NCAA Tournament and Precision Timing

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

Starting to see that appear here from certain high school local associations around here.

One of the mechanics our crew had adopted is that when a ball is tied up, the crew blow whistles but do not signal until we verify that none of us have a foul, have granted a timeout, etc. Then and only then do we give the two thumbs up.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

One of the mechanics our crew had adopted is that when a ball is tied up, the crew blow whistles but do not signal until we verify that none of us have a foul, have granted a timeout, etc. Then and only then do we give the two thumbs up.

This originally sounded really good to me. But, what happens if the held ball occurs before the foul (not intentional, nor flagrant) and each official sees something differently? Do you ignore the possibility that the held ball came before the foul (one foul signal trumps held ball), or do you discuss the situation with your partner before deciding on a call?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This originally sounded really good to me. But, what happens if the held ball occurs before the foul (not intentional, nor flagrant) and each official sees something differently? Do you ignore the possibility that the held ball came before the foul (one foul signal trumps held ball), or do you discuss the situation with your partner before deciding on a call?

It's either tied up cleanly, or it isn't. Normally an official is going to come in hard with a foul or a travel that precedes the held ball. That covers 95% of the situations. If a held ball causes a travel, then the crew member that sees that is going to have to initiate a conversation.

[BillyMac]

Regarding a foul, or a travel, that is subsequent to the held ball:

Originally Posted by Rich

If a held ball causes a travel, then the crew member that sees that is going to have to initiate a conversation.

Cool.

Originally Posted by Rich

One of the mechanics our crew had adopted is that when a ball is tied up, the crew blow whistles but do not signal until we verify that none of us have a foul, have granted a timeout, etc. Then and only then do we give the two thumbs up.

I assume you still put the open hand up?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I assume you still put the open hand up?

Because we all know that the clock operator won't stop the clock until he sees an open hand, or a fist, or a held ball signal, right?

(IAABO (International) is on a big kick to always use the stop the clock signal, especially for an out of bounds violation. Our college guys have a tough time doing that. I've never had a problem with the stop the clock signal until last year when, for some reason, I started going directly to a back court signal without stopping the clock. I pride myself on good mechanics, and it embarrasses me, but it's a bad habit that I'm having trouble breaking. And it just started last year, seemingly out of nowhere.)

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Because we all know that the clock operator won't stop the clock until he sees an open hand up, or a fist up, or a held ball signal, right?

Is the clock operator deaf?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

Is the clock operator deaf?

At one of the schools in our assignment area? Yes. And those hearing impaired kids can play some really good basketball.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I assume you still put the open hand up?

No, we don't. Works for us.