Wanted to give a T

[gojeremy]

I watched the video and he is standing with his hands in his pockets, in the middle of the bench, calling for a timeout. It looks like he is calling towards his players. He then looks at me and signals for a 30 second timeout. Yes, the crowd and the announcer drowned out his voice and he made no gestures immediately after the basket.

[gojeremy]

I do admit I should have looked towards the bench and I didn't. Rookie mistake. After watching the video I still don't know if I would have immediately granted a timeout because I couldn't hear him or see him make any signal that he wanted a timeout.

[stick]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

I do admit I should have looked towards the bench and I didn't. Rookie mistake. After watching the video I still don't know if I would have immediately granted a timeout because I couldn't hear him or see him make any signal that he wanted a timeout.

In a situation like that one thing I do if I happen to be the trail or the center and in front of their bench is hover around close to him. This way there's a better chance to hear or catch a time out call right away. But you must look toward him, especially in a noisy gym that has bad accoustics.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

I watched the video and he is standing with his hands in his pockets, in the middle of the bench, calling for a timeout. It looks like he is calling towards his players. He then looks at me and signals for a 30 second timeout. Yes, the crowd and the announcer drowned out his voice and he made no gestures immediately after the basket.

If he's not getting your attention, it's on him. But you shouldn't have to have watched the video to tell us that -- tells me you weren't looking there when it happened in real time. Or your partner -- this is one situation where ALL officials need to be looking at the bench.

We had a game winning shot go through with 1.5 seconds left last night. ALL officials had the timeout after the basket, we were all expecting it. We had to put time back on the clock, though, since the timer let the clock run out.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

I watched the video and he is standing with his hands in his pockets, in the middle of the bench, calling for a timeout. It looks like he is calling towards his players. He then looks at me and signals for a 30 second timeout. Yes, the crowd and the announcer drowned out his voice and he made no gestures immediately after the basket.

Then the second part of my last post applies: that's on him.

Something else to consider: I'm assuming this is a 2-person game. One of you has to be standing tableside and either near (the L) or in front of (the T) his bench. As Rich said, be ready for it.

Another point regarding his actions: I'm not saying if he questions your birth or heritage quietly while you're standing next to him that he shouldn't get whacked but if he's being "visual" let it call itself.

[Ref16]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Then the second part of my last post applies: that's on him.

Something else to consider: I'm assuming this is a 2-person game. One of you has to be standing tableside and either near (the L) or in front of (the T) his bench. As Rich said, be ready for it.

Another point regarding his actions: I'm not saying if he questions your birth or heritage quietly while you're standing next to him that he shouldn't get whacked but if he's being "visual" let it call itself.

I agree...

And for the record, if a coach tosses/flips/throws/slams his clipboard after staring me down-it is gonna be automatic-and 100% his fault that he got the T. Coaches can get frustrated and be intense without showing the officials up and/or looking like a jackass.

Next time maybe he will control his emotions. But the way you described this situation, regardless of whether or not you were looking for the t.o. (Which you should make a habit of in the future IMO) is extremely unsportsmanlike and getting a T in my book.

[gojeremy]

At what point of the game should I be glancing towards the benches? With 1 or 2 minutes remaining?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

At what point of the game should I be glancing towards the benches? With 1 or 2 minutes remaining?

It could be in the first period. When the other team goes on a 10-2 run. When the other team begins to press and his kids' seem confused. Just pretend that you're the coach, put yourself in his shoes, and decide when he, or you, would request a timeout.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

At what point of the game should I be glancing towards the benches? With 1 or 2 minutes remaining?

Time doesn't matter - you'll get a feel for game awareness as you go. You'll sense when coaches are likely to want a timeout.

But with a minute or less left (or after a team has started fouling to stop the clock ... or at any point after that first timeout in crunch-time), start expecting the timeout. That said ... the 1 or 2 seconds they gain from you looking over is probably going to only be critical inside a minute - and more critical as you get closer to the end. I don't think anyone's going to go clipboard throwing if their timeout was at 1:56 instead of 1:58. Maybe not even 0:56 vs 0:58. But 0:08 vs 0:06 - probably.

[stripes]

I would also remind the coach that he has 5 players on the court who can request a TO AND who are used to listening for his voice. Any of the players can get right in front of you and request the TO. This is especially pertinent in a loud gym.

While I agree that you should be situationally aware, requesting a TO is on him.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by stripes

I would also remind the coach that he has 5 players on the court who can request a TO AND who are used to listening for his voice. Any of the players can get right in front of you and request the TO. This is especially pertinent in a loud gym.

While I agree that you should be situationally aware, requesting a TO is on him.

No offense, but this attitude / mindset just doesn't cut it. With the rules as they are and with the expectation that top officials be situationally aware, it's ON US to be aware and expecting a request. No excuses.

[JugglingReferee]

Years ago we had coach who was in a similar situation. Luckily, I'm on a first-name basis with this coach and my explanation was "tell the refs ahead of time that you're going to request a TO {in certain situations}". This will remind them to look at you when you want the TO.

Yes, in the OP it would have been nice to look at the coach. If the coach owns the situation, (s)he can have the refs understanding end of game scenarios to his/her liking.

[Toren]

Originally Posted by gojeremy

I watched the video and he is standing with his hands in his pockets, in the middle of the bench, calling for a timeout. It looks like he is calling towards his players. He then looks at me and signals for a 30 second timeout. Yes, the crowd and the announcer drowned out his voice and he made no gestures immediately after the basket.

I don't doubt any of what you're saying. I'm sure your partners also didn't see or hear the coach requesting a timeout.

When the huddle broke, I would have said something to the effect "Coach, I know you are looking for a timeout, help us out by being more vocal or visual so it's easier for us to see and hear you." And then I would have gotten out of there.

[gojeremy]

I definitely learned to look towards the bench from now on. I remember thinking to watch for a foul after inbound pass and I never thought to look or listen for the coach.

[jTheUmp]

After awhile, you get a feel for when a coach might want to call a timeout (late in a close game, a-la your situation; when the opponent is in the middle of a run; etc)... in those situations, take a quick glance over at the bench after a made basket. Don't make it more than a quick glance though... if the coach isn't immediately motioning/calling for a timeout, get back to watching the playing action.

Like others have said, if the coach doesn't get our attention quickly/sufficiently enough; that's on the coach.