held ball was called, possession to the V team).

Long story short ... use common sense.