Wanted to give a T

[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.

[stripes]

Originally Posted by Rich

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.

I disagree. We should be aware of situations where a coach might want a TO, but it is the coach's responsibility to get our attention if they want a TO. Not the other way around.

I have had plenty of games that were so loud you could not hear anyone and I have had plenty of players run up to me at the coach's request to get a TO. It works out fine. Coaches understand the realities of the game and will do what they can to get what they want.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by stripes

I disagree. We should be aware of situations where a coach might want a TO, but it is the coach's responsibility to get our attention if they want a TO. Not the other way around.

I have had plenty of games that were so loud you could not hear anyone and I have had plenty of players run up to me at the coach's request to get a TO. It works out fine. Coaches understand the realities of the game and will do what they can to get what they want.

Disagree all you want, but when you miss that timeout the first question will revolve around YOUR situational awareness.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich

Disagree all you want, but when you miss that timeout the first question will revolve around YOUR situational awareness.

Agreed. I'll add, though, that if you're looking at the coach and he's got his hands in his pockets and quietly saying something you can't hear, it's on him.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Rich

Disagree all you want, but when you miss that timeout the first question will revolve around YOUR situational awareness.

Or around the crew's situational awareness...this is very rarely on just one of the officials. It's the crew, imho.

[stripes]

Originally Posted by Rich

Disagree all you want, but when you miss that timeout the first question will revolve around YOUR situational awareness.

Once again I disagree. The conversation will revolve around HIM getting the TO request communicated--that is his job.

10 days ago, rival teams +/-3000 fans, 2 pt game, 2+1 for H team to tie (and maybe go up), I am L (admin FT) and V coach is SCREAMING at the T (calling his name only), no one on the crew (including the T who was closest to the coach) knew he wanted a TO because all he yelled was the official's name. I see him yelling my partners name, but don't know he wants a TO and that is MY fault? I don't buy it. Make a TO signal, get a player, something (anything) that lets me know he wants a TO and he could have it. I looked right at him as he yells "name!, name!, name!" I don't know if he is mad about the call, wants the TO or what. I am not and will not be a mind reader.

I completely agree about situational awareness and giving TOs in places where coaches generally want them, but at the end of the day it is their job to get our attention, not the other way around.