Inadvertant horn

[Rob1968]

NFHS Officials Manual2.4.9 Inadvertant Whistles/Horns:

"B. If the scorer's horn is sounded while the ball is live, or when it is about to become live, the official may ignore it or honor it. The horn has no effect, but the official's whistle shall cause the ball to become dead or to remain dead."

For many years, we taught that if the horn sounds while the ball is live, the officials should verbally acknowledge that it was a mistake, by stating, "Play on." In the event that a player commits a violation, for example, the ballhandler travels, obviously because of hearing the horn, that the officials should sound the whistle, verify the reason for the horn sounding, and re-start the game at the POI. In such cases, common sense should dictate the officials' actions.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rob1968

In the event that a player commits a violation, for example, the ballhandler travels, obviously because of hearing the horn, that the officials should sound the whistle, verify the reason for the horn sounding, and re-start the game at the POI. In such cases, common sense should dictate the officials' actions.

Common sense? Or Fundamental #16: The official’s whistle seldom causes the ball to become dead (it is already dead)? Or both? Interesting. Very interesting. So, the player traveled while the ball was live, but we pretend that the ball was already dead, before the travel? Again. Interesting. Very interesting. Am I allowed to pretend that the game I worked a few nights ago was the first perfect game that I called in my career? I just love this pretend stuff. It's better than following the rulebook, or casebook. Of course 2-3 can get us out of a lot of "situations". It like a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card, a basketball official's best friend.

[bob jenkins]

I'd treat it like the "official announces 2 FTs when it's really 1-1".

If everyone keeps playing, let the play stand. If all stop except 1, kill it (even retroactively). In between, officiate.

So, in the OP, kill it (assuming the phrase "everyone just stops" is correct)

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Common sense? Or Fundamental #16: The official’s whistle seldom causes the ball to become dead (it is already dead)? Or both? Interesting. Very interesting. So, the player traveled while the ball was live, but we pretend that the ball was already dead, before the travel? Again. Interesting. Very interesting. Am I allowed to pretend that the game I worked a few nights ago was the first perfect game that I called in my career? I just love this pretend stuff. It's better than following the rulebook, or casebook. Of course 2-3 can get us out of a lot of "situations". It like a "Get Out Of Jail Free" card, a basketball official's best friend.

Billy, this fundamental is completely irrelevant to the situation. The fundamental applies to fouls, violations, and the end of a period. It does not apply to the horn going off, so please stop quoting it in this thread, as it bears no significance to the OP or any of the follow up posts.

Use 2-3 if you must, but the fundamental does not apply.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

Billy, this fundamental is completely irrelevant to the situation.

I should have used the blue font in my second post.

Bottom line: Sometimes we just have to officiate with some common sense, and sometimes that common sense runs against the written rules. When that happens, and someone calls us out on it, a coach, an athletic director, or an assigner, rulebook, or casebook, in hand, we just have to explain our decision, and admit that we screwed the pooch. Officiating basketball ain't easy. We've all screwed the pooch at least once, and for most of us, it won't be the last time we've done it.

I had a state tournament Catholic middle school game this past weekend (a big deal for me). Player is getting ready to shoot the first of two free throws. I'm the trail. As he's preparing to shoot, the scorekeeper yells to me, loudly, "Was that foul on white eleven?". Figuring that this would distract the shooter, I put my hand up and called out, "Wait", to the players, intending to reset the free throw, without sounding my whistle. The player continues is shooting motion, releases the ball, and it goes in the basket. In my mind, even though I didn't sound my whistle, the ball was dead, but it probably, maybe definitely, wasn't dead by the rule book. I wave off the basket and give the player his first shot over again, which he misses. Before my partner gives him the ball for the second shot, I come in and apologize to him and he offers to shake my hand, which I do. My mistake. It wasn't the first mistake I've ever made. It won't be the last.